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Course Documents
Summer Assignments and Labs
Lab Safety Rules (RTF file)
Three-ring Binder Information
Common Lab Report Format (Word
doc)
Lab Report Writing Information
Alternate Grade Scale for
Labs/Projects
Course Overview
Instructor: Aaron Keller
In this course you will learn about some of the basic, important topics in chemistry. This should prepare you to approach a school-year chemistry course with some real confidence in conceptual knowledge, mathematical skills, and laboratory technique. I intend to cover the Scientific Notation, Unit Factors, and Atomic Structure. Several interesting labs will allow the topics we touch on to be a bit broader.
As with all the Upward Bound courses, you are not given a final grade. Instead, I will write a narrative evaluation which assesses:
- undestanding of factual information
- understanding of conceptual information
- laboratory technique
- math skills as applied to chemistry
- cooperation with classmates, TAs and the teacher for purposes of learning the material
- individual achievement, such as on tests and lab reports
- completion of assignments
- use of safety equipment
- organization of learning materials
- communication skills
This evaluation will be based, in part, on the grades you earn on the work you do. I will give grades for each assignment and test so that we can both keep track of your progress in the course.
Grade Weighting
The grading policy is designed to reflect how much work you put
into learning. If you put in the effort to learn the material you will do well. Your
grade will be based on the following categories.
- 40% - Classwork: This category includes the following:
- Homework: working on your own outside of class can be crucial to really
understanding new material
- Group Work: work done in class in a cooperative fashion; this covers class
participation
- Presentations: you may be required to present problems and projects
to the class
- 25% - Labs: working in the lab is essential to understanding chemical theory; writing about what you learned is essential
- 10% - Notebooks: You are required to keep a loose-leaf 3-ring binder this will be checked at some random time during the course
- 25% - Final Exam (last day of classes)
Do-overs
Homework may be corrected and handed back to me within two days of receiving the
graded work. Students may take a week to complete corrections to lab reports and
projects. Quizzes cannot be done again for credit. For homework, copy the problems
marked wrong and the corrected solution to a blank piece of paper, giving
the name of the assignment, your name, and the date at the top. For lab reports and
projects, submit a new draft along with the original draft for purposes of
comparison. This opportunity applies to group-work as well but each member of the
group is responsible for doing their own corrections individually.
It is the student’s responsibility
to talk to me if they need help to make the corrections.
Note: Only work handed in on time is eligible for
corrections.
Make-up Work
If you miss class, and it is an excused absence, then you may make up the work
you missed. You must see me and ask for the work as soon as you return to class. We
will determine due dates for make-up work as needed.
Late Work
Late work is subject to a penalty of 10 points on a 100 point assignment. Late work will be accepted only within two days of the original due date.