Physical Science of Chemistry 2012-13
Mr. Michael Rourke
chemistrywithrourke.weebly.com
[email protected]
586.784.2176
Office Hours
Monday and Wednesday 2:30 – 4:30
Course Description
Physical Science is the study of a single concept, Energy, from the point of view from the three major science disciplines – Biology, Chemistry, and Physics. Each trimester section will be unique from the viewpoint of the study of energy, though there will be overlap in specific content covered in each of the three sections. The goal is to understand energy is not confined to one distinct course but is relevant to all sciences.
Grading Scale
3.7-4.0 A
3.5-3.6 A-
3.3-3.4 B+
3.2 B
3.0-3.1 B-
2.8-2.9 C+
2.7 C
2.5-2.6 C-
2.3-2.4 D+
2.2 D
2.0-2.1 D-
0-1.9 E
Core Content of Physical Science
Students will study Atomic Structure, Matter and Energy, the Periodic Table, Bonding, Chemical Reactions, States of Matter and Thermochemistry.
Grading
What is a CP?
Students will be assessed on their understanding of concepts in the chemistry-related topics listed in Core Content of Chemistry, as well as, skills that accompany laboratory activities and any hands-on, project-based activities. You will earn a full CP (Content Proficiency) score of 4/4 if you are demonstrating a high level of proficiency with a concept, a score of 0 if you are not showing proficiency, and a 2 if you are somewhere in between. Keep in mind that this is measuring proficiency over the course of the whole semester and not just on one particular day. Most CP’s are short - a few questions – while some can be more detailed, such as a laboratory report consisting of several CP’s.
This system allows you to show proficiency with material even if you have not done well on an initial CP. Your proficiency scores could drop later in the semester, too, including a final exam. Students will be given the opportunity to be re-assessed by the instructor to demonstrate content proficiency.
Students cannot be re-assessed on more than 2 CP’s in one day; a 24-hour Study Period is mandatory after receiving a score on a CP; a student’s grade may decrease from the initial CP if they fail to demonstrate growth; the responsibility to be reassessed is on the student, not the teacher; a student has 2 weeks from the day they receive the initial graded CP to demonstrate proficiency; reassessments must be done before school, after school, during lunch, or Study Hall – no re-assessments will be given during class time or research. After school appointments are available during the instructor’s office hours. Please notify the instructor ahead of time if the student is planning to utilize the after school office hours. NO reassessments will be given after the 2 week deadline has passed. No exceptions!
You will be given opportunities to show proficiency in many ways. There will be written assessments, short answer, or essay questions. You can interview/converse with the instructor. You may be able to practically demonstrate skills through application.
Students may be given homework CP’s. A homework CP consists of a couple questions from current or past material. These CP’s cannot be retaken but the three lowest scores will be dropped at the end of the trimester. A homework CP missed due to absence will not be excused, it will count as a dropped homework CP. If you plan on being absent, then email the CP answers before the start of class. Extended absences will be given special consideration.
Cumulative Finals: At the end of the trimester there may be a cumulative final. The final could be used as a mechanism to change some of your earlier marks.
Absences
Macomb Academy of Arts & Sciences is a project-based learning environment that prides itself on hands-on learning and inquiry instruction. While there is a classroom set of textbooks available for reference, the students will not be learning directly from the textbook. All learning and classroom involvement is done inside the classroom. Missing numerous classes will significantly hinder a student’s ability to succeed in this course. Students who miss school will be responsible for making up the work before school, during lunch, during Study Hall, or after school. Class time will not be provided for making up work missed due to absences.
Plagiarism
Please use your own ideas, thoughts, and writings. We want to see how you organize your thoughts and interpret information you read and things you see rather than how another author, including fellow students, has done it. It is obvious when cut-and-paste of the words of a more knowledgeable author has occurred. If somebody else’s words will help enhance what you are trying to say, you must give credit to that source. You may lose all credit and chance for make-up on any plagiarized assignment. If you don’t know what it means to “cite” something, come see us or another instructor.
PowerSchool and GoogleDocs
All grades will be recorded in the online grade book called PowerSchool. If you are not set up on PowerSchool, contact your high school administrators. Grades will not be handed out by the instructor directly to the student at any time. If a student requests their grade, they must access their grade directly from PowerSchool. Please allow at least 48 hours for grades to be input on PowerSchool; 7 days for lab reports.
All students will need to set up a GoogleDocs account. You only need an email address to set up a GoogleDocs account. We will use GoogleDocs to submit assignments, for teacher-student communications, and student-student group communications. It is highly advised you have your GoogleDocs account set up before the end of the first week of classes.
