• Broad Run High School
    Advanced Placement Chemistry
    Syllabus
    Teacher: Mrs. Cynthia Wall, Room 114
    Term: 2012-2013
    A.P. Chemistry Exam Date: Monday, May 6, 2013
    Course Description:
    This course is designed to be the equivalent of a first-year general Chemistry college course, two semesters, lecture and lab. "It is assumed that the student will spend at least five (5) hours a week in unsupervised, individual study." While most of the course content can be found in the textbook, some information cannot. The course notes will cover all areas of required study. There are sections within each chapter which will not be discussed, nor will the chapters be studied in the same order in which they appear in the textbook. This course is meant to provide the student with the best preparation for the A.P. Chemistry test (but not for the SAT II Chemistry or any other external assessment). FLEX periods will be used for A.P. Chemistry exam preparation.
    Text:   Chemistry, 5th edition, Zumdahl
    (We will also use classroom- only copies of Chemistry: The Central Science (AP edition), by Brown, LeMay, et al and Barron's AP Chemistry, 6th edition) Other AP Chemistry textbooks and review guides are available in the classroom for student use.
    The individual purchase of AP Chemistry Exam review materials from D & S Marketing is strongly recommended. I will put together an order for these at the Back-to-School Night on September 10. Review book and solutions manual are $30.90.
    Methodology:
    • Students will review powerpoints for homework; additional videos or website assignments may also be for homework
    • Students will present Embedded Problems in class
    • Laboratory Investigations
    • Guided Practice Sessions (problem-solving skill development) in class
    • A.P. Exam Question Practice
    • Evaluation (Tests, Quizzes)
    • Equation-Writing Practice and Quizzes
    • Post A.P. Chemistry Exam Activities: we will be conducting additional laboratory activities, guided-inquiry style. These activities will be added to the lab notebook.
    • All students will be expected to take BOTH the mid-term and the final exams. These will not be scored/adjusted to the AP College Board scale. The final exam will be administered before the senior assembly in late May-early June. Underclassmen will still need to report on the regularly scheduled exam day.

    Grading Procedure: The Quarter marking period consists of an accumulation of points. A student will be assigned a grade according to the corresponding percentage of the overall points possible for the quarter. With the exception of the first 2-3 tests, your tests will be designed similar to an actual A.P. Chemistry exam. There will be two sections: multiple choice, and free response. The free response section will include problem-solving, essays, and equation-writing for chemical reactions. Students may not use a calculator on the multiple choice section, or, in the free resonse section, on the equation writing and essay questions. Calculators may be used only on the problems in the free response section.

    Completion of a laboratory notebook is a requirement for this course as it may be submitted for possible college credit for the laboratory section of Chemistry at the college/university which the student attends. All labs will recorded in a graph-lined composition notebook, neatly, and in a timely fashion. (Notebooks are available for purchase from the instructor for $1.00) See handout for the management of the lab notebook.
    Grading Scale:
     
    A      90-92       93-97       98-100
    B      80-82       83-86        87-89
    C      70-72       73-76        77-79
    D      60-62       63-66       67-69
    F        0-59
    Materials Required:
    1. 3-ring binder, divided into the following sections: notes, homework, lab worksheets/procedures, tests/quizzes, equation writing, reference, AP exam questions.
    2. loose-leaf paper, graph paper
    3. scientific calculator (This is strongly recommended!) (graphing capability optional) (You MAY NOT use your cell phone!)
    4. Blue or black ink pens (no other color); #2 pencils; highlighter
    5. Lab Notebook (see above)(Buy one from the instructor or get one ASAP: your first lab will be on Sept. 5-6)
    Social Protocols:
    Learning communities and scientific teams work best in an environment of respect and tolerance. It is important that communication channels between teacher and student and those between classmates are always open. Any issues due to misunderstanding or intolerance, which cannot be settled, should be brought to the teacher's attention immediately. Please check assignments frequently, contact me through email, see me personally when you have a question.
    Cheating: DON'T DO IT! All assignments will clearly distinguish between individual products and group products. When in doubt, do your own work. At NO TIME should you copy another student's work and submit it as your own. Exams, quizzes, worksheets, labs, and tests are to be your own independent work. Failure to follow these guidelines will result in a zero for the associated assignment, and parents may be notified. The use of cell phones/texting is strictly forbidden in this classroom at any time. Students should refer to the cell phone policy for Broad Run High School. Phones will be confiscated and turned in to the office; parents may be notified of a cell phone policy violation.
    Late Work: Classroom policy will follow school policy for absences for general assignments; however, the feedback loop is tight and many assignments are graded/scored on the day that they are due. If you miss a class due to absence, the assignment will be due two days after you return. However, if you can mange to get it to me by the next class, preferably the next morning before the first block, it will be easier to keep up with assignments.When you return to school, you should immediately make arrangements for any lab make-up (morning between 8:00-8:45 a.m. If you are in a "0" block, please make arrangements for after-school). Do not wait until you come to class two days later. Some activities are time-dependent due to materials and freshness of solutions. Also, it is not possible/convenient to keep labs available for make-up in this classroom as two separate lab programs are being conducted. While lab activities are conducted usually while working within a small group of students, each student is responsible for independent answers, calculations, and analysis. See above. Presentation is everything. Quality work and communication are necessary. Word processing is encouraged when appropriate. Illegible work is not acceptable.
    No food or drinks in this classroom at any time. No cell phone use. No ipod use (exam days are exceptions.) Be on time: tardy discipline accumulates quickly.
    I am currently making arrangements to schedule a field trip lab day. This will be an in-house field trip and students will be in room 114 all day, performing 3-4 laboratory activities. I would like to do this once in the fall and again in the spring. This will allow us some time for review for the A.P. Chemistry exam which is scheduled in the beginning of May. More details later.
Last Modified on August 16, 2013