Senior Chemistry 2012-13
Mr. Michael Rourke
[email protected]
chemistrywithrourke.weebly.com
586.784.2176
Office Hours
Monday and Wednesday 2:30 – 4:30
Course Description
Students will understand the nature of science and demonstrate an ability to practice and apply the Chemistry benchmarks listed according to the Michigan Merit Curriculum, as well as, those set forth by the staff at Macomb Academy of Arts & Science.
Core Content of Chemistry
Students will study a review of General Chemistry, Acid & Base Reactions, Behavior of Gases, Buffer Solutions, Thermochemistry, Solutions and Colligative Properties, Reaction Rates, Redox Reactions, and Electrochemistry.
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
Grading
Grading will be based on four lab reports throughout the trimester. Each lab report has four sections – Pre-lab, Data & Observations, Data Analysis, and Error Analysis. Each section will be worth 4 points - a typical CP grade. Each lab will have a CP grade on the content area associated with the laboratory experiment. THERE WILL BE NO RETAKES FOR THE CONTENT CP GRADE ON THE LAB REPORT. The lowest lab report content grade will be dropped at the end of each trimester. The CP grade for each section of the lab report will be replaced by the newest lab grade. For instance, the grade for the Pre-lab on Lab #1 will be replaced with the grade on the Pre-lab for Lab #2 and so on. Each lab performed in class does not require a lab report – though four lab reports must be turned in each trimester. If a lab is performed and you choose not to write a lab report, then you must submit a CER. CER’s are available for retakes, if necessary but may require redoing the entire lab on your own time (Study Hall included). Each CER is worth one CP grade (4 points).
There will be a short CP at the beginning of each class based on material from both lecture and laboratory practices. CP retakes for the non-lab content CP are permitted. 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!
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 me 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.
Students will understand the nature of science and demonstrate an ability to practice and apply the Chemistry benchmarks listed according to the Michigan Merit Curriculum, as well as, those set forth by the staff at Macomb Academy of Arts & Science.
Core Content of Chemistry
Students will study a review of General Chemistry, Acid & Base Reactions, Behavior of Gases, Buffer Solutions, Thermochemistry, Solutions and Colligative Properties, Reaction Rates, Redox Reactions, and Electrochemistry.
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
Grading
Grading will be based on four lab reports throughout the trimester. Each lab report has four sections – Pre-lab, Data & Observations, Data Analysis, and Error Analysis. Each section will be worth 4 points - a typical CP grade. Each lab will have a CP grade on the content area associated with the laboratory experiment. THERE WILL BE NO RETAKES FOR THE CONTENT CP GRADE ON THE LAB REPORT. The lowest lab report content grade will be dropped at the end of each trimester. The CP grade for each section of the lab report will be replaced by the newest lab grade. For instance, the grade for the Pre-lab on Lab #1 will be replaced with the grade on the Pre-lab for Lab #2 and so on. Each lab performed in class does not require a lab report – though four lab reports must be turned in each trimester. If a lab is performed and you choose not to write a lab report, then you must submit a CER. CER’s are available for retakes, if necessary but may require redoing the entire lab on your own time (Study Hall included). Each CER is worth one CP grade (4 points).
There will be a short CP at the beginning of each class based on material from both lecture and laboratory practices. CP retakes for the non-lab content CP are permitted. 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!
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 me 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.