Mr. Michael Nordstrand
The College Chemistry class will be a year long class designed to meet the state law requirement that all high school graduates to complete one academic year of chemistry. Students will be enrolled at Lake Superior College (LSC) during the second semester (at Barnum), upon completion of the school year students will earn three college credits from LSC in chemistry. To see what the Minnesota standards are go to my home page and open the standards page.
The textbook we will be using is Chemistry, the Central Science, AP edition. This is the 10th edition and was published by Prentice Hall in 2006.
This chemistry class is intended primarily for those students who plan on attending a four year college with the intend on possibly pursuing a study of medicine, science, or engineering. This will be a very rigorous class and will be conducted like a college class. Homework due dates will be firm, even if a student is excused from school by a parent, however, just like college, a student can make prior arrangements with the instructor. This class will introduce students to the basic principles of chemistry through lecture, guided practice solving problems and individual study. We will conduct various experiments that will require written reports. The class will provide students an opportunity to practice their mathematical and problem solving skills. The intent of the class is two fold; to introduce students to the rigors of a college class and to teach them basic chemistry.
Students are expected to be able to handle simple algebra, arithmetic and ratios. I will demonstrate proper problem solving techniques as needed and as long as you follow my problem solving methods you will be fine. You will need a calculator, a TI-83 is perfectly adequate. When performing mathematical calculations I require students to show me all of their problem solving steps, so do not purchase a calculator that will do all of your thinking for you since you will only get credit if you show me your work. Your brain is far superior to any calculator you can purchase, and it is the one you must learn to use.
Let me reiterate something, I only give credit if you show me your work. I will not give you credit for simply writing down the correct answer, I must see and be able to follow the procedure you used to obtain that answer. If you simply write down a bunch of gibberish, followed by the correct answer, you will not receive any credit.
Anything that you turn in to me must be written in dark blue or black ink (Black pencil is acceptable, but I prefer pen, since it doesn't smear.). I will not accept anything, homework, tests, etcetera, that has been written in a different color. If you do submit something written in a “non-professional” color I will give it back to you and tell you to resubmit it. I also insist that your homework be neatly written, let me re-emphasize that, your homework must be completely legible and easy to follow and understand. Do not write extremely small, nor attempt to use a small portion of a sheet of paper. (Never submit an assignment on a half of a sheet of paper.) If I feel that your work is sloppy, or difficult to read, I will give it back to you and tell you to resubmit it.
The following is a brief overview of what we will cover in class, the curriculum meets the LSC requirements for credit.
1. Have a working knowledge of the basic structure of particles found in an atom and how the periodic table is arranged.
2. Have a working knowledge of the different types of matter and energy and how they are classified.
3. Have a working knowledge of the nomenclature, naming compounds and writing formulas, involved in chemistry.
4. Understand the balancing of chemical reactions and be able to determine whether the reactions actually occur and whether they are exothermic or endothermic.
5. Have a working knowledge of the VSEPR theory.
6. Have a working knowledge of the modern atomic theory, the electron configurations and how this relates to the construction of the periodic table.
7. Have a working knowledge of the gas laws and the Kinetic Molecular Theory.
8. Have a working knowledge of acids and bases.
See my home page for a more detailed list of the standards.
Grading policy:
As required by school policy 75% of your grade will be determined by your exams (summative assessment) , the remaining 25% of your grade will be determined by your homework, daily work, quizzes, etcetera (formative assessment).
Exams will consist of multiple choice questions as well as free response questions.
Laboratory experiments will occasionally require a formal written lab report. Formal lab reports will also fall into the 75%, summative assessment. Lab reports that are not formal will be considered as homework.
Please do not attempt to augment your knowledge (during quizzes or exams) by looking at your neighbor's paper or by using a “cheat sheet”, if I catch you cheating, you will receive a zero on that exam/quiz. If I suspect you of cheating I may simply ask you several questions, to determine your knowledge, or ask you to retake a similar exam/quiz. I will then compare the results of the two, if they are not similar then you were probably cheating and you will receive zero points. Once you have been caught cheating your honesty will always be suspect, therefore I will require you to take all exams/quizzes in a closely monitored environment.
Grades.
I will use the school wide grading scale
87.5% - 89.49% B+ 67.5% - 69.49% D+
83.5% - 87.49% B 63.5% - 67.49% D
79.5% - 83.49% B- 59.5% - 63.49% D-
Although I only demonstrated with the “B” and “D” grades, the same breakdown will be used for the other grades, with one exception, there is no A+. If you receive a grade lower than 59.5% you will not pass the class.
