Chemistry 1 Academic Class Requirements 2016 - 2017 – Mr. Lutz
1.GENERAL
- Textbooks must be covered at all times. You must put your name in the textbook in ink. Bring your textbook daily. You will not be given a pass to get your textbook.
- Bring a 3 ring binder and paper, your text, a pencil and pen to class every day. Loaners are not available. Red is the color with which I grade. Assignments in red with be returned to be redone.
- Show respect for everyone in the class (listen, be positive, be prepared, be on time). Be in your seat and ready to start when the late bell rings. When I am ready, you better be ready. I will not be waiting for you.
- If you are not in your seat when attendance is taken, you will be marked absent.
- I will assume that you are all young adults and will treat you with the respect you are due as such. As young adults you are entitled to make your own decisions, but also must be prepared to accept the consequences of your actions. If you are having difficulty, come see me for extra help.
- CHEMISTRY IS A COURSE THAT BUILDS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. YOU CANNOT LEARN THE MATERIAL FO THE TEST AND THEN FORGET IT. YOU ALSO CANNOT LEARN THE COURSE IN A FEW DAYS BEFORE THE FINAL. DO NOT WAIT TO COME FOR HELP. (NO I AM NOT KIDDING!!!!)
- Buy a calculator for use in this class. This is critical for your success and ability to complete the homework and performing well on examinations. The minimum calculator is a TI-34-II, which should cost between $15.00 and $20.00. Look for a key with EE or EXP on it. If you are planning to take math including and beyond Algebra 2, you should consider buying a graphing calculator. Loaner calculators are not available and you will not be able to use your phone as a calculator.
2.LABS AND LAB REPORTS
- Each student must maintain a bound Laboratory Notebook, where all pre-lab questions, data, post lab questions calculations and analysis are recorded. I strongly suggest you purchase a lab notebook from Hayden-McNeil. This lab notebook is easily available on Amazon.com. You should get a Hayden-McNeil 50 or 100 pg. carbonless notebook with graph paper grid on the pages. This lab book is the same type they currently use in colleges and provides a quick and easy lab report. This initial expense will save you significant time and effort in preparing lab reports, as well as saving you ink and toner.
- On lab days, bring your lab notebook and closed toed shoes if you are not wearing them. Passes will be issue, but a 5-point Safety/Technique penalty will be incurred.
- Labs must be made up within three (3) “class days” of the lab. Failure to make up the lab will result in you receiving a zero (0) for the grade.
- LABORATORY REPORTS ARE NOT GROUP WORK.
- I will assume that you are all young adults and will treat you with the respect you are due as such. However, as young adults you are entitled to make your own decisions, but also must be prepared to accept the consequences of your actions.
3.PHONES
- Cell phones and iPods are not tolerated. Cell phones are not to be used as calculators, a clock or timers. You are not to take photographs or videos in this class. I also do not want to see ear buds hanging from your shirt. If you are using one of these devices, it will be confiscated and you will be written up. There will be no warnings or second chances.
- You are not allowed to charge your cell phone in this class.
- There cannot be any ear buds visible in class. If I see them, they will be confiscated.
- Cell phone use during a test or quiz is assumed to be plagiarism and you will be charged with cheating and receive a zero (0) for the evaluation. See 3b below.
4.PLAGIARISM
- Cheating is unacceptable. Please refer to Academic Policy #5701 on Academic Dishonesty. You are encouraged to share ideas during discussion periods, confer with your partner during labs, work on gathering information with your classmates, but your answers must be in your own words. Anyone caught cheating will be given a zero for the assignment (homework, lab, quiz or test). Anyone permitting cheating will also receive a zero for the assignment. If you turn in work, you may be requested to demonstrate you can do the problem or explain the solution. If you cannot do this, you will receive a zero for the assignment. Your parents will be informed of the incident.
- If you are seen using a phone or other similar device during any evaluation you will be charged with cheating under Academic Policy #5701 on Academic Dishonesty. You will receive a zero (0) for the assignment and your parents or guardians will be contacted
- Although working in groups of up to 4 is allowed for most class work, the group must turn in one paper, with all names on the paper. If you each turn in a copy with the same words and information this is plagiarism, as you are represent the work of a group as your own work. Any similarity of words, phrasing or terminology will be considered a violation of the academic code referred to above. All group members will be given a zero and your parents will be contacted.
