Pre-AP Chemistry Class Syllabus

~ Mr. Harvell & Mr. Jackson ~

Course Description:
Chemistry is the science of materials all around us: the ground we walk on, the air we breathe, and
the food we eat. Our class will explore these materials and the changes they undergo, as well as systems
for measuring and quantifying these materials. Laboratory experimentation is a central part of chemistry,
and we will use the laboratory to study and solve real problems. During this class the laboratory exercises
and theory come together to give you a practical understanding of the chemical world.
Chemistry is a rigorous course that requires diligent effort. Expect daily homework and plan to be in
class, on time, every day. You will need to be actively involved in the lectures and laboratory exercises in
order to succeed in the class. Successful students in this class find that work outside of class time is
necessary in order to fully understand and to be able to apply the course material. This course is designed
to give you the background and skills to prepare you for more advanced science classes, such as AP
Chemistry, AP Biology, AP Physics and/or AP Environmental Science.

Classroom Expectations:
Be respectful of all people!
Ask questions!
Advocate for yourself and your needs.
Be present and on time every day.
Participate in an active and positive manner.
No personal electronics!

Required Supplies:
3 ring binder (at least 1 )- for use for THIS CLASS ONLY
Page dividers with tabs
Composition notebook (not spiral bound)
Calculator (the one you already use if fine)

Attendance
This is an upper level Science class, I expect you to be on time and present every day.
If you miss a class (regardless of the reason), or are going to miss a class, you must check Schoology
(https://tsd.schoology.com) before the next class, to see what you missed. Please then stop in and
see me BEFORE the next class to pick up any papers that were handed out in class.
You must be in the room by the time the bell rings. If you enter after the bell has rung you will be
considered tardy. Each tardy will results in the loss of participation points. This WILL affect your
grade.
If you are more than 10 minutes tardy you will be marked absent due to tardy. This will count as an
unexcused absence.

Laboratory Work:
Laboratory work is an integral part of the chemistry course. The goal of the laboratory activities is to
provide hands on experience with laboratory equipment and practices and to increase your understanding
of chemistry and the science practices. Labs will be conducted in each unit where appropriate. Prior to
conducting any lab activity students are required to pass a lab equipment quiz. Students will retake the
quiz until obtaining a grade of 70% or higher. The maximum score for any equipment quiz retake will be
70%. Additionally, students will need to return a signed safety contract prior to conducting any lab work.
Accommodations and Modifications
If you are a student that is on at IEP or 504 Plan I am happy to work with you to find what
accommodations will allow you to be your most successful in this class. However, I do ask that if you do
need to use your accommodations to do your best that you set up a time to come in and discuss them with
me in advance of needing them in class so we can plan appropriately together.

Plagiarism
The Thompson School District Parent/Student handbook defines plagiarism as the act of representing
anothers ideas, words, expressions, or data in writing or presentation without properly acknowledging
the source. Basically this means that you try to pass some other persons work off as your own. I most
often see this as a result of directly cutting and pasting information from the internet into your own work.
Plagiarism also includes copying the work of other students as well. Plagiarism is not acceptable!
Plagiarism will be dealt with in the following manner:

1st offense students will be allowed to redo the assignment (a maximum score of 70% can be
earned), with the addition of a 1 typed page minimum paper on what plagiarism is and what are
the possible consequences of it. Students will also receive a referral in their student file.
Additional offenses students will receive a ZERO and not be able to make up the assignment.

Grading
Your grade will be based on a weighted points system with the following categories and percentages:
Test 40%
Cumulative Semester Final 10%
Quizzes 15%
Laboratory experiments and activities 15%
Vodcasts 10%
Miscellaneous Classwork, Homework, Notebook & Participation 10%

Tests- This is the major component of your grade. I do not offer test retakes, so make sure you
properly prepare for each test. If you miss a test day you must make the test up in a timely manner.
For most students the longer you wait to take the test the less prepared you are and the less material
you remember. This generally results in a lower grade than you would have earned if you took it on
time. Make-ups will not be given during your class time. Students that have an unexcused absence on
test day, will not be given the opportunity to take the test. DO NOT skip a test because you feel
unprepared. If you are feeling unprepared for a test come and talk to me in advance of class.

Cumulative Semester Final A cumulative final will be given at the end of each semester during
finals week.

Labs- We will try to do as much lab work as possible. Each lab will have some sort of lab write-
up/report associated with it. More information and format will follow shortly. We are more than
happy to review your report prior to you turning it in to help improve your final product.

Quizzes- Quizzes will be randomly given and their purpose is usually to ensure that you are
understanding the material before we get to a unit test. Quizzes may be retaken after corrections are
done to the original quiz. The deadline for quiz retakes is the morning of the unit exam. No quizzes
may be retaken after a unit exam has been given.
 Vodcasts- Vodcasts are videos that you watch, at home as homework, to learn the material. These
take the place of traditional in-class lectures. We will discuss these in more detail soon.

Homework/Classwork- Homework/Classwork will be given on a regular basis. The purpose of this

homework is to reinforce the ideas presented in the Vodcasts and prepare you for the unit test. To be
successful in this class you must do the homework. Students are responsible for checking their work
for correct answers and getting any necessary help during class or arranging a time for additional help
outside of class. Homework will be collected, as a packet, at the beginning of the period on the day of
each unit test. Along with the homework points, students will also receive participation points based
on their in-class performance. Participation points will be lost for the following reasons:
- Unexcused tardies
- Unexcused absences
- Personal electronics out during class
- Not using class time appropriately

Extra Help
Additional help and assistance will ALWAYS be given to students who ask. We are happy to work with
you to arrange a time that we can meet to help work out any difficulties that you may be having. We
available all days before and after school (usually I am here by 7a.m.). We will also be available at lunch
if you arrange these in advance.

Contacting Mr. Harvell & Mr. J.

Email: Mr. H:____________________________________________
Mr. J: jason.jackson@thompsonschools.org

Class Website: http://tsd.schoology.com