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Chemistry
Homework and Classwork |
20% |
Homework will be given on a regular basis. |
Labs and Quizzes |
25% |
Labs - One of the best ways to learn about science is with hands-on experimentation and so we will be doing many labs throughout the semester. Along with most experiments, you will be expected to answer questions about the experiment and for 3 experiments, you will be required to write a formal lab report. Quizzes - Both announced and unannounced, quizzes are an easy way to boost your grade as long as you are keeping up. If you get behind,
however, quizzes can seriously damage your average. |
Class Participation and Notebook Checks |
10% |
Class participation includes discussion, group work, questions, assignments completed in class, and coming to class prepared. You are expected to come to class every day with your notebook, writing paper, calculator, and a pen or pencil. Like quizzes, this is an easy way to help your average. |
Major Tests/Projects |
45% |
Students can expect 1 test a week. This is to ensure students are keeping up with the material and have a good grasp on the basics. From time to time you will also be asked to do a major project. These will carry the same value as a test. |
Each nine weeks grade will be 40% of your final grade. A final exam taken at the end of the semester will count for 20% of your final grade.
** Look again through the percentage breakdown of your final grade. I have
designed it this way so that even the worst test taker can still pass this course by keeping
up with homework, notes, and class participation. Anyone who fails this course has
obviously put no effort into passing. Do not let that be you!
Honors Chemistry
Homework and Classwork |
15% |
Homework will be given on a regular basis. |
Labs and Quizzes |
25% |
Labs - One of the best ways to learn about science is with hands-on experimentation and so we will be doing many labs throughout the semester. Along with most experiments, you will be expected to answer questions about the experiment and for 3 experiments, you will be required to write a formal lab report. Quizzes - Both announced and unannounced, quizzes are an easy way to boost your grade as long as you are keeping up. If you get behind,
however, quizzes can seriously damage your average. |
Class Participation and Notebook Checks |
5% |
Class participation includes discussion, group work, questions, assignments completed in class, and coming to class prepared. You are expected to come to class every day with your notebook, writing paper, calculator, and a pen or pencil. Like quizzes, this is an easy way to help your average. |
Major Tests/Projects |
55% |
Students can expect 1 test a week. This is to ensure students are keeping up with the material and have a good grasp on the basics. As part of being in an honors class, each test will include several "honors level" questions that will assess the depth of student understanding. From time to time you will also be asked to do a major project. These will carry the same value as a test. |
Each nine weeks grade will be 40% of your final grade. A final exam taken at the end of the semester will count for 20% of your final grade.
** Look again through the percentage breakdown of your final grade. I have
designed it this way so that even the worst test taker can still pass this course by keeping
up with homework, notes, and class participation. Anyone who fails this course has
obviously put no effort into passing. Do not let that be you!
AP Chemistry
Homework/ Classwork |
10% |
You will be given a syllabus for each unit that includes reading and homework assignments. It is your responsibility to keep up with your own work. You must understand that the rigors of this class necessitate that you do this. Read, Read, Read, and Take Notes on what you are Reading!!!! I can’t possibly teach you every bit of information you will need in the time allotted – that is why you have a book. Homework will be checked and I will give frequent pop-quizzes to ensure you are keeping up. You will also have a problem set to turn in towards the end of each unit that will count a significant
amount of your homework grade. You will probably want to form a study group that can get together to help each other with these problems because they will become very challenging during the year. |
Labs |
25% |
You will be required to keep notes, record data, and analyze data for each lab in a lab notebook. Colleges may ask to see this notebook before they will award laboratory credit. Before you start any lab, you must have the beginning of your lab notebook write-up through procedure and data tables. You will not be allowed to have the “cook book” laboratory protocol at your lab station. Lab notebook write-ups consist of the procedure, observations, data collected, your calculations, error analysis, and answers to questions about the nature of the lab. There will be lab quizzes on your lab notebook for some
labs. For certain labs, you will be required to write a formal lab report. This will follow a standard format according to directions you will receive later. |
Quizzes |
15% |
Both announced and unannounced, quizzes are an easy way to boost your grade as long as you are keeping up. If you get behind, however, quizzes can seriously damage your average. |
Major Tests/Projects |
50% |
Guaranteed to be challenging. Tests will include multiple choice questions, problems, and essay questions. These will be timed tests so make sure you know the material and are prepared. They are written to prepare you for the AP exam. Unfortunately, you will discover that the AP exam is even more difficult. |
Chemistry Logs: Chemistry logs are worth 10 extra credit points added to your test grade. You will be asked to write about concepts and your approach to solving problems. This writing is for you and will help you clarify your thoughts before each test. The topics for these writings will be assigned during the unit; they will be due at the beginning of the period on test days. No logs will be accepted after that time.
Chemistry Tutoring: You never really know something until you teach it to someone else. So every Wednesday, beginning September 13th, two of you will be conducting chemistry tutoring for the general chemistry students at West. The tutoring will be held in Room Y-1 and will last from 3:10 until 4:15. You are required to lead one tutoring session each nine weeks - a sign up sheet will be available soon. You will receive a quiz grade each nine weeks for fulfilling this commitment.
Student Leandership
Journal |
180pts (20%) |
Each student will be required to turn in a journal entry each week. These entries should reflect what you have been doing for Leadership and/or can be a reflection of your personal experiences while practicing some of the Leadership skills you will be learning this year. I will read each entry (they are confidential-as is any personal info discussed in class), and you will be given credit, but not graded on these entries. NOTE: This is not a diary – I do not want a synopsis of your week. Journal entries are due every Friday and are worth 10 pts each. |
Homework/Classwork |
90pts (10%) |
This will include reading assignments, brainstorming ideas, public speaking practice, presentation preparation, etc. (no late work accepted) |
Success Projects |
270pts (30%) |
Core requirements for this semester: · Three public speaking assignments – 15 pts · Five creative visual assignments – 10 pts · Lead one current event discussion – 15 pts · Plan, produce, and participate in one pep rally – 15 pts · Lead by example during spirit week – 10 pts ·
Senior Picnic (all aspects) – 35 pts · Lead one leadership seminar – 20 pts · Organize and carry out one lunchtime activity per group – 15 pts · Club Day (all aspects) – 35 pts · Fund-raising (one for leadership class) – 25 pts · Complete one community service project - 25 pts · Mid-term project – 25 pts · Final Exam – 25 pts |
Participation |
360pts (40%) |
Any time you miss a class, do not participate in class activities, or do not cooperate with the teacher or the leadership guidelines, you class participation grade will suffer. Each of you will receive up to 4 points in class each day: · 4 - Student was in class, prepared, and worked hard · 3 - Student worked about 75% of the time · 2 - Student worked about 50% of the time · 1 - Student worked 25% of the time · 0 - Student was absent OR did not participate |
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