Honors Chemistry _Course Syllabus
Arizona College Preparatory
Instructor: Patchi Rani Suriyan Room: B206
Email: suriyan.patchirani@cusd80.com Voicemail: Ext:8766
Office Hours: Tuesday & Wednesday
after school until 3:00 pm
COURSE DESCRIPTION
Welcome to Honors Chemistry! This course is an activity-driven Honors level chemistry program designed to prepare students for Advanced Placement (AP)/College level chemistry. The curriculum provides a comprehensive survey of the key issues including: the study of matter and density, atomic theory, periodic table, electron configuration, bonding & nomenclature, moles, chemical reactions and equation, gases and its laws, solutions, thermochemistry, Stoichiometry, acids and bases.
As part of the honors requirements, this course integrates additional problem solving and reasoning skills as well as laboratory and field research skills. This course will also have an extensive writing component for developing scientific literacy. Over the course of the year, students will be developing a skill set to help build a successful a transition into the AP (college Majors level) science courses.
DUAL ENROLLMENT
This course is also offered for Dual Enrollment.
TEXTBOOK
· Pearson Chemistry & Zumdahl Intro to Chemistry 5th Edition ( For reference only )
REQUIRED MATERIALS
· 5x5* graphing composition lab notebook
· Dedicated 1.5”- 2” 3-ring binder
· 5 tabbed, pocket dividers (labeled Lab Book, Do Now, Handouts, HW/Worksheets, Research Articles)
· 1 large, zippered binder pocket for lab book (a heavy duty sheet protector might work but won’t last)
· Loose leaf paper
· Writing utensils: blue or black pens or pencils (with lead)
· Colored pencils
· 3 ring Pouch for Colored pencils (in binder)
· Ruler (for creating data tables and graphs in lab book)
· Glue stick or clear plastic tape for lab book
· Calculator
Classroom supply donation: Following donations are accepted
· Soft facial tissues
· Clorox wipes
· Hand sanitizer
GRADING POLICIES
Grades are based on weighted categories. The percentage for each category is determined by cumulative points in the semester and calculated into a percentage. Grades are only rounded to the next highest whole percentage if the tenths place is a 5 or higher! For example: 79.50 will round to an B; however, a 79.49 will remain as a C. Grades can be viewed through Infinite Campus which is available online or as an app for most mobile electronic devices.
Grading Scale: Grade Categories: Semester Grade:
A = 100% - 89.5% Tests 30% Semester Fall/Spring = 80%
B = 89.49% - 79.5% Labs/Projects 35% Final Exam = 20%
C = 79.49% - 69.5% Classwork/Homework 5%
D = 69.49% - 59.5% Quizzes 30%
F = 59.49% and below
COMMUNICATION
Students are expected to check their Google classroom and class website for announcements, lessons, and assignments when they are posted. Because some documents will be distributed electronically, you must inform me immediately if there is a problem retrieving them. The best way to reach me is through e-mail. If you have a concern or question, I will be available each day after school until 3 pm (except Monday). Make sure to send an email for the appointment.
NO PLAGIARISM. Especially online, it may seem easier to look up answers on the internet and just copy and paste, however it is PLAGIARISM anytime you use the work of others and claim it as your own. It doesn’t matter if it is a class worksheet, notes, activities, labs or essays. It is academically dishonest and dishonorable behavior.
CLASSROOM RULES
Be positive! No negative talking about yourself or others! Not even negative joking around. It’s hard enough to be in high school without dealing with mean-spirited “jokes” that aren’t even funny because their true intent is to cut someone down.
Be respectful! Of everybody and everything! You, your classmates, your teacher, your school, personal and district property, lab materials, all of it. This covers everything from not talking while the teacher is talking to NOT copying someone else’s homework, classwork, labs, tests & quizzes (yep, those are all considered cheating…)
Maximum Effort! Turn your brain ON when you enter the classroom! This is a college-level science class, which means you will be required to think about things and discuss them even when you may not know what the “correct” answer is (because maybe there isn’t one.) Class discussions require that you read your assigned textbook sections, keep up with the work on a daily basis, study the material and complete all assignments. PLEASE ask questions during class when you don’t understand something.
