LAUNCH GRADE 9: CLEAN SLATE * Grade Point average (GPa) - Define GPA as an average of all of your grades on your transcript. GPA may be calculated cumulatively or on a semester-by-semester or subject-area basis. * class rank (or class standing) - Define class rank as a number representing where you fall in comparison to the other students in your graduating class, based on your Grade Point average. for example, a class standing of 1 would mean that you had the highest Grade Point average in your class. A class standing of the top 10% would mean you outscore 90% of students in your class. If you are using actual transcripts from your own high school, define any other terms or abbreviations that students will encounter and have students write the definitions on the lines provided. collaborative activity: sample transcript review (10-15 minutes) oBJective: StUDEntS WILL CoMPARE AnD ContRASt SAMPLE StUDEnt tRAnSCRIPtS. Break students up into small groups and assign each group a sample transcript to review. Each group should look through the sample transcript and record their observations and questions in their handouts. then, students should make a series of inferences about the student and his/her academic performance. Define inference as an educated guess, based on evidence. What events might have happened in the student's life that caused the outcomes shown on the transcript? What decisions might the student have made that led to a particularly high grade? A particularly low grade? When groups are finished, have them share out their observations, inferences, and questions about the transcript with the rest of the class. whole group discussion: what affects academic performance? (10 minutes) oBJective: StUDEntS WILL IDEntIfY fACtoRS thAt InfLUEnCE ACADEMIC PERfoRMAnCE In hIGh SChooL. Remind students of the concept of chain of events. Let students know that your final high school transcript is like the outcome of all of your high school academic actions. What factors affect your academic performance? Which are under your control and which are out of your control? Students should identify the following areas as being under their locus of control when it comes to academic performance: * Class attendance * Class participation * homework completion * Grades on tests and major projects * final class grades (GPA) * Credit accumulation (whether you pass or not) these basic " buckets " or " factors " are listed in the handout. 40 LESSon 5: IntRoDUCtIon to tRAnSCRIPtS