If you find yourself falling behind, or not comprehending something as well as you feel you should, do not wait until just before the exam to ask for help. I am available before, or after school.
General rules for all classes
1. Show respect to all members of the class.
2. When the tardy bell rings you must be in the classroom, not stepping through the door. I will give you one warning, after that you get detention. I will not discuss the point with you, if I say you are late, then you are late.
3. If you take the bathroom pass you must fill out the appropriate sections before you leave the room. The pass does not give you latitude to roam around the school, you can go to the bathroom and/or get a drink of water. If you violate this rule you may get detention. Only rarely should you need to use the bathroom pass, I will give you three passes for each quarter.
4. Do not talk when I am talking - it is rude and interferes with your classmates' ability to learn. Repeated violations of this rule will result in detention, or if I feel it is warranted you will be sent to the office.
5. When I give you time to study in class I will not allow you to close your books and do nothing. You have two options when I give you study time, 1) do homework for my class, or, 2) do homework/study for another class. If you choose to do nothing I will send you out of the class. When you are in my class you will work, not goof off. I will not allow you to sleep in class. You many not put your head on the desk or in your arms. I expect you to be paying attention, eyes open, head up right.
6. Do not leave your seats before the bell rings, and remember it is I who dismisses the class, not the bell. You will not line up by the door waiting for the bell to ring, instead you should remain seated in your assigned seat.
7. When you submit homework make sure you have:
a. Your first and last name on it. If you give me homework with only your first name you will be required to practice writing your full name 50 times, if you want me to accept that homework assignment. In your professional life you will use both names, so you might as well get used to it.
b. If the homework is several pages long make sure the pages are stapled together.
c. The only color of ink I will accept is dark blue or black. If you submit homework in any other color I will simply give it back to you, un-graded. You may also use black pencil, although ink is preferred since it doesn't smear. If you use an unauthorized color of ink on an exam I will return the exam to you and you will have until the end of the period to recopy your answers in an approved color of ink. Since this is not an art class I do not want, nor will I accept, an assignment that has “artistic designs” on it, if you want to practice you artistic skills take an art class.
d. Remove the “fringes” off the paper. (This only applies if you tore the paper out of a notebook.)
8. When I give you time to study in class you may quietly work with other members of the class, however the operative words are work quietly. If I feel that you are wasting your time, or getting loud, I will not allow you to work together. I will not argue this point with you. I will separate the offending parties and it will be several weeks (if ever) before I let you work together again. Repeated disruptions could result in detention, being sent to the hall, or sent to the office.
9. If you miss class it is your responsibility to find out what assignments you missed. I will never accept an assignment after the chapter exam, so if you were absent it is your responsibility to make up the work as quickly as possible. Homework assignments will be posted on my webpage, so there is no excuse for not knowing what homework you missed.
10. If you are absent the day before an exam (the review day) you will be expected to take the exam at the same time as everyone else. If you are absent on the day of the exam you will be expected to take the exam on the first day you return to class. I will make an exception to this if you were absent for more than two days.
11. In the past I have had several students who always seemed to be absent on the day of the exam, I consider this to be highly suspicious behavior. I reserve the right to make up a special exam for any student who seems to be making a habit of missing the regularly scheduled exams, naturally this does not apply for school related absences.
12. You are required to show all mathematical steps when solving a problem which requires mathematics. In the past students have attempted to submit homework by simply writing down the solution they copied from the back of the textbook. Many problems will require some mathematical computation, you are expected to show how you obtained the answer you did. If you do not show your work then you will not receive credit for the answer, even if the answer is correct.
13. I will not tolerate academic dishonesty. If you are caught cheating you will receive zero points on that quiz or exam. I will also require you to take all subsequent quizzes or exams in a closely monitored environment, since your honesty will now be questioned. If I think you were cheating I reserve the right to have you take another similar exam in a monitored environment, if the scores are vastly different, then you were probably cheating and will receive zero points.
14. I do not mind if you eat or drink in the class. You must clean up any mess you make. During labs, when chemicals are out, you may NOT eat or drink in the classroom – for safety purposes.
15. I will not allow you to use any electronic devices, except calculators, in my class without my permission. If you use a cell phone in class it will be confiscated. You may not listen to music in my class. You may not use an iPad or other device as your calculator, or periodic table, unless you have prior permission. My reason for this is that you could use the iPad/Chrombook to look up answers. You may not use any electronic device on a test, except your calculator, unless I authorize it before the test.
