Syllabus
Course Policies
Big Day….May 5th
Course Description: The AP Chemistry course is designed to be the equivalent of the general chemistry course usually taken during the first college year. For some students, this course enables them to undertake, in their first year, second-year work in the chemistry sequence at their institution or to register in courses in other fields where general chemistry is a prerequisite. This course will be centered on the six big ideas provided by the College Board. An emphasis will be placed on the seven science practices with student directed laboratory experiments. This course is open to all students who have successfully completed a first year chemistry course.
Academic Integrity: LASA students are expected to conduct themselves in accordance with five fundamental values: honesty, trust, fairness, respect, and responsibility. Students are to act so that they are worthy of the trust bestowed on them by teachers and peers, conduct themselves honestly, and carry out their responsibilities with honor and fairness.
Plagiarism is defined as copying work that is not your own and taking credit for its creation. It includes downloading research papers from the Internet, buying papers from a commercial source, copying articles from the web or other databases, copying work from other students, cutting and pasting together text from several sources, faking citations, or quoting less than all the words copied to change the tone or style of the source. Cheating occurs when students copy homework, papers, or exam answers from other students and submit the work as their own. Both plagiarism and cheating will result in zero credit for the work for all students involved in the unauthorized activity and may also result in disciplinary action.
In many cases collaboration is to be encouraged, depending on the nature of the assignment. Collaborative learning is, in general, highly consistent with LASA’s beliefs. Inappropriate collaboration is working with others in ways contrary to the teachers instructions. If your teacher has instructed you not to collaborate and you do so, it is cheating. Unless otherwise instructed by your teacher, the conclusions you draw and the paper you write are to be a product of your own thinking, creativity, and work.
Textbooks and Lab Books:
Zumdahl, Steven and Susan Zumdahl. Chemistry, Fifth Edition. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company, 2000.
Zumdahl, Steven and Susan Zumdahl. Chemistry, Sixth Edition, Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company, 2006.
Demmin, Peter. AP Chemistry, Fifth Edition. New York: D&S Marketing Systems Inc., 2005.
Vonderbrink, Sally. Laboratory Experiments for Advanced Placement Chemistry. Batavia: Flinn Scientific, 2001.
Postma, James, et al. Chemistry in the Laboratory, Sixth Edition, New York: WH Freeman, 2004.
Required Materials: TI-83 plus or higher graphing calculator, splash proof goggles, apron, and a carbon capable laboratory notebook.
Grading Policy:
Assessment Method Percentage Grade Distribution
Exams 45% A: 100-90%
Laboratories 25% B: 89-80%
Quizzes 20% C: 79-70 %
Problem Sets / HW 10% F: <69%
Homework: A homework problem set will be assigned throughout each unit via webassign.net. You will be given three attempts per homework problem to provide the correct solution. Students will be provided with solutions to all the problems upon completion and it will be up to the student to ask questions regarding the assigned work.
Quizzes: Quizzes will be given periodically throughout each unit and will last 25 minutes per quiz. Approximately three per unit and will mimic the previous night’s homework. Some of the problems will be copied directly from the homework and others will be the same question with the numbers changed.
Laboratory: All labs are hands-on/“wet labs” with a few teacher demonstrations. Six of the labs will be guided inquiry. See lab list for a more thorough list of details. All labs completed will require the student follow set procedures, take observations, and data manipulation. Students will communicate and collaborate in groups but will be responsible for completing individual write-ups. All labs will require the student to complete a pre-lab and post-lab assignment to accompany their lab books. Students will spend at minimum 25% of class time performing laboratory activities.
Exams: Tests/Exams will always be announced in advance. If a student receives a grade less than 70% on a test he/she may retake the test/complete test corrections on a designated date unless the failing grade was due to cheating. The highest grade possible on a retest is a 70%. If the retest grade is lower than the original grade, the grade will not be lowered.
