GRADING POLICY AND COURSE DESCRIPTION-HONORS CHEMISTRY-KIRKMAN
Chemistry is the study of matter. This course will include
units of study dealing with inorganic and physical chemistry.
In the study of these units, you will be involved in a number
of various activities. These will include: laboratory work,
lecture, group discussions, problem-solving activities,
graphing, laboratory write-ups, written reports, and other
individual and group activities.
HOMEWORK & WRITTEN CLASSWORK(REQUIRED TO BE TURNED IN):
HOMEWORK IS DUE WHEN YOU WALK INTO THE DOOR-WORK DONE
AFTER THE BELL TO START CLASS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED!!!
Doing assignments prior to class discussion is VERY
important in helping you understand this subject. You will
be given a calendar listing what will be accomplished in
class every day; your homework will be to prepare for that
event. If the calendar shows that we will discuss chapter
2 pages 70-88, you should read those pages and outline them
in your notebook. If your calendar states that I will discuss
problems 9-21 on page 67, your homework would be to work those
problems, show ALL steps- if it has a formula show it
(USE PENCIL), circle your answer[LEAVE SPACE AFTER PROBLEM
TO TAKE NOTES AND CORRECTIONS]). Homework will be checked
for effort- 100% effort(you try EVERY problem, or answer
EVERY question)!!!!
IF EVERY PROBLEM/QUESTION DOES NOT SHOW WRITTEN EFFORT YOU
WILL NOT GET CREDIT FOR THAT ASSIGNMENT. Answer all
questions in complete statements; a "yes" OR "no" for
an answer will not be accepted. Math problems must show the
math steps you followed to get your answer-the answer alone
will not be counted as acceptable. THE EXERCISES WITHIN THE
CHAPTER HAVE THE ANSWERS IN THE BACK OF THE BOOK. IN ORDER
TO GET CREDIT FOR THESE QUESTIONS YOU WILL HAVE TO WRITE THE
QUESTION ALONG WITH THE ANSWER. Many students have found
it helpful write the question on all problems; the final
exam is open notes- many times an answer alone is not a lot
of help on a chapter you did the work on many weeks, or
months before!!!
IMPORTANT!!!!!!
IF YOU DO ALL HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENTS FOR THE 18 WKS, YOU WILL
BE ALLOWED TO DROP ONE TEST GRADE!!!
THERE WILL NOT BE A 9 WEEKS OR SEMESTER EXAM. A FINAL EXAM
WILL BE GIVEN. YOUR GRADE WILL BE DETERMINED BY
AVERAGING YOUR WORK FOR THE COURSE ACCORDING TO
INFORMATION GIVEN IN THIS HANDOUT!
IF YOU COMPLETE ALL THE HOMEWORK/WRITTEN CLASSWORK ON THE
MATERIAL OVER A TESTING PERIOD(UNIT TEST), YOU WILL GET
A BONUS OF 5PTS ON THAT TEST!!!
IF THE ENTIRE CLASS HAS ALL OF THEIR HOMEWORK ON A
GIVEN DAY A 1 PT BONUS WILL BE GIVEN ON THE NEXT UNIT
TEST!!!
UNIT TESTS(40%): You will be responsible for all material covered
in class AND material discussed in your text book. You
need to be very organized. A notebook(your choice on type
or style) needs to be used to keep all of the course
material together. Unit tests will be closed notes.
Final exam will be open notes. NOTES HAVE TO BE IN YOUR
OWN HANDWRITING- ANY PRINTED(except handouts that have been
given to you in class), MACHINE COPIES, OR HANDWRITTEN DOCUMENTS
WRITTEN BY SOMEONE ELSE THAT IS CONTAINED IN YOUR NOTEBOOK WILL BE
CONSIDERED CHEATING AND HANDLED ACCORDINGLY. Advance notice is
always given for tests, therefore, tests will be taken on assigned day
(unless an extended absence has occurred). If an absence
occurs on a test day, arrangements for a make-up must be
made immediately upon return(see next paragraph).
IF YOU DO NOT BRING A CALCULATOR, YOU WILL NOT BE ALLOWED TO
USE ONE. BE SURE TO REMEMBER TO BRING A CALCULATOR WITH YOU
EVERY DAY.
Make Up/Retest: A date will be listed on the board for
make-up/retest after each test. Make up tests will be given
after school. Failure to take the make-up test on the assigned
day will result in a zero on that test unless permission is
received from the teacher prior to the assigned date.
IF YOU MISS THE TEST ON THE REGULAR TEST DAY, YOU WILL ONLY BE
PERMITTED TO TAKE THE MAKE-UP ON THE MAKE UP/RETEST DAY!!!
IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS REGARDING YOUR GRADE, TALK TO ME
AFTER CLASS OR WRITE ME A NOTE AND PLACE IT IN THE BASKET ON
MY DESK AS YOU LEAVE CLASS.
A 5 PT BONUS FOR HOMEWORK IS AVAILABLE ON ALL UNIT TESTS
(SEE PREVIOUS SECTION)!
A 5 PT BONUS WILL BE AWARDED IF YOU TAKE THE ASSIGNED TEST
ON THE ASSIGNED DAY!
A 1 PT BONUS WILL BE AWARDED FOR EVERY DAY THE ENTIRE CLASS
HAS THEIR HOMEWORK(SEE PREVIOUS SECTION)!
YOU MAY TAKE ANY UNIT TEST(TAKEN ON THE REGULAR TEST DAY)
OVER ON THE ASSIGNED MAKE-UP DAY. IF YOU ARE ABSENT ON
THE REGULAR TEST DAY, YOU CAN ONLY TAKE THE TEST ONCE!!
THE SECOND GRADE WILL COUNT!(see make-up/retest section
above)
FINAL EXAM(20%): Will cover all material covered during the
course and will be open notes(SEE REQUIREMENTS ABOVE).
CLASS PARTICIPATION(10%): You will start off with 100
points each 4 1/2 week(progress report)period. A class
participation grade will be given each progress report
period. The average of these grades will be count 10%
of your final grade. This grade is determined solely at the
discretion of your teacher. The purpose of this grade is
to reward those students that participate in class
discussions, come to class prepared & ON TIME, and provide a
positive class attitude.
Points will be deducted from class participation for:
tardies-TARDY #2 WILL GET YOU A WARNING/TARDY #3 TWO
DAYS DETENTION/TARDY #4 AND ON WILL REMOVE POINTS
(5 points for each tardy during that 4 1/2 week
time will will be deducted)
not bringing required material to class
behavior that detracts from class progress
(You will be expected to conduct yourself in a
mature, responsible manner, and always display
common courtesy(speech and actions) to others.
not paying attention in class or during class
activities(sleeping, doing other work, etc)
PLAYING IN LAB/NOT FOLLOWING SAFETY GUIDELINES IN LAB
WEAR YOUR GOGGLES!!!
PLAYING COMPUTER GAMES ON YOUR PROGRAMMABLE CALCULATOR
(YOUR MEMORY MIGHT BE ERASED)
ATTENDANCE: If you are not in the room when the tardy bell
sounds, an absence will be recorded in the roll book. If
you are tardy it will be your responsibility to sign-in
tardy in the TARDY LOG BOOK! At the end of the day your
absence will be changed to a tardy; if you have a written
excuse for your tardy, place it in the front flap of the
TARDY LOG BOOK (be sure your name and the teacher's name
can be read easily)!! According to school policy if you
are over 10 minutes late it will be considered an absence.
SOME STUDENTS HAVE NOT SIGNED IN TO KEEP FROM BEING COUNTED
TARDY-THEY HAVE BEEN RATHER UPSET WHEN THEY TRIED TO EXEMPT
THE FINAL EXAM AND THE ABSENCES RECORDED KEPT THEM FROM
EXEMPTING THE EXAM!!!
LABORATORY WORK(20%)
ALL LAB REPORTS ARE DUE WHEN YOU WALK INTO THE DOOR!!!
A detailed handout outlining how to write a
laboratory report is included in this packet. This report
will be due the CLASS day(when you walk into the room)
following the experiment. No late work will be accepted
unless due to an absence(WORKING ON THE LAB DURING CLASS ON
THE DUE DATE WILL RESULT IN A GRADE OF 50 WHEN YOU TURN IT IN).
LABORATORY SAFETY RULES MUST BE FOLLOWED AT ALL TIMES!!!
Failure to do so could result in you being taken out of
the laboratory area(grade of "0" on that lab). The main
reason to be very aware of safety rules is to make sure
that you do not hurt yourself or others. SAFETY GOGGLES
SHALL BE WORN DURING ALL LABORATORY EXERCISES-over the
eyes, not hanging around your neck-eye glasses are not
safety goggles! SAFETY GOGGLES ARE TO BE WORN EVERYWHERE IN
THE CLASSROOM EXCEPT THE REGULAR SEATING AREA DURING LAB-
TAKING THEM OFF TO WRITE, MASS SAMPLES, GETTING CHEMICALS, ETC.
COULD RESULT IN SOMETHING ENTERING YOUR EYE. Failure to
comply with safety goggle usage may result in loss of points
on the lab you are performing. Sitting on lab table tops is
not a safe practice. If you were to sit on an acid or base
spill, it would make a lasting impression.
A LAB FEE OF $5.00 IS REQUESTED TO COVER THE COST OF
MATERIAL CONSUMED THROUGHOUT THE COURSE.
