Course Description

The student's grade will be based upon the accumulation of points within the following categories:

• Tests
• Laboratory Reports
• Solved Problems
• Quizzes

Letter grades will be determined by overall percentage using the standard grading scale (90% = A, 80% = B, etc.).
Late work is not accepted (unless excused absent).

Lecture: Formal lecture will not take place as often as in a general science class. Do the readings in the book before coming to class. Use lecture time to reinforce the readings, taking careful notes on those points where the textbook was not very clear. Much of the time in class the students will be solving problems, discussing concepts, and discussing laboratory investigations.

Laboratory Investigations: Although laboratory work is very time consuming, it is a very important aspect of this course. It may be necessary from time to time for the students to finish a laboratory during their free time. These laboratories will be announced in advance. The students will usually be given 3 school days before a lab's report is due. NO LATE LABORATORY REPORTS ARE ACCEPTED!

Problem Sets: These are your homework and will be assigned and collected periodically throughout the chapter. Do the homework problems when they are assigned and do extras if possible! Try to do the problems without relying on your notes, textbook, or peers for support. Answer keys will be posted to all homework problems when they are returned. NO LATE WORK IS ACCEPTED!

Notebook: Students are required to keep a chemistry notebook. A three ring binder is recommended, in which all materials handed out during the year will be kept. Students will also keep a separate laboratory notebook.

Tests: Tests will be scheduled approximately every three weeks. These will, in general, be a combination of multiple choice, problem solving, and essay questions. Avoid cramming at all costs! Budget your time carefully so that cramming will not be required. Learning is more efficient when the material is reviewed for small chunks of time on a daily basis rather than one huge chunk of time just before an exam.

Absences on test days: If you are absent on the day of a test you will make up the test before it is returned to the students or you will take an alternative make-up test.

Absences on quiz days: Quizzes must be made up the day you return from an absence. This should not be a problem since quizzes will be announced.

Grading procedures: In calculating the course grade, no lab report grade will be dropped. The lowest test score will be dropped when determining the semester grade. In general, make-up tests due to low performance will not be given. Extra credit offered will adhere to school policy and will be teacher-initiated.

Class meeting schedule: Chemistry has been scheduled to meet during _________ hour. It may be necessary for us to meet before school, after school, or in the evening to finish laboratory experiments.

Teacher assistance: I will be available to help students after school. To ensure I will be available when you need help, sign your name on the "Help Request" form to make an appointment. Seek help as soon as you realize you need it. This course is pyramidal and builds on each previous layer, so please seek help as soon as possible if you don't understand something.

Two notebooks will be required for this class: a class notebook and a laboratory notebook.

Class Notebook: You will need a three-ring binder will several dividers and loose leaf paper. You will be organizing the following papers chronologically in this class notebook:

1. Class notes should be taken during each class and should be dated and titled on each page. You should keep your notes in chronological order. If you miss a class, it is recommended that you copy someone else's notes because you will be responsible for the information covered in your absence.
2. Homework assignments should be titled with the chapter and page number, assigned problems, and date.
3. Laboratory procedure handouts will be given to you at the start of the semester in a packet. Do not lose the packet! The handouts may be helpful to refer to for background information.
4. Quizzes should be organized and will be helpful in studying for quarter exams. Laboratory Notebook: You will also need a separate small, permanently bound notebook (e.g. composition notebook) for recording data during your lab activities. This notebook should be kept as neat and orderly as possible. As data is collected during a laboratory, BOTH lab partners should record data in their own notebook. DO NOT HAVE ONE PARTNER WRITE DOWN DATA TO BE COPIED BY ANOTHER PARTNER LATER! BOTH WRITE IT DOWN AS YOU COMPLETE THE LAB.

*Pages Two and Three

Pages Four to. . . .

* These should be done one time only on the first and second pages of your labortory notebook. They should not be done for each lab!

NOTE: Parts I-IV must be written before you can enter the lab!

Title Page (name, course, school, year

Table of contents (a list of each lab done

Title of experiment, you name and date

Question of Study

Procedure (simplify the lab handout)

Observations

• Quantitative (Data table--draw before entering lab)
• Qualitative (Record at time of observation

Interpretations

• Graphs/Charts (secred in notebook)
• Calculations (at least one of each type)
• Analysis
• Error Analysis
• Post0lab Questions (question and answer)
• Conclusion

Lab reports will be written up in a bound laboratory notebook. It is important that you keep a neat, accurate representation of your laboratory work.

Every lab report is a writing assignment, expected to be of the quality of an English writing assignment. All lab reports must be handwritten in dark blue or black ink. All errors should be drawn through with a single line. No whiteout!

Scientific writing uses the past participle and never uses "I", "our", "your", "we", etc. Instead of saying "We mixed the chemicals together" it is more correct to say, "The chemicals were mixed together."