Make-up Work/Latework: If for whatever reason you miss a class and it is excused, it is your responsibility to ask for any assigned work and handouts for the day. Students must schedule appointment within one school day of absence and make up work within three school days of absence at scheduled time. All late work, except homework, will be accepted within 3 school days of due date for no more than 50 % credit of original credit. If the student is absent on a review session prior to an exam he/she will still be required to take the exam on the scheduled date.
Laboratory Notebook: Each student will be required to maintain a lab book using a carbon capable laboratory book. This will ensure that the student can properly document the quality and level of laboratory work completed throughout the course. The lab book will need to be maintained in a very specific order and fashion.
All lab books but contain:
1. Use a quadrille-lined book with pages numbered and carbon copy capability.
2. Write your name and class on the front cover in case book gets lost.
3. Always use blue and black pen!! Pencil is not accepted.
4. Fill in the table of contents provided in the book. Be sure to keep this current as the year progresses. The title of each lab, the page the lab begins on in the book, and, the date the lab was started must be included.
5. Do NOT erase, scribble out, or white-out any mistakes made in your lab book. Draw one line through the mistake and keep working. It is expected that mistakes will be made and it is not likely that an error free book will be produced. Do not remove any pages from the book due to errors.
6. You will remove the carbon copy from the book and keep the original copy. The carbon copy will be turned in for a grade. If your instructor cannot read the carbon copies of the lab easily, the student will receive an automatic 50% for a grade.
Ten Parts of a Laboratory Report: A specific format is required for completion of your lab report. You must follow that format and label all sections clearly. AP chemistry reports are more in depth than ones completed in previous chemistry courses. Be sure to pace yourself accordingly and do not wait until the last minute to complete the work. I will not answer last minute questions on the days the pre-labs and post-labs are due. Get help early and do not fall behind. Late labs will be accepted for 50% credit if submitted within three days of the due date. Labs not completed in class must be completed on your own time before or after school. Review your lab rubric to ensure you are completing each section correctly.
Pre-lab Work
Pre-lab work is to be completed and turned in on the day the lab is preformed. If not completed you will lose all pre-lab credit.
1. Title: The title should be descriptive (Experiment 2 is not sufficient)
Date: The date you preformed the experiment
2. Purpose: A statement summarizing the “main point” of the lab. What are trying to accomplish
3. Procedure Outline: You will need to complete an outline procedure. It is not necessary to recopy the procedure verbatim but it is necessary that if someone was to use your notebook that the lab could be reproduced based on your procedure.
4. Pre-lab Questions: A few questions are given prior to the start of each lab. The question either needs to be rewritten or explicitly stated in the answer given. Complete sentences and proper English must be used and no credit will be given for sentence fragments.
Data Tables: Any tables or charts needed for data collection during the lab.
In-Class lab Work
5. Data: Record all data collected during the lab directly into the lab book. Do not collect data on your lab sheet or another piece of paper. Label all data clearly and always include proper units of measurement. Underline, use capital letter (when appropriate), use as much space as needed but do not cram all data onto half a page.
Post-lab Work
6. Calculations and Graphs: One calculation for each type of calculation preformed must be included so the instructor can follow how the answer was derived. Place a line or a box around the answer so it can be easily located. Graphs need to be titled; axes need to be labeled with title and appropriate units. To receive credit for any graph it must be completed on at least (minimum) of ½ page in size.
7. Conclusions: This will very from lab to lab. The conclusion should succinctly describe what can be concluded from the experimental results. It is aligned with a well written statement of Purpose at the beginning of the lab. Proper English and complete sentences must be used. Be sure to give thought and make it well written.
8. Discussion of Theory: Addresses the theory demonstrated by the lab and explains how calculations do/do not support the theory and fulfill the purpose of the lab.
9. Error Analysis: Includes relative error, if appropriate, specific sources of experimental error, and the effects of error on the magnitude of calculated quantities.
