HONORS CHEMISTRY Ms. Bolduc 2008-2009 “From the hundred elements that are at the center of our story, all the planets, rocks, vegetation and animals are made. These elements are the basis of the air, the oceans and the Earth itself. We stand on the elements, we eat the elements, we are the elements. Because our brains are made up of elements, even our opinions are, in a sense, properties of the elements…” -P.W. Atkins Materials Textbook: Modern Chemistry, Davis, Metcalfe, Williams and Castka, 2009 Holt, Rinehart and Winston (required in class on days indicated online). Graphing Calculator (Palm or TI-?) (Required in class everyday). Printed out notes, you received on the first day of school Notebook paper or loose-leaf paper Both pen and pencil One pen that is either, green, red or blue for homework corrections Lab Notebook on lab days Course Description Chemistry provides us the opportunity to understand how chemical properties operate in all aspects of our lives. Chemistry encompasses both the living and the non-living forms on earth and beyond. It is impossible to really and truly understand the functions of the ocean, the human body or even a rock without learning chemistry. It is the intention of this course to introduce to you a portion of the vast kingdom of chemistry. In this course we will learn about, atoms, various states of matter, the movement of electrons, the Periodic Table, chemical bonding, chemical reactions, stoichiometry, redox reactions, acids and bases and hopefully if there is time some organic chemistry. In addition to the chemical concepts, you will find that a major portion of honors chemistry involves mathematics. Be ready to work hard in this class. As long as you stay well organized, read over your notes daily and ASK QUESTIONS frequently you will be very successful. We share a free D period and that is the time that is the most convenient for you to come in for extra help. To remain in this class you must maintain above or equal to a C average. If you are unsure about your decision to be in this class please come talk to me as soon as possible. The honors curriculum is preparing you for any AP science or Honors course/s you may wish to take in the years to come. Laboratory The purpose of the laboratory is to enhance your understanding of the facts and theories in chemistry by having you consider them in the context of the lab—where you will see chemistry really happening. It is my hope to have lab once a week during your block period. HOW TO BE PREPARED FOR EVERY LAB 1. Wear Appropriate Attire: For safety reasons, there can be NO EXCEPTIONS for lab attire. No open-toed shoes. Goggles must be worn at all times. If I notice that one of these rules is not followed, the student in violation of the rule will receive -5 points on the lab write up currently being worked on. If the same student has been in violation of attire more than three times in one cycle, the fourth violation will cause the student to be asked to leave the classroom and consequently will receive a zero for the lab. This seems inflexible, but it is simply too dangerous and your health is of paramount importance!! 2. Read entirety of lab before class: This is what makes the lab safe. Knowing the procedure will help eliminate any dangerous surprises. In an attempt to make sure that each student has read and understood the necessary precautions and finite details, you will be evaluated in one of two ways or both depending on the lab. You will either be given a pre-laboratory assignment that asks questions about the procedure or a pre-laboratory quiz that asks questions about the lab procedure. Pre-laboratory questions should be completed on a separate piece of paper that should be turned in at the beginning of class. Before every lab, the complicated steps are demonstrated and any questions are answered. 3. What to bring to lab area: There should never be extra items on the lab bench. You have been given a laboratory notebook, in which you will record all of your results. All you should have with you at your lab station will be the laboratory notebook, a pen and sometimes a calculator. All calculations and conclusions should be completed in the lecture area after your workstation has been cleaned. 4. What should be included in a post lab? After each lab, a post lab report is due. This should include everything. Each laboratory has its own grade sheet that is posted on your website, this will be guideline that you will follow to complete the required post lab questions. Always use this resource as a checklist when completing the post lab. Each lab requires written observations of any chemical reaction, surprise products of a reaction, mistakes that were made (no you won’t be marked of for them), peculiar phenomenon you weren’t expecting, and anything else you think I would like to know about. Each lab also has post lab questions, often these come in two forms, postlab calculations and postlab inquiry. Each post lab should end with a conclusive paragraph, which is virtually a journal entry for you to reflect on the lab you have completed. You should discuss, concepts you have learned, areas you need clarification on, mistakes your group may have made and analysis of the results. 5. Missing a Lab: If you are absent on a lab day it is your job to collect data from classmates or from your teacher if your classmates have already turned in the lab. Ideally you would make up the lab yourself, and if you have a free period during the other Honors class (G or C) you are welcome and encouraged to do the lab with the other class. It is your responsibility to talk to Ms. Bolduc about when your lab report will be due, you will fill out a form for the Modified Due Date(s). If you were absent to turn in a lab you will find that in your on-line grades there will be “ab” and next to that an F, “ab” simply means that you were absent to turn that in for my records and the 0.0% is a little push to show you the effect it has on your grade. Don’t worry it will be changed when I receive the lab. 6. Late Labs: Labs not turned in the day it is due will immediately begin to lost points. If a lab is turned in by the end of the school day (5 minutes after the last period) then 5 points will have