Rules for Writing Final Essays in Class

· Final essays will be graded according to the standards established by the State of New York for the English Regents exam.

· The grade for a final essay will be entered as a writing project. Writing projects count for 40% of your grade average.

· You will be given one sheet of loose-leaf paper with a printed heading, on which to write the final essay. You must write the essay on this sheet. You will receive only one (1) printed sheet, although you may request additional blank sheets to continue your essay if needed. If you need to “start over,” draw a box around the text you wish to delete, draw an “X” through it, then write below.

· You will have one full class period to write your final essay. No extra time will be given. You must hand in the printed sheet at the end of class. Whatever you’ve written on the printed sheet will be graded as your final essay, according to Regents standards.

· The final essay is to be treated as an exam. There is to be no talking or discussion during the writing of the final essay. Any conversation among students will be considered cheating and may result in a grade of zero (0).

· You may not ask for your paper to be read, marked or corrected during the writing of the final essay.

· You may ask any question to which an oral answer can be provided, except those issues about which you must do your own thinking. You may not read any portion of your essay aloud when asking questions.

· You may use any materials which are provided for you, or which you have prepared in advance of the final essay, including exam booklets, handouts, drafts or notes which you have written, dictionaries, etc., when writing your final essay. You may not, however, use any secondary source material on the literature when writing a Critical Lens essay.

· In case of absence, there will be no make-ups allowed, except in cases of a significant, documented and verified medical emergency. Any make-up essays must be written in the classroom during either Period 8 or the after-school tutorial period on the date immediately following the final-essay class. Where an essay is assigned and written at the end of a marking period and grades are submitted before the make-up is done, the essay will count toward the next marking period average.

· Make sure your name is on your final essay. An essay with no name on it will be scored but the writer will receive no credit until (s)he is identified.