Chemistry Course Syllabus
Dundee High School – 2014-2015
Instructor:
Room Number:
Contact Information:
Mrs. Richards
404
734-529-7008, ext. 3404
nan.richards@dundee.k12.mi.us
Course Description and Objectives:
During this course, students will construct new scientific and personal knowledge of
Chemistry, reflect on the nature of scientific knowledge, and develop and apply
scientific skills in real-world contexts.
Classroom Expectations:
1.
2.
3.
4.
Show respect for yourself, others, and Dundee High School.
Be on time for every class, every day.
Come prepared with necessary learning materials.
Follow Dundee Community Schools’ code of conduct in terms of behavior,
dress, and electronic devices. The school’s cell phone policy will be followed in
this class!
5. Do your best original work the first time, every time.
Materials:
Scientific Calculator
Paper and Writing Utensil
3 Ring Binder for Chemistry only (will be collected each unit for 30% of your grade)
Instructional Philosophy:
My goal as a science educator is not to guide you in learning what to think, but to
guide you in learning how to think. You will have many opportunities to demonstrate
just that this year in Chemistry.
Science is the only subject that requires you to put all of your academic skills, in math
and language especially, to use. You will do that in this class when you work on
finding solutions to real-life problems and communicating and defending your results.
Science, then, is not only hands-on and fun, but it also teaches you to be a good
problem-solver, which is one important reason we study it. Even if you don’t want to
be a scientist, being a good problem-solver will serve you well no matter what you
decide to pursue later in life.
Classroom Procedures:
1. As your teacher, my top priority is your success in Chemistry. Don’t be afraid to
let me know if you are struggling so that I can help you!
2. In order to succeed in Chemistry, it is essential that you are on time for class
and that you attend every day. Students who miss school are responsible for
getting their makeup work the day they return to class. They will have the
same number of days that they missed to hand in their make-up work. No
exceptions.
3. If you need to leave class for any reason, fill out a pass in your planner and
bring it to me for my initials. If you need to leave class but do not have your
planner, fill out a pass on a sheet of paper. You will be marked tardy if you
must use this option. You can use up to 6 passes each semester. If you must
leave more than 6 times, you can do so, but will be marked tardy.
4. Projects will be accepted after the due date, but will be marked -10% (up to a
maximum of -50%) for each day they are late unless alternate arrangements
have been made in advance. Late homework and class work will not be
accepted.
5. There will be frequent pop quizzes in Chemistry. Do your homework and review
your notes in order to be prepared.
6. Students must sign a lab safety contract and follow lab safety rules at all times.
If they fail to do so, they will not be allowed to complete labs and will lose
credit as a result. Repeated or severe infractions will result in permanent loss of
lab privileges.
7. Students are responsible for handling lab equipment with care. If glassware is
mishandled and broken, students will be billed a broken glassware fee
(minimum of $10 per occurrence).
8. All students have the right to learn, and the teacher has the right to teach.
Any action by anyone in the classroom that disrupts either of those rights is
unacceptable and will result in a warning, and then a phone call home and a
detention, so that the reason for the disruption can be addressed. If the
disruptions continue, further disciplinary action will be pursued.
9. We will be using every minute of class time to study the science of Chemistry.
Wait for me to dismiss class rather than packing up your things when it’s
“almost” time to go. Stay in your seats or at your lab station and WORK until
the bell rings!
Academic Dishonesty:
Students who commit acts of academic dishonesty on any academic work will lose
credit for that work.
The following acts by students constitute academic dishonesty:
Cheating – Intentionally using or attempting to use unauthorized materials,
information, or study aids in any academic assignment. Examples:
1. Looking on someone else’s paper
2. Using a “cheat sheet” during an exam
3. Allowing someone else to take an exam for you
4. Turning in a paper written by someone else
5. Submitting the same work more than once for credit
6. Using memory calculators with exam info stored in them
7. Using someone else’s lab or homework assignments
8. Discussing assignments with another student if students were told that
collaboration was not allowed
Fabrication – Intentional and unauthorized falsification or invention of any information
or citation in an academic assignment. Examples:
1. Making up data on an assignment
2. Making up a source to cite in a paper
3. Altering, then resubmitting returned academic work
Plagiarism – Intentionally or knowingly representing the words or ideas of another’s as
one’s own in any academic assignment. Examples:
1. Quoting a source, word for word without properly citing the source
2. Paraphrasing text without properly citing the source
Facilitation – Intentionally or knowingly helping or attempting to help another student
commit an act of academic dishonesty. Examples:
1. Allowing another student to copy homework and turn it in
2. Letting someone else copy an exam
3. Taking an exam for someone else
4. Giving test information to students in another section of the same class
Assessment:
Your grade for each marking period will be based on the following elements:
Projects (30%) – There will be at least one major project and/or lab for every unit of
study in Chemistry. These assignments serve as an opportunity for students to
demonstrate their mastery of a variety of content expectations in a variety of ways,
and therefore constitute a major portion of the grade. Late projects and lab reports
will lose 10% credit per day they are late, up to a maximum of 50% off.
Class Work, Homework, 3 Ring Binder containing Board Work, Notes, Daily Writing, and
Unit Work (30%) – Your binder, containing individual work including a unit cover sheet
all class assignments will be handed in on or near exam day for each unit. For credit,
students must submit complete work that meets or exceeds the stated requirements.
Quizzes and Exams (40%) – There will be frequent and often unannounced quizzes in
Chemistry. They will cover class work, homework (especially assigned reading), and
notes. Each unit will end with an exam or alternate assessment. In addition, there will
be a cumulative final exam at the end of the semester and the year. Exams will cover
any and all class material and assignments. Exams are intended to be a way for you
to communicate with me how well you are grasping the material we cover in class
and therefore constitute a major portion of the grade.
Your semester grade will be based on the following elements:
Marking period grade – 80%
Cumulative Exams and Research-Based Culminating Final Project – 20%
The Cumulative Midterm and Final Exams and Research-Based Culminating Project are
course requirements. Students who do not complete the final project or fail to take the
midterm or final exam will not receive credit for the course. There are no exemptions
or exceptions!
Student Name ________________________________ Grade ______
Last,
First
Extra-Curricular Activities/Hobbies
__________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
Favorite Food(s) _______________________________________________________
Favorite TV Shows ______________________________________________________
Previous Science Classes _______________________________________________
Dear Parent/Guardian:
My name is Nan Richards, and I am excited to begin working with your child this year
in Chemistry. Please take a moment to look over this course syllabus with your son or
daughter to learn a little bit about what we will be doing this year in class. If you are
interested in receiving additional e-mails from me to let you know when major
projects are due and when tests are scheduled, please be sure that your e-mail
address is up-to-date in the Home Access system. If it is not, send me an e-mail at
nan.richards@dundee.k12.mi.us and I will have it updated for you.
Feel free to contact me if you have questions, concerns, comments, or suggestions
now or at any time throughout the school year. I am looking forward to working with
you to help your child meet with success in Chemistry!
Please detach this portion of the syllabus and return it with your signature and contact
information as an acknowledgement that you and your child understand the
expectations for them this semester in Chemistry.
Thank you!!
Nan Richards
__________________________________
Parent/Guardian Signature
_______________
Date
Parent/Guardian Name _______________________________________________
Home Phone Number _________________________________________________
Alternate Phone Number ______________________________________________