Notebooks

Directions for Notebooks:

Keeping an organized notebook is important, especially when you take survey courses such as this US History class. The material moves quickly, and should be kept in chronological order. If you follow the directions below, this should be an easy grade to maintain for the class. Notebooks will be checked randomly throughout the semester. For example, the teacher will say in class one day, "Please turn to Unit 3 Day 5." The **table of contents, date, objectives, quickwrite, and charts** will be checked __//**for that day only**//__ as your notebook grade. One lazy day can mess you up pretty bad - be sure to keep up with your organization daily!


 * 1) You must have a __//**5-subject spiral notebook**//__ that you use for this class only. Find one with a plastic, rather than paper, cover if you want it to stay intact the entire semester. Points will be deducted if you do not have the correct notebook and/or are using this notebook for other classes. If you need help with supplies, let the teacher or guidance counselors know outside of class.
 * 2) You may use the computer in any way necessary to help you study, but you must have a physical notebook with your work __//**written by hand**//__ in order to receive a notebook grade. Digital notebooks will not be accepted. Studies show that handwriting is correlated with increased memorization. Poor handwriting is not an excuse to avoid the notebook. Be sure your handwriting is __//**legible to the teacher**//__.
 * 3) __//**Skip the first ten pages**//__ of your notebook for the Table of Contents. You will record your work here in order to find information when you need to study. If the day for your random notebook check is not recorded in the Table of Contents, points will be deducted. The teacher should be able to use the TOC to get to your information for the appropriate day. See below for how to format your table of contents (what it should look like).
 * 4) __//**Begin numbering**//__ your pages __//**after**//__ the Table of Contents. Number both sides of the pages. You do not have to number the entire notebook at once, but keep numbering as you work through it.
 * 5) As you work through the notebook, do not try to organize the material in sections. Just continue in the next empty space as we work through the course: Date, Objectives, Quickwrite, Charts in order each day. See below for an example.

How to set up the notebook. Remember, you will be handwriting this in a physical notebook, not recording on a computer. Digital notebooks will not be accepted.

Notebook Rubric (25% of your grade!):
 * Student is using a 5-subject notebook for this class only. (10 points)
 * Table of Contents is complete and up to date. (10)
 * Student has skipped the first 10 pages to use as the Table of Contents. (10)
 * Table of Contents can be used to find the page number for the information that is asked for. (10)
 * Page numbers are complete and up to date, beginning with the page after the table of contents. (10)
 * Handwriting is legible to the teacher. (10)
 * On the day that has been randomly chosen, student has __//**completed**//__ the following:
 * Date and Unit Day (10)
 * Objectives (10)
 * Quickwrite, question & answer (10)
 * Notes charts (10)