Course Information and Grading Policy: 2015-2016

AP Chemistry @ NBTHS Dr. L. O’Reilly

Periods 4/3 and Periods 7/8

Room 804

Course Information and Grading Policy: 2015-2016

Course Description:

This is an advanced placement college preparatory course, which is designed for students with strong mathematics and chemistry backgrounds. This course will meet the same requirements found in a first year college chemistry course when coupled with an acceptable score on the AP Chemistry test administered by the College Board. A depth of understanding and a solid competence in dealing with chemistry theory and problem solving will be attained by the student. Calculating and understanding quantitative relationships are emphasized. Physical laboratory experience along with detailed lab report writing is an integral part of the course. The topics in chemistry which will be studied in depth and with great rigor include: Stoichiometry, Solutions, Gases, Thermodynamics, Quantum, Periodic Trends, Bonding, Intermolecular Forces, Reaction Rates, Equilibrium, Acid-Base relationships, Thermodynamics, Electrochemistry, Metallurgy, Non-metals, and, Nuclear chemistry.

Required Materials:

Chemistry, 9th edition; Zumdahl, Steven S. and S. A. Zumdahl, Cengage Learning, 2014. *
NONGRAPHING Calculator
Marble Composition Notebook for Lab Exercises
3-ring binder for class handouts/note-taking

Proper attire for lab (No shorts/open-toes shoes) & Safety Glasses.

Course Expectations:

Students will be expected to attend class; if absent for any reason it is the student’s responsibility to contact a classmate to acquire the notes and assignments.
Students will be expected to maintain a satisfactory level of preparedness and bring all necessary supplies to class daily.
Students will be seated right away, write posted homework in their agenda, and have binder / calculator / homework out ready to start class.
Students will be expected to complete all assignments on time. Every day!!!
Students will be cooperative in class, contribute to the learning environment and growth of the class to the best of their ability. There are daily group exercises.
Students will be expected to be prepared for all laboratory experiments, keep a laboratory notebook, keep a clean lab bench work area, and to observe all safety rules at all times.
SAVE this DATE: Monday, May 2, 2016 (AP Chemistry EXAM)

Description of Course Assessment Categories

Tests/Quizzes

Test and quiz questions will be objective and will vary in skill set-ranging from memorization to problem-solving analysis. Included will be multiple choice, short answer and quantitative and conceptual problems. Assessments will cover the required readings in the textbooks,material presented in the lectures and material represented by homework problems. Some selected topics from the lab may also be included.

Lecture Homework Assignments

Lecture homework assignments will include answering questions about the material that you have read in the textbooks, on-line OWL problems and textbook problem solving exercises and written responses to questions about assigned articles and videos. While I realize that collaboration is a great way to study, as an individual you will be accountable for all work when taking assessments. Rules outlined in the student handbook regarding late assignments will be followed. Homework assignments that vary in point assignment will be weighted on a point basis in your final grade calculation.

Lab Assignments/Reports & Laboratory Notebook

You will be required to document your laboratory work by recording data related to experiments performed during laboratory exercises. You are expected to organize your lab pages in a bound composition notebook; I will periodically check your lab notebooks for their completeness. My assessment of your laboratory notebook will comprise 1% of your overall lab grade.Following each week’s laboratory exercises, you will be required to answer a set of questions regarding the laboratory exercises. These “lab reports” will be due approximately one week from the completion of the lab or at the teacher’s discretion. On occasion, in-class lab performance work will be graded (in entirety or as part of) your lab report grade for that week. As usual for any laboratory portion of a course, you will be required to read ahead of time the material that pertains to this week’s laboratory exercises supplemental material to support the laboratory exercises may be found in the textbook or online. On occasion, I will also ask you to complete some assignments related to this week’s laboratory exercises before you come to class.

General Course Success

You are expected to be prepared for each class-i.e. this means you should be keeping up with the reading as outlined in the syllabus. Science classes are very information-intensive- i.e. lots of reading and studying. A science class can be very challenging, to say the least. Generally speaking, you should put in at least 2 hrs. study time outside the class for every credit of a college science class during a regular semester-this means you should aim to devote at least 8 hrs. per week (outside of classroom time) to the study of material included in this course. This is also a very interactive class-you will be expected to participate in discussions and work occasionally in groups.

Make-Up Policy

It is the students’ responsibility to be present at all exams, quizzes and laboratory sessions. Time requirements for makeups will be as described in the student handbook. The teacher reserves the right to administer an alternative test as a makeup assessment.

Cheating Policy

All academic integrity policies mandated by the North Brunswick Township school district and North Brunswick Township High School will be followed. Please see the 2015-2016 Student and Parent Handbook for details.

What is considered cheating? Some examples are…

Using a computer, tablet, cell phone, or any otherunauthorized hand-held device during exams(this includes the use of a graphing calculator)

Copying another student’s homework assignment or lab assignment/report

Copying another student’s answers during assessments

Plagiarizing a textbook, internet source, lab manual or another student’s work

Falsifying lab results on either performed or unperformed work

Knowledge of the circulation of test questions/answers

Disclosure of test content to another individual (verbal or photo)

Access to your grade in this Course

You and your parent(s)/guardian(s) should be checking Genesis regularly to make sure that all grades are recorded accurately and to be aware of the progress that you are making in the course.