General Study hints
Science is a foreign language and in order to become comfortable with the language you must study. I encourage you to read every chapter we cover, preferably more than once, and take notes on the chapter. I also suggest that you work through every practice problem in the book, do not simply look at the problems. Lastly, never do a problem only one time. If you solve a homework problem just one time you probably haven't learned anything, especially if it is a difficult problem. Expect to make mistakes, because you will make them. There is nothing wrong with making a mistake; the only thing that is wrong is when you don't learn from them. Here is a quote that I like, “If you are not making mistakes then you are not working on difficult enough problems, and that is a mistake.” I don't remember the source of the quote.
TO PARENTS/STUDENTS –IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS REGARDING ANY MATERIALS OR SUBJECTS COVERED IN THIS CLASS PLEASE CONTACT THE TEACHER TO SET-UP A MEETING TO DISCUSS THE CURRICULUM OR USE OF ALTERNATIVE ASSIGNMENTS.
The College Chemistry class will be a year long class designed to meet the state law requirement that all high school graduates to complete one academic year of chemistry. Students will be enrolled at Lake Superior College (LSC) during the second semester (at Barnum), upon completion of the school year students will earn three college credits from LSC in chemistry. To see what the Minnesota standards are go to my home page and open the standards page.
The textbook we will be using is Chemistry, the Central Science, AP edition. This is the 10th edition and was published by Prentice Hall in 2006.
This chemistry class is intended primarily for those students who plan on attending a four year college with the intend on possibly pursuing a study of medicine, science, or engineering. This will be a very rigorous class and will be conducted like a college class. Homework due dates will be firm, even if a student is excused from school by a parent, however, just like college, a student can make prior arrangements with the instructor. This class will introduce students to the basic principles of chemistry through lecture, guided practice solving problems and individual study. We will conduct various experiments that will require written reports. The class will provide students an opportunity to practice their mathematical and problem solving skills. The intent of the class is two fold; to introduce students to the rigors of a college class and to teach them basic chemistry.
Students are expected to be able to handle simple algebra, arithmetic and ratios. I will demonstrate proper problem solving techniques as needed and as long as you follow my problem solving methods you will be fine. You will need a calculator, a TI-83 is perfectly adequate. When performing mathematical calculations I require students to show me all of their problem solving steps, so do not purchase a calculator that will do all of your thinking for you since you will only get credit if you show me your work. Your brain is far superior to any calculator you can purchase, and it is the one you must learn to use.
Let me reiterate something, I only give credit if you show me your work. I will not give you credit for simply writing down the correct answer, I must see and be able to follow the procedure you used to obtain that answer. If you simply write down a bunch of gibberish, followed by the correct answer, you will not receive any credit.
Anything that you turn in to me must be written in dark blue or black ink (Black pencil is acceptable, but I prefer pen, since it doesn't smear.). I will not accept anything, homework, tests, etcetera, that has been written in a different color. If you do submit something written in a “non-professional” color I will give it back to you and tell you to resubmit it. I also insist that your homework be neatly written, let me re-emphasize that, your homework must be completely legible and easy to follow and understand. Do not write extremely small, nor attempt to use a small portion of a sheet of paper. (Never submit an assignment on a half of a sheet of paper.) If I feel that your work is sloppy, or difficult to read, I will give it back to you and tell you to resubmit it.
The following is a brief overview of what we will cover in class, the curriculum meets the LSC requirements for credit.
1. Have a working knowledge of the basic structure of particles found in an atom and how the periodic table is arranged.
2. Have a working knowledge of the different types of matter and energy and how they are classified.
3. Have a working knowledge of the nomenclature, naming compounds and writing formulas, involved in chemistry.
4. Understand the balancing of chemical reactions and be able to determine whether the reactions actually occur and whether they are exothermic or endothermic.
5. Have a working knowledge of the VSEPR theory.
6. Have a working knowledge of the modern atomic theory, the electron configurations and how this relates to the construction of the periodic table.
7. Have a working knowledge of the gas laws and the Kinetic Molecular Theory.
8. Have a working knowledge of acids and bases.
See my home page for a more detailed list of the standards.
Grading policy:
As required by school policy 75% of your grade will be determined by your exams (summative assessment) , the remaining 25% of your grade will be determined by your homework, daily work, quizzes, etcetera (formative assessment).
Exams will consist of multiple choice questions as well as free response questions.
Laboratory experiments will occasionally require a formal written lab report. Formal lab reports will also fall into the 75%, summative assessment. Lab reports that are not formal will be considered as homework.