- On labs, your data can be identical to your lab partners, but the Purpose, answers to questions and Conclusion must be in your own words. Any similarity of words, phrasing or terminology will be considered a violation of the academic code referred to above.
- If you are unsure about a question of plagiarism or cheating, you are obligated to consult me on the matter before submitting the material.
5.STUDY GUIDES AND REVIEW PACKAGES
- Study Guides and Review Packages and Lab Reports are not group work. Study Guides and Review Packages are to be worked on whenever you have completed all work in class.
- Study Guides are graded. Make sure you do these. They tend to have rather significant point values.
- Completing the Review Package is worth 5 points on your test grade for the chapter. We will go over the Review Package, with the format being a competition between two randomly selected teams. You cannot participate in the competition, if you do not have the Review Package completed. The winning team will receive 5 additional points on their test grades.
- In a study I conducted during the 2013 – 2014 school year I found that doing the Review Package translates into a grade improvement of about 10%, without taking the Extra Credit points into account.
6.ABSENCES
- Get the class notes from someone as soon as possible.
- If you missed a quiz or test, be prepared to make up the examination after school or during your study hall on the day you return to class. Tests will be announced approximately one week in advance, so no excuses will be accepted as to why you cannot make up the exam upon your return. If you have been absent for an extended period of time, extra time will be given to make up a test.
- It is your responsibility to find out what you missed. See me before or after class to discuss this. My grade book is open to you. If you think you missed an assignment, check the grade book.
- You have three “class” days to make arrangements to make-up a laboratory or you will forfeit the right to make up the laboratory. Your pre-lab is due when you come to make-up the lab.
- All work for a chapter must be made up by the time the chapter test is taken, or you will receive no credit for this work (unless there are exceptional circumstances as decided in the sole discrection of Mr. Lutz.
- IF YOU MISS CLASS FOR A FIELD TRIP, YOU ARE RESOPONSIBLE FOR ALL ASSIGNMENTS/QUIZZES/TESTS, ETC. THEY ARE DUE OR WILL BE TAKEN AT THE BEGINNING OF THE NEXT CLASS.
- IF YOU ARE ON A FIELD TRIP THE DAY/CLASS DAY BEFORE A QUIZ OR TEST IS SCHEDULED, YOU WILL HAVE TO TAKE THE QUIZ OR TEST AS SCHEDULED.
7.ASSIGNMENTS
- No work is accepted via e-mail under any circumstances.
- All work will be graded based on a scale that includes showing complete work, the answer, units and significant figures. Failure to show work for any item will result in the corresponding points not being earned for that assignment. The answer you want graded should be circled.
- Here is why significant figures are important:
Grade / Grade / Grade / Average
Student #1 / Student #2 / Student #3
Actual Grade / 107/150 / 128/150 / 119/150
Percent / 71% / 85% / 79%
Letter Grade / C- / B / C+
Grade if SF Done Correctly / 119/150 / 136/150 / 130/150
Percent Grade / 79% / 91% / 87%
Letter Grade / C+ / A- / B+
Difference / 8% / 6% / 8% / 7.3%
7.3 % on your grade is very significant
- You can either take notes or outline each section. Whatever works best for you. If they are turned in before the section is covered in class, they are worth 5 extra credit points per section. If you are doing this, remember with shorter sections we may have a “double header” day and cover two sections.
- Your notebook is an extremely important tool to use in preparing for quizzes and tests. Neatness and organization are important.
- You are expected to take notes during class. Good note taking skills are important both in high school and in college. It is easier to learn the right way now, rather than having to struggle when you get to college. One of the keys is to print the Power Points off my web-site prior to class. Also when taking notes paraphrase or use abbreviations. You need to keep pace with my presentation.
- Writing down notes will help improve your recollection of information we cover.