CLASS PROCEDURES
Class entry: Stand outside the door until the teacher invites you in!
Cell phones put away: Cell phones will be put into the cell caddy upon entry to the classroom. Students may not have their cell phones during class except for academic reasons per the teacher. Also, no cell phones during your restroom break. Cell phones policy is so strict with school wide.
Responsible Electronic Use: Students are expected to use electronics responsibly. Electronics should be put away unless being specifically utilized by teacher or student for academic purposes. If students would like to utilize electronics, they should ask permission of the teacher first.
Inappropriate Use of Devices - Electronic devices will be confiscated if being use inappropriately during class time.
Academic Integrity: Copying and plagiarizing are considered cheating and includes, but is not limited to, copying homework/ labs/ tests/ quizzes and “helping” another student to do so by providing YOUR completed work.
Cheating –a zero will be given for the assignment to every student involved. Additional information can be found in the family handbook.
Safe Environment: Safety is a major consideration in any science laboratory. All students will be required to sign a safety contract before participating in any laboratory experiments. Specific directions are given as a mean of keeping everyone safe. It is everyone’s responsibility to maintain a safe environment.
Misconduct – student may be assigned a referral or detention and the situation handled according to Family Handbook depending upon level of misconduct
No Rescue Policy: (Please see Family Handbook for further clarification, if necessary) Students will not be permitted to call home in order to have a family member bring a forgotten assignments to campus. If a parent brings an assignment to the office after the start of the school day, the assignment will be placed in the appropriate teacher’s mailbox and standard late work policies will be enforced. The policy is enforced after 1st quarter mid-quarter progress reports.
LATE WORK/ABSENCES:
· All assignments due on a given day are due at the start of class.
Late class and homework may be accepted for reduced credit (one day following the due date with a 25% deduction. After two school days, 50% deduction. Work not turned in by the exam is worth 0%.) All late work must have a late work pass attached. Labs or projects that are presented or graded in class are due ON those days and will NOT be accepted for late credit once the answers have been discussed in class.
Absent work is accepted according to the policies below and those listed in the family handbook. It is the student’s responsibility to turn in missing assignments. A student will receive one day per each day they were absent to make up an assignment. Students should first email the teacher for work missed during the absence and not try to delay the start of class by asking about it at the beginning of class.
· Missed tests/quizzes need to be scheduled upon return to school, within 1 week of returning.
Labs must be made up after school, by appointment, within 1 week, or they will be considered late; however, the teacher reserves the right to give an alternative lab assignment if necessary.All Lab works should be submitted in google classroom.
· If the student has an excused absence, it is the students’ responsibility to retrieve the assignments, notes, etc. by checking with a peer or the location recommended by the teacher (class website or Infinite Campus).
If the student was present when an assignment was given, but absent the day the assignment is turned in, the assignment will be due the day the student returns to school. An absent pass must be attached.
If a student was present when a long term assignment was given, the due date stands even if a student is absent during the duration of the assignment.
COURSEWORK
Semester I
Study of matter
Atomic theory
Density
Periodic table
Bonding & nomenclature,
Moles
Semester II
Chemical reactions
Gases
Stoichiometry
Solutions
Acids and Bases
Types of assessments:
Tests & Quizzes: Exams will consist of multiple choice questions, experimental design, graphical analysis & free response questions (short and long answer). Vocab quizzes are matching. All exams and quizzes are cumulative for the entire semester.
Laboratory Work: Labs will be conducted throughout the year during traditional and block days. Lab write-ups include both formal & informal write-ups and are to be completed individually NOT as lab groups. Labs are typically due one week after completion of the lab.
Outside Class Learning: Students are expected to keep up with the assignments for the current unit, in particular reading of assigned chapter sections in the textbook.
