CHEMISTRY SYLLABUS
& Course Outline
Summer 2013
Dr. Forman
The five goals of ChemCom are to help students:
- develop an understanding of chemistry
- cultivate problem-solving and critical-thinking skills related to chemistry
- apply chemistry knowledge to decision-making about scientific and technological issues
- recognize the importance of chemistry in daily life
- understand benefits as well as limitations of science and technology
ChemCom Subjects
You’ll learn Chemistry at the same time that you explore relevant issues. You’ll learn about water shortages and water pollution, both from an environmental point of view and in terms of atoms, molecules, and chemical reactions. You’ll learn about atoms, matter, and conserving earth’s resources. You’ll learn about chemistry of petroleum and the global issue of using oil for energy. You’ll learn about the air and air pollution and how the sun’s rays interact with atmosphere to create global warming.
In short, you’ll be more educated about both Chemistry and important issues related to Chemistry that you need to know. This is both a science course and basic knowledge that you need to be an informed citizen. Therefore, you should plan to retain the big questions that this course raises.
Unit 1. Water: Exploring Solutions
Topics: Sources and uses of water; looking at water and its contaminants; investigating the cause of a fish kill; water purification and treatment;
Unit 2. Materials: Structure and Uses
Topics: Why we use what we do; earth’s mineral resources; conserving matter; designing materials for desired properties.
Unit 3. Petroleum: Breaking and Making Bonds
Topics: What is petroleum?; petroleum as energy sources; petroleum as a building-material source; energy alternatives to petroleum;
Unit 4. Air: Chemistry and the Atmosphere
Topics: Gases in the atmosphere; radiation and climate; acids in the atmosphere; sources and effects of air pollution; solutions to air pollution;
Unit 6. Atomic Physics, Fission, and Fusion
Note about Summer School:
Taking Chemistry in summer school is an intense but rewarding experience. We will spend lots of time learning and working together, and you should plan to keep focused for long periods of time, though we will take breaks and you can get up and stretch now and then. Plan to spend significant hours outside of class each day (two to three hours) doing homework. After all, one day of summer school equals one week of a regular school year. Also, one day’s absence equals one week’s absence, so stay well and come to school every day. In the end, you should have a feeling of time well spent, a feeling of accomplishment, and enough knowledge of Chemistry to last you a lifetime.
Materials
Textbook (Chemistry in the Community, Fifth Edition), calculator, three ring notebook, pens, pencils, paper, and other materials needed for class, internet connection at home.
Grading
Semester grades are calculated using a point system.
- Tests 100-200 pts (two-three per semester, includes the semester exam)
- Quizzes 40 pts (3-4 per semester)
- Mini-Quizzes 5-40 pts each (may be given at any time)
- Labs 20-40 pts each (10-20 pts execution, 10-20 pts write-up)
- Homework & Blogging 40 pts
- (20 pts spot checks, 20 pts full overview, plan on 2-3 hours/night)*
- In-Class Assignments 5 pts each (mini-labs, observations, calculations, etc.)
- Class Participation 20 pts
- Notebook Check 0-20 pts
- Extra Credit Oral Reports: 10 pts
Tests and quizzes will typically consist of a combination of critical thinking and recall/recognition type questions. The format will usually be a combination of multiple choice, short answer, and problem solving. Tests and quizzes will include materials from texts, class lectures and discussions, homework, and labs. Make-up quizzes will not be given.
Notebook and/or blog checks: Your notebook should include clear organization of handouts, homework (dated and corrected), lab handouts and reports, quizzes, and tests. Your blog should be easy to read, well written, well organized, and should include all information except drawings, which you can make by hand and turn in (or photograph and post). Include photos on your blog.
Homework should be neat, organized, and complete. Please show significant initial effort and careful corrections in a different color. Homework will be spot checked regularly, and a complete, organized set of assignments should be turned in with the notebook. Blog posting will be a part of your homework grade. (Remember to post.)
Lab grades will usually consist of 50% preparation and execution and 50% data and write ups. Execution includes following procedure, focus, attention to safety, and sometimes results.
Class participation and teamwork is measured by how hard you try in class and on your homework and how you contribute to the learning environment. Cooperating in lab groups, even when there are personality issues, counts for a lot and is a life skill we all need.
The total number of points earned divided by possible points divided by 100 will give your final percentage for the semester. Breaks will not exceed a total of 20 minutes per day. The gym may not be used without supervision. Students late more than three times (including returning from breaks) may be assigned detention. Any student missing more than three days of summer school, therefore, will not receive credit for the course. The library is open from 8 a.m. until 1:30 p.m. in the summer.
Extra Credit Oral Reports: Every Friday, motivated students will give an oral report of 3-5 minutes worth up to 10 points. Thursdays, time permitting, students can work on their presentations. Full extra credit points depend on the following: 1. Summarize a science article (usually from the Science & Technology section of The Economist or another approved source; 2. Post the summary on the student blog, 3. Include a photo; 4. Imbed a clickable link on your blog post to another site, even Wikipedia, from some concept or term you looked up; 5. Include what interests you about the article and why it’s important (without being reminded by the instructor); 6. Give a clear 3-5 minute presentation to the class using your projected blog and explaining the concepts so everyone understands; and finally 7. Posting appropriate comments afterwards on at least two blog post presentations. For all this, one receives all the extra points.
