Course:
A.P. Chemistry
Instructor:
Mr. Green
Welcome to Advanced Placement Chemistry. This course is designed to be
the equivalent of the general chemistry courses usually taken during the first
college year. Since it is a college level class, it is significantly more time
consuming than the regular high school chemistry class. Students should expect
more homework than they would receive in the regular class. They should plan on
spending an hour a day reading, doing homework, or reviewing. Even if there is
nothing due the next day, students should be working on AP Chemistry every
day.
College courses often include a separate laboratory class, so this class
will include a significant amount of time spent in the lab. We run into some
difficulties because of this. The labs run in college typically take two to
three hours to complete, and our class period is only 54 minutes long. To do
the appropriate labs we are going to require extra time. Students will be required to come before school or in the
evenings for several labs. I will give at least three days prior notice of
these days (usually a week). I will try to minimize scheduling conflicts, but
the laboratory component makes this necessary.
On May 2 a three hour nationwide test will be given to determine the
whether the student has mastered the material well enough to be granted college
credit. This course will prepare the students for this test.
I.
GRADING PROCEDURE
All
work will be graded on a percentage basis, using the following scale.
|
Percent Correct |
Letter Grade |
|
Percent Correct |
Letter Grade |
|||
94-100% |
A |
|
70-75% |
C |
||||
90-94% |
A- |
|
65-70% |
C- |
||||
87-90% |
B+ |
|
62-65% |
D+ |
||||
84-87% |
B |
|
58-62% |
D |
||||
80-84% |
B- |
|
55-58% |
D- |
||||
75-80% |
C+ |
|
0-55% |
F |
||||
A. GRADED WORK will
consist of:
1.
Tests - Each test will
cover reading assignments, lecture notes, homework assignments, and any lab or
group activity. The test questions will be multiple choice, and essay. There
will be approximately 5 tests per quarter.
2.
Quizzes -
may be announced or unannounced. Each quiz will be approximately 10 questions,
and will be given approximately twice per chapter.
3.
Homework/ Classwork -
Homework will be given regularly.
4.
Qwizdom-
We will be using an student response system during class. It will be used to
check for understanding during lectures. Students’ answers will be recorded and
credit will be given. Half of the credit will be for participation and half for
correct answers
5.
Lab reports/assignments – All
labs are to be recorded in a laboratory notebook, used only for this purpose.
6.
Exams Final exams will be
cumulative from the beginning of the year, both in December and May.
B.
QUARTER GRADES - Quarter grades will be a weighted average of the
scores on the assignments given. Different types of assignments will be given
different emphasis. For example, the average test score will account for 50% of
the quarter grade. The table below lists the weight given to each category.
Graded Work |
% of quarter grade |
Tests |
50% |
Homework/Classwork |
20% |
Qwizdom |
5
% |
Quizzes |
10% |
Lab Reports |
15% |
C. SEMESTER GRADES - The semester grade will
be determined by averaging the percentage scores of the two quarters and the
semester exam. Each quarter grade will make up 40% of the semester grade, and
the exam will make up remaining 20%
D. EXTRA CREDIT - Extra Credit assignments
will be provided approximately mid- quarter.
1.
They may be turned in any time until the due date,(during
the last week of the quarter)
2.
Extra credit may be used to raise the quarter grade by up
to one letter grade.
3.
Extra credit is meant to be extra, so it will not be accepted if more than 10% of the other
assignments are not turned in.
E. SUGGESTIONS
1.
Everything you do in this class will be graded, so it is
important to do every assignment and to turn them in. Partial credit will be
given. Lack of effort will affect your grade.
2.
Cheating is forbidden. This includes blatant copying, and
"borrowing" homework. Both parties involved will be given a zero on
the assignment, parent contact will be made, and other disciplinary action may be taken. I will follow
the guidelines given in the student handbook and the “Brave Code of Conduct.
You should review these policies.
3.
DO NOT
throw away your assignments. They will be handy for studying for the tests, semester
exams, and the AP test.
4.
If there is something that is unclear, ask questions! I
will be available before or after school most days to give extra help.
5.
You will be dropped on the fourth truancy.
II. CLASS
PROCEDURES
A. MATERIALS - Materials needed daily -
1.
Materials needed daily -
Paper Scientific
Calculator Pen (blue or black
ink) or Pencil(#2)
2.
Materials needed when requested -
Textbook Lab
Notebook (bound) Pencil (#2)
B. MAKE-UP WORK
1.
If you are absent, it is your responsibility to make up
all the work you missed. You have the same number of days that you were absent
to turn in the missing work. See me before class to get the missing
assignments.
2.
Pick up any missing work, and notes before or after
class.
3.
Hand in the make up work separately from other
assignments.
4.
If you miss a test or quiz, it must be made up outside
class before or after school. If you are absent the day before a test, you may
make up the test on your time.
C. LATE WORK
1.
If you forget to bring in your homework, I will accept it
ONE day late with a parent's signature, for full credit. This is limited to
twice per quarter.
2.
I will accept it up to two days late if you bring it to
me before or after school and pass a small "quiz" on the assignment
to make sure you have mastered the material. There are no limits to the number
of times you can do this.
3.
Homework is due at the beginning of the period. After class has
started, it will be considered late.
E. ATTENDANCE
1.
Poor attendance can have an impact on you grade. If you
are absent, you have to play catch-up.
2.
If you have excessive absences, your grade will be
impacted.
a.
There is no grade penalty for the first 10 absences per
semester.
b.
Each subsequent absence will result in a 10% penalty on
your semester grade.
3.
You will be dropped on the fourth truancy.
F. TARDIES
1. If you are not in the room when the bell rings you
will be marked tardy and sent to the “tardy machine” for a pass.
2. Repeated tardiness will result in parent contacts, and
referrals, and MAY RESULT IN BEING DROPPED FROM THE CLASS.
G. PASSES Since every minute of class time is
valuable, hall passes will be given only on an emergency basis, with a limit of
one per semester, except under special circumstances.
III CLASSROOM
RULES AND CONSEQUENCES
A. RULES:
1.
Be seated and ready to work before the bell rings.
2.
Bring required materials daily.
3.
Walk and talk with permission only.
4.
Respect others and their property.
5.
No food, drinks, or gum.
6.
Use class time wisely.
7.
Obey all school rules.
B. CONSEQUENCES
1st offense: Warning (Verbal &/or written).
2nd offense: Detention and parent contact.
3rd offense: Class suspension and parent contact.
4th
offense: Referral and parent contact.
Severe
or repeated offenses may result in skipping steps
C. LAB- Because of the importance of safety
in the lab, violation of laboratory safety rules and procedures may result in
loss of lab privileges.