ACADEMICS PLUS AT SJJ

Focus: Conceptual Physics

How to get good grades on Activity Log Reports

Completing your Conceptual Physics Logs correctly and on time is essential to a good grade in this class. The Logs make up 25% of your grade and good logs are essential for the open Log quizzes.

When the activity begins in the Log: Is there a clear Title? Does the activity begin at the top of a new page or is it buried part way down? The heading should include Activity #, Title. ALL headings should be highlighted. Your name and class period must be at the top of the page.

Look at the WDYT? (What Do You Think?). (Labeled. Page #, Highlighted) Are the answers to the questions complete? That is, do they convey a complete thought? Can you tell what the question was from your answer? Are all questions answered?

Look at the FYTD (For You To Do). (Titled, page#, highlighted) Each number and letter should be present. Answers should include what was done, what was seen, and any tables, diagrams, graphs, etc. Are your answers complete answers? Skip a line between numbered items.

Most Activities include a For You to Read (FYTR) section and /or Physics Talk (PT). Read and summarize these in complete sentences. Again title and page # are required and should be highlighted.

There is always a section titled ROTAC (Reflecting On The Activity and the Challenge). (Labeled/Page #, highlighted) You should write a summary of the reading from the text. Second, you should be trying to tell how this activity relates to the chapter challenge. (Can you explain how the activity helps with the Challenge?) There should be two separate paragraphs in your Log.

Go over the PTG (Physics To Go) section. (Titled! Page #, highlighted) Most questions are usually assigned. Are all the questions addressed? Are the answers in the form of complete thoughts so that you understand what was being asked and what your answer is? Or, if the question is numerical, have you shown clear and complete work? You can-with a colored pen-revise/correct the answers when we go over them in class! Skip lines between questions.

Watch for Grade Insurance opportunities (extra credit). Do you have any plans to do the extra credit? Do you need the extra points? (One GI option is the stretching exercise in most activities.)

Overall, is your Log complete and neatly done? Have you asked for help-before the due date-on anything you don't understand? Have you skipped spaces and highlighted to make sections easy to find? Is this your best work? Is your name and period at the top of every page?