Chemistry Summer School Course Outline
1st week
· Mon. June 17 Intro to Chemistry, Principles, Course procedures, Unit 1 Water, blogs
· Tue. June 18 Unit 1: Section A Sources and Uses of Water
· Wed. June 19 Principles of Chemistry, 10:30 drill
· Thu. June 20 Foul Water Lab
· Fri. June 21 Review and exam, Oral reports
2nd week
· Mon. June 24 Unit 1 Section B Looking at Water and its Contaminants
· Tue. June 25 Unit 1 C
· Wed. June 26 Unit 1 D
· Thu. June 27 Lab
· Fri. June 28 Review and exam, Oral reports
3rd week
· Mon. July 1 Unit 2 Materials: Sec A Why use what we do
· Tue. July 2 Lab + Unit 2: Sec. B Earth’s Mineral Resources and Finish Unit 2 Review
· Wed. July 3 MIDTERM EXAM (two hours) , Oral reports
· Thu. July 4 No school
· Fri. July 5 No school
4th week
· Mon. July 8 Begin Unit 2: Sec. C
· Tue. July 9 Unit 2: Sec. C Conserving Materials & Lab
· Wed. July 10 Unit 2: Sec. D Designing Materials for Desired Properties
· Thu. July 11 Unit 2
· Fri. July 12 Review and exam, Oral reports
5th week
· Mon. July 15 Unit 3 Petroleum: Sec. A & B Energy
· Tue. July 16 Unit 3 Petroleum: Sec. C & D Energy Alternatives
· Wed. July 17 Lab & Unit 4 Air (Sec. A Gases in the Atmosphere)
· Thu. July 18 Unit 4 (Sec. B Radiation and Climate)
· Fri. July 19 Review and exam, Oral reports
6th week
· Mon. July 22 Unit 4 (Sec. C Acids in the Atmosphere)
· Tue. July 23 Lab
· Wed. July 24 Unit 4 (Sec. D Air Pollution)
· Thu. July 25 Unit 5 Atoms: Nuclear Interactions
· Fri. July 26 Review and Final Exam (two hours) , Oral reports
· HOMEWORK
Make sure to follow the assignment sheets and complete ALL homework that is assigned. Also, frequently check the Chem class blog at http://invisiblechem.blogspot.com/, the instructor’s blog, for last minute changes in homework and other important information. When you have a reading assignment, you are ALWAYS expected to ANNOTATE in the text and to take notes, either in the margin or on paper. I can check these annotations at any time. I may not collect or grade all homework assignments or journal entries, but completing them helps you prepare for tests, quizzes, and essays and, overall, for next year. Online homework is also required: you are expected to post daily to your BLOG and look at other students’ blogs.
· ATTENDANCE & CLASROOM BEHAVIOR
I call your attention to these important sections of the Buckley Parent/Student handbook.
Cell phones may not be used in class except with instructor’s permission. Note: some exceptions will be made when I permit you to take photos with your cell phones that you will then post on your blog. Otherwise, you are not permitted to check text messages, email or Facebook. You are not permitted to use phones to photograph the instructor. “Plagiarism can be deliberate or accidental. In either case it is unacceptable” (41). Tutors, parents, and peers may not substantially write or revise a student’s work, which must always be the student’s own words, and work; assistance in revising from a tutor should consist of guidance and questions rather than wholesale composing.
· Students must bring their texts to class. Also, bring notebooks, writing implements, copies of assignments, and homework. Those who wish to may bring a laptop computer or an iPad, but these are not necessary as we have laptops available in the classroom.
· ASK QUESTIONS and PARTICIPATE during class. Ask questions through email. (At times I check my email during the evenings and on the weekend, but not always.)
· Save everything. You are responsible to keep all materials pertaining to this class. This includes notes, quizzes, graded assignments, and photocopied texts. Get a separate notebook/folder for keeping your Chem material. You also must save all your work on disk and hard drive and a flash drive—all summer long.
· If you are absent for any reason, you must find out about and make up all work (including in-class assignments, blog journal topics, etc.) within one school day. All homework is posted on the Buckley on the class blog. The student (not the instructor) is responsible for making sure that missed work, quizzes, and tests are quickly made up.
· PROHBITIONS
· Late work: Late work will be marked down 1/3 grade per day late (e.g. A- to B+ to B, etc.). If you find yourself in this position, it is always better to complete work late than not to complete it at all. (60% is much better than 0%.)
· Tardiness/Absence: Attendance and punctuality are essential in this class, as each student’s presence is necessary for the class to work as a unit. Both tardiness and attendance are considered part of your participation grade, which is a substantial portion of your final grade. (See the Student Handbook for school policies.) Also, absenteeism in summer school, more than three days, may result in the student receiving no credit for taking the course.
· Use of laptop computers in the classroom
Using a laptop during class is a privilege not a right. Students are allowed to use laptops ONLY for taking lecture notes, blogging, or doing assigned research. Students may ONLY use programs (like Word) that help accomplish these two objectives. The Internet may ONLY be accessed with the instructor’s permission. Absolutely forbidden at all times: use of any messenger software such as iChat, AIM or Yahoo Messenger as well as checking email. This includes BUCKLEY E-MAIL, unless authorized by the instructor. This policy is in effect whenever the laptop is in the classroom. Failure to follow the classroom policy will result in a reduction of your class participation grade and the loss of the privilege to use a laptop/PC in the classroom. There are no warnings; a laptop ban would remain in effect the remainder of the summer.
I have read and understand the above policies. I also give my permission for audio or video taping in the classroom for educational purposes and for blog posts to be shared for educational purposes. I also give my permission for the instructor to have co-administrative privileges on blogs, websites, and other electronic forums.
______________ _______________________________ ____________________
Student Parent date
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