Physical Science is the study of a single concept, Energy, from the point of view from the three major science disciplines – Biology, Chemistry, and Physics. Each trimester section will be unique from the viewpoint of the study of energy, though there will be overlap in specific content covered in each of the three sections. The goal is to understand energy is not confined to one distinct course but is relevant to all sciences.
Grading Scale
3.7-4.0 A
3.5-3.6 A-
3.3-3.4 B+
3.2 B
3.0-3.1 B-
2.8-2.9 C+
2.7 C
2.5-2.6 C-
2.3-2.4 D+
2.2 D
2.0-2.1 D-
0-1.9 E
Core Content of Physical Science
Students will study Atomic Structure, Matter and Energy, the Periodic Table, Bonding, Chemical Reactions, States of Matter and Thermochemistry.
Grading
What is a CP?
Students will be assessed on their understanding of concepts in the chemistry-related topics listed in Core Content of Chemistry, as well as, skills that accompany laboratory activities and any hands-on, project-based activities. You will earn a full CP (Content Proficiency) score of 4/4 if you are demonstrating a high level of proficiency with a concept, a score of 0 if you are not showing proficiency, and a 2 if you are somewhere in between. Keep in mind that this is measuring proficiency over the course of the whole semester and not just on one particular day. Most CP’s are short - a few questions – while some can be more detailed, such as a laboratory report consisting of several CP’s.
This system allows you to show proficiency with material even if you have not done well on an initial CP. Your proficiency scores could drop later in the semester, too, including a final exam. Students will be given the opportunity to be re-assessed by the instructor to demonstrate content proficiency.
Students cannot be re-assessed on more than 2 CP’s in one day; a 24-hour Study Period is mandatory after receiving a score on a CP; a student’s grade may decrease from the initial CP if they fail to demonstrate growth; the responsibility to be reassessed is on the student, not the teacher; a student has 2 weeks from the day they receive the initial graded CP to demonstrate proficiency; reassessments must be done before school, after school, during lunch, or Study Hall – no re-assessments will be given during class time or research. After school appointments are available during the instructor’s office hours. Please notify the instructor ahead of time if the student is planning to utilize the after school office hours. NO reassessments will be given after the 2 week deadline has passed. No exceptions!
You will be given opportunities to show proficiency in many ways. There will be written assessments, short answer, or essay questions. You can interview/converse with the instructor. You may be able to practically demonstrate skills through application.
Students may be given homework CP’s. A homework CP consists of a couple questions from current or past material. These CP’s cannot be retaken but the three lowest scores will be dropped at the end of the trimester. A homework CP missed due to absence will not be excused, it will count as a dropped homework CP. If you plan on being absent, then email the CP answers before the start of class. Extended absences will be given special consideration.
Cumulative Finals: At the end of the trimester there may be a cumulative final. The final could be used as a mechanism to change some of your earlier marks.
Absences
Macomb Academy of Arts & Sciences is a project-based learning environment that prides itself on hands-on learning and inquiry instruction. While there is a classroom set of textbooks available for reference, the students will not be learning directly from the textbook. All learning and classroom involvement is done inside the classroom. Missing numerous classes will significantly hinder a student’s ability to succeed in this course. Students who miss school will be responsible for making up the work before school, during lunch, during Study Hall, or after school. Class time will not be provided for making up work missed due to absences.
Plagiarism
Please use your own ideas, thoughts, and writings. We want to see how you organize your thoughts and interpret information you read and things you see rather than how another author, including fellow students, has done it. It is obvious when cut-and-paste of the words of a more knowledgeable author has occurred. If somebody else’s words will help enhance what you are trying to say, you must give credit to that source. You may lose all credit and chance for make-up on any plagiarized assignment. If you don’t know what it means to “cite” something, come see us or another instructor.
PowerSchool and GoogleDocs
All grades will be recorded in the online grade book called PowerSchool. If you are not set up on PowerSchool, contact your high school administrators. Grades will not be handed out by the instructor directly to the student at any time. If a student requests their grade, they must access their grade directly from PowerSchool. Please allow at least 48 hours for grades to be input on PowerSchool; 7 days for lab reports.
All students will need to set up a GoogleDocs account. You only need an email address to set up a GoogleDocs account. We will use GoogleDocs to submit assignments, for teacher-student communications, and student-student group communications. It is highly advised you have your GoogleDocs account set up before the end of the first week of classes.