About AP Chemistry
Course Description

What You Will Need

Grading Policy
    Objectively
    Subjectively

Cheating Policy

Attendance Policy

Determining Your Grade

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Course Description

The AP Chemistry course at University High School is designed to be the equivalent of the general chemistry course usually taken during the first college year.  For some students this course enables them to undertake, as freshmen, second year work in the chemistry sequence at their institutions or to register in courses in other fields where general chemistry is a prerequisite. For other students, the AP Chemistry course fulfills the laboratory science requirement and frees time for other courses.  

AP Chemistry should meet the objectives of a good general chemistry course. Students in this course should attain a depth of understanding of fundamentals and reasonable competence in dealing with chemical problems. The course contributes to the development of the students' abilities to think clearly and to express their ideas, orally and in writing, with clarity and logic.   The AP chemistry course in general chemistry differs qualitatively from the usual first secondary school course in chemistry with respect to the type of text book used, the topics covered, the emphasis on chemical calculations and the mathematical formulation of principles.  The differences appear in the number of topics treated, the time spent on the course by students, and the nature and the variety of experiment done in the laboratory.

Grading Policy

You will be evaluated in the following manner:

Objectively:

TESTS: given after each unit. Questions based on subject content and understanding.   Test format may change depending on nature of material. Identified prior to test.

QUIZZES: given periodically -usually with advanced notice (not always) Instructor always holds the right to pop quizzes if he deems it necessary.

Lab reports are usually due the Friday following the completion of the experiment.

HOMEWORK: Given almost daily - designed to lead you through the exciting world of
chemistry. It is essential that you do all of these to the best of your ability. Copying them will do no good to anybody. The answers to most problems can be found in the back of your book for you to check your progress. A complete solution guide is available in the classroom.

Points will be awarded on daily homework in the following manner:

     +4 pts. - assignment completed
     +2 pts. - assignment partially completed
      -2 pts. - assignment not turned in

Instructor has the right to assign intermediate point values at his discretion.   The student can bring his/her homework grade up from a -2 to a +1 by bringing the missing assignment to the teacher within 24 hours of the original due time along with the currently due assignment.

Other materials may be assigned from time to time where necessary and checked for accuracy and/or for satisfactory completion within a given time - projects, written reports, computer materials, etc.

Subjectively:

You will be evaluated by me in the following manner based on daily observation:

 

What You Will Need

Text: Chemistry by Zumdahl and Zumdahl 6th Edition   should contain General Chemistry Interactive CD Rom

Study Guide:  Study Guide by Paul Kelter  (Optional)

Laboratory  Report Notebook:  available from Bone Student Center Bookstore

Supplies:
Large spiral notebook
Large 3 ring binder
Scientific calculator

 

Cheating Policy

Cheating in any form will not be tolerated in this class. Any student that presents reasonable evidence of cheating or copying will be penalized of the first offense by a zero on the test, quiz or assignment. For a second offense during a semester, the penalty will include a zero on the assignment, a phone call or letter to parents and referral to the Principal for disciplinary action. After a third offense during a semester, the student will be removed permanently from the class with a failing grade.  Any student that knowingly allows another student to copy a test, quiz, lab report or assignment will be awarded the same penalty as the student who copied.

Attendance Policy:

Because work done in class will deviate greatly from the material in the textbook and the complexity of some of the material, it is of utmost importance that you be in class every day. Try to minimize the number of days absent. All work is to be made up after you return to class according to the number of days absent. i.e. absent 3 days (excused), 3 days to make up the work. The student is responsible for finding out what work is to be made up.

Wednesday night labs cannot be made up for the most part. Do not schedule appointments, sports activities, school visits or family activities on these nights. If a coach or activity sponsor has scheduled a practice or game/match during your lab period, please discuss with them the importance of being in class. Coaches have been very accommodating in the past if they are informed of conflicts ahead of time. If missing lab becomes unavoidable, give your teacher as much advanced notice as possible.

Unexcused Absences - No work except tests may be made up after an unexcused absence.

ABSENCE IS NO EXCUSE FOR LOW GRADES OR POOR WORK!!!

Clock reation turning color

 

Determining
Your Grade:

     (total points earned / total points available) x 100

                            90% of total points - A
                            80% of total points - B
                            70% of total points - C
                            60% of total points - D
                            Below  -  too terrible to
                                           contemplate

Teacher reserves the right to curve the grades at the end of a quarter or semester if he feels that it is necessary. Individuals tests may be curved if deemed necessary by the teacher.

AP EXAM - The AP Chemistry Exam will not be included in your grade as the results will not be released until July. Many of the daily and weekly assignments will be used to prepare you for the exam and may be evaluated for a grade. Most of the tests and quizzes will reflect the AP exam format and level of challenge. First semester exam (20% of semester grade) will consist of questions from past AP exams and will reflect (at least part) of the AP exam format. There will be no second semester exam

 

 

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