Table of Contents

1. Materials
2. Course Procedure
   1. Lab Expectations
   2. Quizzes
   3. Homework
   4. Tests
   5. Participation
3. Grades
4. Classroom policies and expectations
5. Discipline

I. Materials

A. You will be provided with the following:

1. A textbook. The book must be covered at all times and brought to class daily.
2. Laboratory facilities and equipment are provided for your use. Please treat with care to minimize breakage. (Lab drawer?)

B. You will need to provide the following:

1. A three-ring binder (folder). It should contain course of study, lecture notes, homework assignments, lab assignments, quizzes, lab folder and point sheet.
2. A blue or black pen must be used for all written work except lab data which can be done in pencil.

II. Course Procedure (Back to top of page)

Each unit of study focuses on a particular aspect of the Chemical Sciences. It is essential that you know and understand the information from your textbook, lab work, and lecture notes to be successful in this course. In each unit, you will take lecture notes, complete chapter quizzes and homework assignments, take a test and complete lab assignments. In addition, there will be a comprehensive written final exam and lab practical each semester. There will also be a minimum of two formal lab write-ups each semester (Chem II), and a minimum of one formal lab write-up (Chem I). This will be explained in further detail later.

A. Expectations for lab work

1. Everyone will have the same Table of contents at the beginning of their lab notebook which lists the lab title and the page number on which the lab begins in your lab notebook.
2. The format for each write-up should be in the following order:

I. Lab # and the Title of the lab II. Purposes of the exercise.

III. Problem

IV. Hypothesis

V. Procedure

VI. Data: (graphs, charts, tables, drawings, etc.)

• All data should be done in pencil
• A ruler should be used to construct ALL tables, graphs, etc.
• Drawings should have labels to make it as concise and accurate as possible.

VII. Questions:

• Answer questions (if any) in concise, complete sentences. For clarity, you answer should include part of the question.
• Questions are found in the lab book.

VIII. Summary/Conclusion: Follow directions given in the particular lab.

1. All lab work should be done in blue or black ink except the data section which should be done in pencil.
2. Pre-lab expectations: Prior to coming to lab, you should have completed sections I through V of the lab write-up. Full lab credit will not be given unless these sections are complete.
3. Your lab work will be evaluated for completeness, content, and neatness. All submitted work must be complete, on one side of the paper only, and in chronological order before full credit can be awarded.
4. Late notebooks: You will lose 10% of the total value of a notebook every school day that the notebook is late.
5. Additionally, during each lab on each unit, you may be quizzed on your knowledge of our work to date. Always be prepared!!

B. Quizzes

Quizzes will be given periodically. Once a quiz has started, students entering tardy will not be able to take the quiz. Missed quizzes must be made up during Choice period. You will only be allowed to have one day to have the quiz made up, or you will receive no credit for that particular quiz.

C. Homework assignments

Periodically, homework assignments will be given. These should be completed and submitted on time. Assignments submitted after the due date will be penalized 20% of the points possible. NO assignments will be accepted after two school days.

D. Tests

One test will be given at the end of each unit of study. The tests will be composed of multiple choice, lab questions, true/false and essay. The test will cover equally information from the text, labs and lecture.

E. Participation points

There will be participation points given everyday during class. The point scale is 0-5. (Explain more in detail later)

IV. Grading (Back to top of page)

All grades in the class will be weighted towards the assignment. For example, a homework assignment may be worth 20 points, where a test will be worth 100 points. Your final grade will be a percentage of the total points you earned divided by the total points available.

A = 100% to 90%

B = 89% to 80%

C = 79% to 70%

D = 69% to 60%

V. Classroom Policies and Expectations

1. BE PROMPT! Be in your seat and QUIET when the bell rings. Check the work schedule for the day on the board and begin working or be ready to receive instruction. The bell does not dismiss class, I do.
2. BE PREPARED! I expect you to come to class prepared! Every day we meet, you need to have all materials I listed above. Listen the first time and follow all directions.
3. BE RESPECTFUL! Raise your hand if you have anything to say. When someone is talking, no one else should be. This includes teacher and students. Treat others better than you yourself would like to be treated. This classroom is also to always be left the way you found it. I do not like to find trash in the desk or on the floor.

VI. Disciplinary Actions (Back to top of page)

If any of the classroom rules are broken the following steps will be taken to deal with the problem:

1st offense - verbal and written warning placed in student's file

2nd offense - call home to parents and referral for detention

3rd offense - immediate removal from room and recommendation for ISD

- call home to parents

(Lab offenses could result in the same consequences as a third offense)

**It is my sincere wish that you will enjoy this class and learn a lot. To accomplish this, "we" must have rules. I want you to learn more than SCIENCE. It is important that you learn to be a responsible, hardworking person. If you ever need extra help, please ask for it. My job is to help you learn. If you have any suggestions or ideas about ways that you want to learn, let me know. I'll try to use your ideas. I hope that you will enjoy this year.