George Washington HS 2010-11
Mr. Applebaum Student name ______Period ___
Chemistry - Course Syllabus and Class Rules*
Description: This is an introductory Chemistry course covering the following topics and schedule:
Unit Title School Week Number
1 Matter and Energy 1-5
2 Atomic Structure 6-10
3 The Electron and the Periodic Table 11-12
4 Chemical Bonds and Nomenclature 13-17
5 Chemical Reactions 18-21
6 Stoichiometry 22-25
7 Gases 26-28
8 Intermolecular Forces 29-31
9 Solutions 32-33
10 Chemical Equilibrium and Kinetics 34-36
11 Acids, Bases & pH 37-40
Plus other special interest topics. * subject to change
Website / Textbook: Holt’s “Chemistry” (2004). Textbooks are at each seat and one will be issued to keep at home . Student account will be charged $75 if the book is not returned. An online text is available at go.hrw.com (Use ID: chemm2, PW: chemm). Additional course support information can be found on http://applebaum-chemistry.wikispaces.com/ including a daily web log (blog).
Notebook, pencil & calculator: A dedicated section of a three-ring binder is required for this course. A daily summary/journal entry is required. Students are expected to keep bound and dated all reference papers and notes for the current unit. The notebook is required every day in class and its upkeep is part of your grade. Notes from older units should be kept at home to review for the midterm and final exams. A scientific calculator is required for many parts of this course. We will use school owned TI-Nspire calculators for labs which can be configured to emulate the TI-84 scientific graphing calculator. Students are to have pencils or pens every day in class. The participation grade will suffer if the required materials are missing.
Grades: 85% (Classwork, homework, and exams), 15% participation. Assignments include: posted pre-class work, worksheets, constructed responses, homework, notebook checks, quizzes, exams, lab reports, journals, and projects. Daily work is worth 5-10 points per assignment, quizzes, labs, and unit projects are worth 25 to 50 points, and exams/term projects are worth 50 to 100 points. Exams dates are posted in advance; so, if you miss an exam, be prepared to make it up after school the day you return to class. Missing work counts as a zero. Unexcused late work will have a reduced grade. Copied work, regardless of who copied whom, is an automatic split grade, an “F”. Most problems and worksheets are graded and recorded on a three point scale as follows:
Entry mark % Score Meaning
0 0 0 No effort shown, late, or missing
3 √- 60% Minimal effort with poor understanding or late
4 √ 80% Correct but incomplete, partially correct or late
5 √+ 100% Met /exceeded expectations (may include a bonus).
Interim Reports and E-Mail Contact: Interim reports are issued mid-term for all my students by mail. Parents: If a report does not arrive home, please call me to discuss class performance at 215-961-2001 or contact me by e-mail at .
Seats: Seats are assigned to aid attendance, grading, and class atmosphere. Under no circumstances are you to sit in another seat or move about without permission. That means pencils are to be sharpened as you enter the room and trash is to be thrown out when you leave the room. If your seat area is left dirty your participation grade will be lowered and detentions may be issued. If your seat is changed due to disruptions, your participation grade will be lower.
Absences: You are responsible for the material covered/assigned in class regardless of attendance. Use the website blog. Since each lesson builds on the previous day, plan on getting makeup work before the next class. Missed worksheets are available outside of class time and are often on-line (see blog). Do not expect to meet me just before or after class except to set an appointment for make up work. Have at least one dependable class friend for coverage. Unexcused absences lower your participation grade and may prevent makeup work from being issued.
Pre-Class Work, Lateness, and Cutting: Pre-class work will always be posted. Class begins when you walk through the door and you are expected to be in your seat by the time the bell rings completing pre-class work or reviewing prior work; otherwise you risk loosing points for the day and being marked late – Just being in the room does mean you are participating in class. You will be marked cutting if you are late 20 minutes or more. GWHS lateness/cut policy is enforced.
Class Rules and Disciplinary Actions: Respect the classroom as a place for learning. Be on-time, be prepared, be polite, and be involved. “Codes of Student Conduct” are enforced. Violations can affect your grade. Consequences include speaking to you in class, after class, or in the hall, detentions, calls to parents, and referrals to school disciplinarians and/or counselors.
Disruptions: Repeated inappropriate disruptions can reduce your grade on class participation and the day’s assignment. Questions and comments should be relevant to our topic; otherwise speak to me and/or your classmates outside of the class time. Cell phones, headphones, and electronic games are not permitted in class and will be confiscated if seen.
Teachers Desk: My desk is not public. Do not touch materials on or in it without my permission.
The Bell: The bell does NOT dismiss the class; I dismiss the class. If you get up to pack you things, walk to the door, or leave before I dismiss the class, I will take appropriate disciplinary action.
A Few Tips to Success: Follow instructions. Raise your hand to comment or ask questions and do not talk while I am talking. Do your own work; but feel free to teach others. Show your work when completing problems. Make sure all your numbers have units, your writing is neat, and your sentences make sense - PROOFREAD. Write your name and period on each paper you submit.
Class time is your time to learn and further develop lifetime habits. I am available to assist you with any questions or concerns you have during regular hours and before or after school. If you pay attention in class, participate and complete the assigned work, you should have a successful and rewarding year. I look forward to getting to know each and every one of you.
– Mr. Applebaum