10. Questions: Follow the same procedure as for Pre-lab Questions
Course Description: The AP Chemistry course is designed to be the equivalent of the general chemistry course usually taken during the first college year. For some students, this course enables them to undertake, in their first year, second-year work in the chemistry sequence at their institution or to register in courses in other fields where general chemistry is a prerequisite. This course will be centered on the six big ideas provided by the College Board. An emphasis will be placed on the seven science practices with student directed laboratory experiments. This course is open to all students who have successfully completed a first year chemistry course.
Academic Integrity: LASA students are expected to conduct themselves in accordance with five fundamental values: honesty, trust, fairness, respect, and responsibility. Students are to act so that they are worthy of the trust bestowed on them by teachers and peers, conduct themselves honestly, and carry out their responsibilities with honor and fairness.
Plagiarism is defined as copying work that is not your own and taking credit for its creation. It includes downloading research papers from the Internet, buying papers from a commercial source, copying articles from the web or other databases, copying work from other students, cutting and pasting together text from several sources, faking citations, or quoting less than all the words copied to change the tone or style of the source. Cheating occurs when students copy homework, papers, or exam answers from other students and submit the work as their own. Both plagiarism and cheating will result in zero credit for the work for all students involved in the unauthorized activity and may also result in disciplinary action.
In many cases collaboration is to be encouraged, depending on the nature of the assignment. Collaborative learning is, in general, highly consistent with LASA’s beliefs. Inappropriate collaboration is working with others in ways contrary to the teachers instructions. If your teacher has instructed you not to collaborate and you do so, it is cheating. Unless otherwise instructed by your teacher, the conclusions you draw and the paper you write are to be a product of your own thinking, creativity, and work.
Textbooks and Lab Books:
Zumdahl, Steven and Susan Zumdahl. Chemistry, Fifth Edition. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company, 2000.
Zumdahl, Steven and Susan Zumdahl. Chemistry, Sixth Edition, Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company, 2006.
Demmin, Peter. AP Chemistry, Fifth Edition. New York: D&S Marketing Systems Inc., 2005.
Vonderbrink, Sally. Laboratory Experiments for Advanced Placement Chemistry. Batavia: Flinn Scientific, 2001.
Postma, James, et al. Chemistry in the Laboratory, Sixth Edition, New York: WH Freeman, 2004.
Required Materials: TI-83 plus or higher graphing calculator, splash proof goggles, apron, and a carbon capable laboratory notebook.
Grading Policy:
Assessment Method Percentage Grade Distribution
Exams 45% A: 100-90%
Laboratories 25% B: 89-80%
Quizzes 20% C: 79-70 %
Problem Sets / HW 10% F: <69%
Homework: A homework problem set will be assigned throughout each unit via webassign.net. You will be given three attempts per homework problem to provide the correct solution. Students will be provided with solutions to all the problems upon completion and it will be up to the student to ask questions regarding the assigned work.
Quizzes: Quizzes will be given periodically throughout each unit and will last 25 minutes per quiz. Approximately three per unit and will mimic the previous night’s homework. Some of the problems will be copied directly from the homework and others will be the same question with the numbers changed.
Laboratory: All labs are hands-on/“wet labs” with a few teacher demonstrations. Six of the labs will be guided inquiry. See lab list for a more thorough list of details. All labs completed will require the student follow set procedures, take observations, and data manipulation. Students will communicate and collaborate in groups but will be responsible for completing individual write-ups. All labs will require the student to complete a pre-lab and post-lab assignment to accompany their lab books. Students will spend at minimum 25% of class time performing laboratory activities.
Exams: Tests/Exams will always be announced in advance. If a student receives a grade less than 70% on a test he/she may retake the test/complete test corrections on a designated date unless the failing grade was due to cheating. The highest grade possible on a retest is a 70%. If the retest grade is lower than the original grade, the grade will not be lowered.