been lost, a lab turned in the next day (despite if class meets the next day or not) 10 points will have been lost. A lab turned in 2 days late will have lost 20 points, 3 days late…30 points, etc until 1 week late (5 days) 50 points. A late lab cannot be turned in for credit after 5 days. Grading Policy Grades will be based on the following scale: A+ = 100 - 97; A = 96 - 93; A- = 92 - 90; B+ = 89 - 86; B = 86 - 83; B- = 82 - 80 C+ = 79 - 74; C = 73 - 67; C- = 66 - 60; D+ = 59 - 57; D = 56 - 54; D- = 53 - 50 Overall course grades will be calculated based on your performance in the following areas: *Tests worth 200 pts *Quizzes worth 50 pts *Lab Reports worth 60-80 pts *Homework worth 10 pts *Sophomore Interdisciplinary Project 90 pts *Midterm 200 pts *Final Exams worth 15% of semester grade *Class Preparedness 5 pts The semester grade is the culmination of points earned during both quarters, in addition to final exam performance. Sample Calculation for Semester Grade: Cycle I Points + Cycle II Points = Semester Work (Semester Work)(0.85) + (Final Exam)(0.15) = Semester Grade Homework Homework is a way for you to practice and reinforce new and old material, as well as for me to check for your understanding of the material. Sometimes you will be given reading assignments on material that we have not yet discussed in class. Homework is graded mostly on effort. Show all work, thoughtful rationale or well-reasoned presentation for answers you have written. Never not attempt a problem assigned. Despite how wrong you think you might be; to earn full credit on an assignment you must show that you have tried hard to complete all the assigned material. If you are struggling on a specific question, write the definitions of what the question might be asking, or write what concept you feel you need more work on, in order for you to correctly answer the question. An unanswered question is not acceptable and will loose points. Do not skip homework assignments. If you do, you will find yourself BEHIND immediately. If by some unlikely chance you do not turn in your assignment, it must be turned in the very next class period for minimal credit. Fully completed assignments turned in 1 day late will earn 7 out of 10 points, assignments turned before the chapter test but later than 1 day will earn 5 out of 10 points and assignments turned in after the chapter quiz/test will earn 4 of 10 points. YOU are responsible for missed work and assignments; the excuse that “you were not here” to get the assignment is not accepted. You have the website, my e-mail address and your friendly classmates. If you are planning to be absent, please let me know as soon as possible. Assignments should always be turned into your class’s box at the beginning of class. All in-class assignments as well as homework must be neatly completed in pen or pencil on a full piece of paper. NO fringes! Illegible work will be marked incorrect. Assignments handed in with no name will be posted on the door of our classroom, and will be given partial credit once identified only. The format of every homework assignment done by hand or on the computer must have the following heading: Name Chemistry Period Due Date Assignment name and problems due Other Guidelines • If there is more that one page, then all pages should have your last name and the page number in the upper right-hand corner of the header. • Your first and last name, subject, due date, and assignment are single spaced and placed in the upper left-hand corner. • The title of the paper (if there is one) is double spaced from the heading and is centered. Double space only and begin the text. • All text is double spaced and use only 12 point standard-type fonts • Paragraphs are indicated by indenting one tab (1/2"). • The margin around all fours sides of the paper is one inch. • All paper is 8 1/2" x 11" and white. Since there is so much to do in this course and we have so little time together we will need to make optimal use of every second. At the beginning of many classes you will be asked to collect a “BellRinger” as you turn in your homework at the very beginning of class. This will be completed silently and turned over when finished. These will come in one of three formats: A Brain Prompt, to get your brain thinking about the new topic we will be addressing in class. Your responses will be used to start discussion about the new topic. A Comprehension Check, that assesses your understanding of the material you worked on the night before. This is graded and averaged w/ the homework grade for that night. A Brain Jogger, a practice problem or two to remind you of what we were working on the class before. Meeting for Extra Help I am devoted to helping all of my students during D-periods on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday, usually there are a number of students meeting during that time, which often turns into a group study period with me floating to different groups to help. Meeting after school needs to be arranged approximately one week beforehand. If Ms. Bolduc is unavailable or unable to give the one-on-one attention there are a number of options for you, a few AP chemistry students have offered to help tutor that I can put you in contact with, Ms. Chow is also a school chemistry expert and there are always outside tutors available to you. The key to success in chemistry is to practice, practice, practice. The more you do this the more successful you will become. If you are struggling to motivate in all the practicing and are not seeing success you need make sure to schedule a meeting with Ms. Bolduc to set a course of action that will get you the intensive practice that will help you. Plagiarism Plagiarism is not in any way permitted in this class ever! Please refer to the “Sophomore Chemistry Plagiarism Agreement.” 
 Policy on Tardiness Punctuality is expected. If you enter the class late without a late slip it is immediately recorded as an unexcused late. The accumulation of 2 unexcused tardies will result in a meeting with yours truly and 40 minutes of your time devoted to helping clean up the lab, run errands for Ms. Bolduc or other teachers. Unexcused tardies will only be changed with a note from a teacher or administrator.