Be sure to turn in lab reports-failure to do so is a grade
of "0"-turning in something is better than a zero!
(see paragraph on extra credit in this section)
Spend some QUALITY time on the conclusion-it counts 50
points on each lab!!
Make-up labs will be offered from time to time during the
course. A make up lab is done at home and written up
according to the regular format. A make-up lab will replace
a lab of your choice with a grade of 100. NO GRADES OF ZERO
WILL BE REPLACED WITH MAKE-UP LABS!!! If you are absent
on a lab day it will not count against you, and does not
need to be made up.
EXTRA CREDIT
Lab reports will be returned to you with areas marked
that need additional work. You will be allowed
correct these areas, and turn your lab report back in
the following class day for up to 10 extra points(ALL
AREAS THAT WERE MARKED HAVE TO BE CORRECTED on
that lab- maximum grade will be 100). If you performed
the lab and did not turn in, you may turn it in on
the "lab regrade day" for a maximum of 50 pts.
Make all corrections on a separate piece of paper and
staple it as the LAST page of the lab report.
WRITTEN REPORTS(10%):
REPORTS ARE DUE WHEN YOU WALK INTO THE DOOR ON THE ASSIGNED
DAY. LATE REPORTS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED UNLESS DUE TO AN
ABSENCE(IF YOU WORK ON THEM IN CLASS, ON THE DUE DATE, AND
TRY TO TURN THEM IN THEY WILL BE CONSIDERED LATE) Due dates
will be given for each report. No late reports will be
accepted unless due to an absence(if absent they are due the
day you return). Reports are to be at least 5 FULL pages in
length(not counting the cover page, charts, pictures,
drawings, or bibliography), and in your own hand writing.
At least five bibliography sources are to be included.
THESE ARE THE MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS. Topics will be on an
idea, person, or concept covered in the text book during
that part of the course. YOU WILL PICK YOUR OWN TOPIC!
TOPICS THAT YOU MAY CHOOSE ARE FROM MATERIAL COVERED FROM
REPORT DUE DATE TO REPORT DUE DATE(example material covered
in chapter 1 would be a possible topic for report grade 1.
It would not be an acceptable topic for reports 2,3,4,5, or
6.
Your bibliography should conform to acceptable standards.
Examples of correct bibliography form are listed below:
"All in a Day's Work-Study," American Education
(January-February, 1970), pp. 12-14.
"Careers Without College," Ebony (July, 1970), pp. 120-
122
Feingold, S. Norman, and Sol Swerdloff. Occupations
and Careers. New York: McGraw-Hill Book Co.,
Inc., 1969.
Munschauer, John L. "The Anatomy of a Career," Journal
of College Placement (February-March, 1970),
pp. 35-38.
Patton, Evelyn D., and Dora W. Steiner. Let's Look at
Your Future. Metuchen, N.J.: The Scarecrow Press,
Inc., 1966.
Sifferd, Clavin S. Selecting an Occupation.
Bloomington, Ill.: McKnight & McKnight Publishing
Company, 1962.
In order to get a 100, your report must be 5 pages in
length, on the topic you chose, in your handwriting, and
have 5 bibliography sources. Points will be deducted for:
incorrect length(-25 to 75) [WRITE ON EVERY LINE-DO NOT
SKIP LINES-PAGE 5 MUST COVER COMPLETE PAGE!]
material included not on subject-trying to fill
space, large text size, excessive spacing between
words(-25)
typed or someone else's handwriting(-100)
less than 5 bibliography sources(-25)
improper subject(-75)
You will be in this course 18 weeks, and will have 6 report
grades. The average of these 6 reports will count 10% of
your course grade.
FINAL GRADE: The numerical average for the course
will be calculated on a point basis using the
following scale:
A 94-100; B 85-93; C 77-84; D 70-76; F 70-0
FINAL GRADE WILL BE AVERAGED ACCORDING TO THE
VALUES LISTED ABOVE AND SUMMARIZED AS FOLLOWS:
40% UNIT TESTS(average of all unit tests)
40% APPLICATION
10% CLASS PARTICIPATION
(you will receive 4 grades-one each 4 1/2
weeks-the average of these 4 grades will
count 10%)
2O% LABORATORY(average grade for all labs)
10% WRITTEN REPORTS
2O% FINAL EXAM(unless exempt by attendance policy)
(if you exempt your final: tests count 45%,
participation 15%, Lab 25%, and reports 15%)
MATERIALS NEEDED:
Notebook: type and style up to you
Pencil or pen(all math work is to be done in pencil)
Text book: CHEMISTRY: A MODERN COURSE
Calculator: capable of doing scientific notation and
log functions. Calculators may be used on any
test. Borrowing calculators during tests will
be considered cheating and handled accordingly.
Graph Paper: 10 squares per inch.