Make-up Work/Latework: If for whatever reason you miss a class and it is excused, it is your responsibility to ask for any assigned work and handouts for the day. Students must schedule appointment within one school day of absence and make up work within three school days of absence at scheduled time. All late work, except homework, will be accepted within 3 school days of due date for no more than 50 % credit of original credit. If the student is absent on a review session prior to an exam he/she will still be required to take the exam on the scheduled date.
Laboratory Notebook: Each student will be required to maintain a lab book using a carbon capable laboratory book. This will ensure that the student can properly document the quality and level of laboratory work completed throughout the course. The lab book will need to be maintained in a very specific order and fashion.
All lab books but contain:
1. Use a quadrille-lined book with pages numbered and carbon copy capability.
2. Write your name and class on the front cover in case book gets lost.
3. Always use blue and black pen!! Pencil is not accepted.
4. Fill in the table of contents provided in the book. Be sure to keep this current as the year progresses. The title of each lab, the page the lab begins on in the book, and, the date the lab was started must be included.
5. Do NOT erase, scribble out, or white-out any mistakes made in your lab book. Draw one line through the mistake and keep working. It is expected that mistakes will be made and it is not likely that an error free book will be produced. Do not remove any pages from the book due to errors.
6. You will remove the carbon copy from the book and keep the original copy. The carbon copy will be turned in for a grade. If your instructor cannot read the carbon copies of the lab easily, the student will receive an automatic 50% for a grade.
Ten Parts of a Laboratory Report: A specific format is required for completion of your lab report. You must follow that format and label all sections clearly. AP chemistry reports are more in depth than ones completed in previous chemistry courses. Be sure to pace yourself accordingly and do not wait until the last minute to complete the work. I will not answer last minute questions on the days the pre-labs and post-labs are due. Get help early and do not fall behind. Late labs will be accepted for 50% credit if submitted within three days of the due date. Labs not completed in class must be completed on your own time before or after school. Review your lab rubric to ensure you are completing each section correctly.
Pre-lab Work
Pre-lab work is to be completed and turned in on the day the lab is preformed. If not completed you will lose all pre-lab credit.
1. Title: The title should be descriptive (Experiment 2 is not sufficient)
Date: The date you preformed the experiment
2. Purpose: A statement summarizing the “main point” of the lab. What are trying to accomplish
3. Procedure Outline: You will need to complete an outline procedure. It is not necessary to recopy the procedure verbatim but it is necessary that if someone was to use your notebook that the lab could be reproduced based on your procedure.
4. Pre-lab Questions: A few questions are given prior to the start of each lab. The question either needs to be rewritten or explicitly stated in the answer given. Complete sentences and proper English must be used and no credit will be given for sentence fragments.
Data Tables: Any tables or charts needed for data collection during the lab.
In-Class lab Work
5. Data: Record all data collected during the lab directly into the lab book. Do not collect data on your lab sheet or another piece of paper. Label all data clearly and always include proper units of measurement. Underline, use capital letter (when appropriate), use as much space as needed but do not cram all data onto half a page.
Post-lab Work
6. Calculations and Graphs: One calculation for each type of calculation preformed must be included so the instructor can follow how the answer was derived. Place a line or a box around the answer so it can be easily located. Graphs need to be titled; axes need to be labeled with title and appropriate units. To receive credit for any graph it must be completed on at least (minimum) of ½ page in size.
7. Conclusions: This will very from lab to lab. The conclusion should succinctly describe what can be concluded from the experimental results. It is aligned with a well written statement of Purpose at the beginning of the lab. Proper English and complete sentences must be used. Be sure to give thought and make it well written.
8. Discussion of Theory: Addresses the theory demonstrated by the lab and explains how calculations do/do not support the theory and fulfill the purpose of the lab.
9. Error Analysis: Includes relative error, if appropriate, specific sources of experimental error, and the effects of error on the magnitude of calculated quantities.
10. Questions: Follow the same procedure as for Pre-lab Questions