- MyFaculty Page has all the information for this course. All Power Points, laboratory handouts, etc. are on the site. It is strongly recommended that you print a copy of the Power Point before class. It is not acceptable to spend the first ten or fifteen minutes of class printing documents. Printing the Power Points before they are covered in class will significantly improve your performance in class, ability to take notes, ability to understand chemistry and success on evaluations. If you see a problem or something missing on the Faculty Page, please let me know.
- All work is due on the assigned date:
- Work is to be turned in at the beginning of class and placed on my desk in neat piles. Any work turned in later in class and/or done in class will be marked late.
- Any work which must be printed must be done outside of class or before the bell rings starting class. Your printer problems will not become my problems. Keep extra ink and paper on hand or get the printer fixed.
- Labs are due within a few days after completion of the lab, and will be assigned upon completion of the lab, and discussion of the results.
- Any late assignment will be charged five (5)% of the total points for the first day late, three (3)% of the total points for the second day late and one (1)%of the total points for each additional day late. Percentages will be rounded to the nearest point value.
- I DO NOT GIVE GRADES. I EVALUATE YOUR WORK AND RECORD YOUR GRADES. YOU AND ONLY YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE GRADES YOU EARN AND RECEIVE.
8.SAFETY
- Fire Exit – See the procedures outlined above or near the door.
- Fire, Lockdown, Evacuation.
- Note the locations of the eyewash, fire extinguisher and fire blanket.
- Note locations of electric and gas shutoffs.
- Goggles and aprons must be worn during labs. No open toed shoes.
- Food and drink are not allowed in class. This includes gum, water bottles, etc.
- Report any injuries to me immediately.
9.GRADING
- If you are having difficulty with the class, come see me. Chemistry is a course that builds throughout the year. You cannot learn material for the test and then forget it. It will be needed as the course goes along. Every word and every item from every day is needed throughout the course. Do not wait to come for help. (NO, I AM NOT KIDDING!!!!!!)
- Grading Policy:
- Grades are determined based on student performance on class activities including; worksheets, study guides, quizzes, tests, and lab work.
- The level of effort required for that activity will determine the numerical value of an activity.
- Each activity will have a total point value. Your grade will be determined by the points earned divided by total points available. For example, if you earn 17 points on a 20 point quiz, your grade would be 17/20 = 85%, or a B.
- Quizzes may be retaken within 3 days following their return to you. You must attain a 50% on the original quiz to be eligible for retakes.
- Tests are NOT eligible for retakes.
- Be sure to return quizzes and tests to me after we go over them in class. Failure to return a quiz or test after we go over the evaluation will result in your grade being changed to a zero. Your correct grade will be noted in my grade book. The grade will be restored when the quiz or test is returned to me.
- Your grade for the marking period will be determined by taking the total points earned divided by the total points available.
- Your final grade will be determined by an average of your four marking period grades (22.5% each) and the final exam (10%).
- You may use a 3” x 5” card during tests with formulas and constants. No conversion factors or other information is allowed on the card. If you keep these cards, you may also use all of them on the summary evaluations.
- When preparing for the Final Exam, you may come in during study hall or after school (when I am available) to review your tests. Copyright laws prevent you from taking a photograph of the tests with your cell phone or other camera.
- Extra Help – I am available for extra help Wednesday and Thursday from 2:35 PM until 3:00 PM. I am also available during certain lunch/study hall periods. See me for these details. My schedule of availability will be severely limited during all three sports seasons, when I coach, and may have to change week to week and season to season, dependent on the schedule. Please make an appointment with me before you come for extra help.
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Academic Chemistry Class Requirements- 2016 - 2017.docx
October 26, 2018
Approximate Points Available
Task / M.P. #1 / M.P. #2 / M.P. #3 / M.P. #4 / Year TotalTest / 200 / 200 / 200 / 200 / 800
Quiz / 410 / 410 / 410 / 410 / 1640
Lab / 150 / 150 / 150 / 150 / 600
Classwork / 330 / 330 / 330 / 330 / 1320
Homework / 200 / 200 / 200 / 200 / 800
Totals / 1290 / 1290 / 1290 / 1290 / 5160
Page 1 of 8
Academic Chemistry Class Requirements- 2016 - 2017.docx
October 26, 2018