AP Physics C: Mechanics
Syllabus for 2015-16
Instructor
Book
Dr. Rebecca McGowan Jensen
jensenrm@swbell.net rjensen@dallasisd.org
Randall Knight, Physics for Scientists and Engineers
Materials
You will need a graphing calculator, a spiral for physics notes only (70 or 120
pages, depending on your note-taking), and a 2- or 3-inch binder or folder or
portfolio for this class. If you choose a binder, dividers should be handouts and
exit tickets, homework, practice quizzes, quizzes, and exams.
Learning Process
(25% of your grade)

(Required) Active participation in class, starting at the beginning of class,
including note-taking, completion of example problems, and exit tickets. Exit
tickets will be graded, but you will have a chance to redo and correct them.

(Required) Minimal homework: You will have 2-3 homework assignments per
unit. For Quest HW submitted online by the deadline, your score is the %
you get right, regardless of how many attempts it takes. You may turn it in
on paper by the exam day for 70%. After the exam day, homework will not
be accepted. Other homework is graded on effort for full credit if turned in
on time or for 70% if turned in by the exam day.

(Semi-optional) Practice quizzes: Practice quizzes have answers (but not full
solutions) on them. Practice quizzes turned in on quiz day will be graded on
effort on a 0/70/100 basis. After the quiz, full solutions will be put in the
binder and a student’s practice quiz grade will be equal to his or her exam
grade on that topic or their practice quiz grade, whichever is higher.

(Optional) Read recommended sections and examples in the book, or work
extra practice problems. See the calendar for recommendations.

(Optional) Come to tutoring.
Opportunities for Help



I will be tutoring at C lunch and by appointment in the afternoons from 4:15
to 5:15.
After the due date for the electronic homework, you may access solutions
online. Please see me if you need more help. We will also go over
homework in class.
Extra calendars will be kept in Room 313 and on the TAG website. See me
to get an extended due date on electronic homework if you are absent for
more than one class day.
Assessment
Exams
Quizzes
Learning Process
Participation/Trek/TAG-IT



60%
10%
25%
5%
A typical six weeks will have 5-7 homework assignments, 4-5 practice
quizzes, and several exit tickets. These make up the “Learning Process”
grade.
Quizzes will count for 10% of the six weeks grade. If there are at least 3
quizzes, one can be dropped. You will get two “lifelines” per quiz.
There will be two exams per six weeks, counting a total of 60% of the six
weeks grade.
Cell phones and electronic equipment such as iPods must be turned off and put away
during the school day. Cell phones will be taken up on exam days.
Instructions






Read the syllabus.
Get an electronic ID (EID) at the University of Texas at Austin by
following the directions at
https://idmanager.its.utexas.edu/eid_self_help.
Add yourself to the class roster online by accessing the website:
http://quest.cns.utexas.edu/student and using course number TAG06.
Fill in (or ask your parent to fill in) the parent contact info.
Sign the last sheet of this packet and have your parent sign it, too.
Keep the rest of the syllabus but turn that page in by the third class
day. It counts as part of your participation grade for the first six
weeks. Not turning this page in will count against you.
When you sign the last page, you are affirming that you have read and discussed
this material with your teacher and your parent(s). In particular, you have read
the Learning Process section and you understand how your grade will be
determined. In addition, you have added yourself to the course roster online.
Information for Parents
AP Physics C
Rebecca Jensen
I am glad to have your daughter or son in my AP Physics C class. I believe that
this is a challenging, fun class that is beneficial whether or not your student
decides to pursue a career that uses physics. (Of course, if they want to pursue
science, I won’t tell them “no.”) In this class, we will focus on problem-solving
techniques, organizing information, and writing clear and concise solutions—all
useful skills for a variety of jobs. We will hopefully also make the connections
between science and mathematics that will support the content covered in
calculus class. Plus, we will work on organizational skills (see the “assessment”
section above for information about the notebook requirement) that will be
useful for all students regardless of college major.
The AP Physics C exam is on May 9, 2016. I expect every student to take and
pass it, with your support and my help.
How to get information about AP Physics C:

Ask your daughter or son if you can see the calendars I send home for
each unit. They are also accessible via the TAG website, and they give
homework due dates and dates for practice quizzes, quizzes, and major
examinations.

Email me at school (rjensen@dallasisd.org) or home
(jensenrm@swbel.net) if you have questions.

Please visit during parent conference nights: October 12 and January 11.
What you need to do



Tear off this sheet and keep it.
Fill out the parent contact information on the next page.
Sign and return that page.
Parent Contact Form
AP Physics C
Parents’ names: ____________________________________________________
Email(s): _________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
Phone number(s): __________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
(Please list any numbers – home, cell, or work – that you would like me to have.)
Preferred means of contact: __________________________________________
Our signatures below indicate our receiving a course syllabus for this class and
access to the associated classroom and campus discipline management plan.
_________________________________________________
Student’s Printed Name
_________________________________________________________________
Student’s Signature
Date
_________________________________________________
Parent’s Printed Name
_________________________________________________________________
Parent’s Signature
Date