General Information
Information about the course descriptions, grading philosophy, grade components, quarter grades, and absence and makeup work can be found on this page.
Honors Chemistry Course Description
This is an introductory college prep course, designed for those who are motivated by an aptitude and affinity for science, who intend to pursue science as a career, or who just plain LIKE science. Students in this course should be motivated, able to work independently, and able to deal with challenges without giving up. All of the usual topics of study are included in this course, but students must be willing to assume responsibility for their own learning. The teacher is a facilitator, not an imparter of information.
AP Chemistry Course Description
This course follows the prescribed AP curriculum, and students are expected to take the AP Chemistry test in May. Students must have a strong foundation in first year chemistry, either Honors or College Prep. A great deal of time is required for the development of problem-solving skills, and for the development of understanding through STUDY. This is time outside the classroom, so students must be committed to the investment of time towards this course. Students should be motivated by a real interest in the subject, and that motivation will spur them on throughout the year.
Grading Philosophy for Honors and AP Chemistry Courses
Evaluating a student's knowledge is a necessary, though often stressful, process. It is a necessary one for both student and instructor, to gauge the effectiveness of the techniques used in teaching and learning. It can also be a very rewarding process, when a student's achievement is in line with her effort and ability. However, it is important for all concerned to remember that knowledge is not the same as evaluation results. For a variety of reasons, it is possible to study hard, learn a lot, and still not do as well on a test or a quiz as one wanted to do. Conversely, it is also possible to know how to solve a problem correctly, but not understand why that process works or what the implications might be. Thus, the evaluation process for Honors and AP Chemistry includes a variety of components, with varying content and timelines. Always, the major focus should be on improvement and understanding, rather than on the grades themselves.
Grade Components
Tests: Major tests cover an entire chapter (or two shorter, related chapters combined). They are always pre-announced, giving students approximately a week to prepare for them. About half of the test credit is based on single answer multiple choice questions that cover the fundamental terms and principles. The rest of the test is made up of short answer essays and math problems, where the core principles must be applied to new situations.
Quizzes: Quizzes are pre-announced, but could be scheduled for the very next class meetings. A quiz covers one well defined concept or skill and may consist of anywhere from five to twenty objective questions.
Lab Experiments: The lab experience is unique to science classes and is a vital part of the chemistry course. Lab is where the words of the teacher and textbook come alive, as a reaction can be observed in person. Lab is where students learn to summarize and interpret results, and to discriminate among several possible explanations. It is where they learn to evaluate the degree of error and come to realize that some error is inherent in all human activity. This is the one aspect of chemistry that cannot be replaced by extra study, peer tutoring, or home instruction. There is no substitute for the classroom lab experience, and students are strongly urged to be present for scheduled lab activities. Lab evaluation reflects this philosophy - approximately 65% of a student's credit for lab comes directly from her presence and performance in class on the scheduled day. The remaining 35% of her grade comes from the formal written lab report turned in at the assigned time, or from an in-class lab quiz based on the lab data she collected in class.
Participation: Class participation is a broad term that includes attendance, punctuality, attitude, preparedness, respect for others, and effort, in addition to the obvious oral component. Although it is somewhat subjective, it is an important component, for each student's mode of participation helps to set the tone for the entire class and affects the learning ability of the others in class.
Quarter grades
The student's grade for the marking period is calculated as a weighted average of tests, quizzes, labs, and participation. Although the exact percentage distribution is subject to change from quarter to quarter, tests usually comprise about 40% of the quarter grade, participation is about 10%, and the remaining 50% is split between quizzes and labs.
Absence and Makeup Work
Students who miss scheduled tests or quizzes should plan to take a makeup test or quiz within 24 hours of their return to school. Makeup tests and quizzes will be available from approximately 7:10 am until homeroom, during lunch and study hall that day, and after school until 3:30 pm. Students who have missed significant instructional time on the test/quiz material should see the instructor the morning of their return, before homeroom, to discuss a timetable for makeup work. NOTE: Missing the final instructional class before a scheduled chapter test is not usually considered "significant" loss of instructional time, since the last class before a test is either a review class or devoted to new material.
A student who has missed a scheduled lab experiment should meet with the instructor as soon as possible, to see IF a makeup lab is available. Lab experiments may only be made up after school, and only when the instructor is free to supervise. Certain lab experiments that require group interaction or time-sensitive chemicals will not be available for make-ups. In such a case, the experiment does not count toward the student's quarter grade, although the student will still be responsible for applicable skills and concepts for future tests or quizzes. The student who was absent may consult with any students who were present for the lab in order to learn the main concepts and lab techniques.