Please do not attempt to augment your knowledge (during quizzes or exams) by looking at your neighbor's paper or by using a “cheat sheet”, if I catch you cheating, you will receive a zero on that exam/quiz. If I suspect you of cheating I may simply ask you several questions, to determine your knowledge, or ask you to retake a similar exam/quiz. I will then compare the results of the two, if they are not similar then you were probably cheating and you will receive zero points. Once you have been caught cheating your honesty will always be suspect, therefore I will require you to take all exams/quizzes in a closely monitored environment.
Grades.
I will use the school wide grading scale
87.5% - 89.49% B+ 67.5% - 69.49% D+
83.5% - 87.49% B 63.5% - 67.49% D
79.5% - 83.49% B- 59.5% - 63.49% D-
Although I only demonstrated with the “B” and “D” grades, the same breakdown will be used for the other grades, with one exception, there is no A+. If you receive a grade lower than 59.5% you will not pass the class.
If you find yourself falling behind, or not comprehending something as well as you feel you should, do not wait until just before the exam to ask for help. I am available before, or after school.
General rules for all classes
1. Show respect to all members of the class.
2. When the tardy bell rings you must be in the classroom, not stepping through the door. I will give you one warning, after that you get detention. I will not discuss the point with you, if I say you are late, then you are late.
3. If you take the bathroom pass you must fill out the appropriate sections before you leave the room. The pass does not give you latitude to roam around the school, you can go to the bathroom and/or get a drink of water. If you violate this rule you may get detention. Only rarely should you need to use the bathroom pass, I will give you three passes for each quarter.
4. Do not talk when I am talking - it is rude and interferes with your classmates' ability to learn. Repeated violations of this rule will result in detention, or if I feel it is warranted you will be sent to the office.
5. When I give you time to study in class I will not allow you to close your books and do nothing. You have two options when I give you study time, 1) do homework for my class, or, 2) do homework/study for another class. If you choose to do nothing I will send you out of the class. When you are in my class you will work, not goof off. I will not allow you to sleep in class. You many not put your head on the desk or in your arms. I expect you to be paying attention, eyes open, head up right.
6. Do not leave your seats before the bell rings, and remember it is I who dismisses the class, not the bell. You will not line up by the door waiting for the bell to ring, instead you should remain seated in your assigned seat.
7. When you submit homework make sure you have:
a. Your first and last name on it. If you give me homework with only your first name you will be required to practice writing your full name 50 times, if you want me to accept that homework assignment. In your professional life you will use both names, so you might as well get used to it.
b. If the homework is several pages long make sure the pages are stapled together.
c. The only color of ink I will accept is dark blue or black. If you submit homework in any other color I will simply give it back to you, un-graded. You may also use black pencil, although ink is preferred since it doesn't smear. If you use an unauthorized color of ink on an exam I will return the exam to you and you will have until the end of the period to recopy your answers in an approved color of ink. Since this is not an art class I do not want, nor will I accept, an assignment that has “artistic designs” on it, if you want to practice you artistic skills take an art class.
d. Remove the “fringes” off the paper. (This only applies if you tore the paper out of a notebook.)
8. When I give you time to study in class you may quietly work with other members of the class, however the operative words are work quietly. If I feel that you are wasting your time, or getting loud, I will not allow you to work together. I will not argue this point with you. I will separate the offending parties and it will be several weeks (if ever) before I let you work together again. Repeated disruptions could result in detention, being sent to the hall, or sent to the office.
9. If you miss class it is your responsibility to find out what assignments you missed. I will never accept an assignment after the chapter exam, so if you were absent it is your responsibility to make up the work as quickly as possible. Homework assignments will be posted on my webpage, so there is no excuse for not knowing what homework you missed.
10. If you are absent the day before an exam (the review day) you will be expected to take the exam at the same time as everyone else. If you are absent on the day of the exam you will be expected to take the exam on the first day you return to class. I will make an exception to this if you were absent for more than two days.
11. In the past I have had several students who always seemed to be absent on the day of the exam, I consider this to be highly suspicious behavior. I reserve the right to make up a special exam for any student who seems to be making a habit of missing the regularly scheduled exams, naturally this does not apply for school related absences.
12. You are required to show all mathematical steps when solving a problem which requires mathematics. In the past students have attempted to submit homework by simply writing down the solution they copied from the back of the textbook. Many problems will require some mathematical computation, you are expected to show how you obtained the answer you did. If you do not show your work then you will not receive credit for the answer, even if the answer is correct.
13. I will not tolerate academic dishonesty. If you are caught cheating you will receive zero points on that quiz or exam. I will also require you to take all subsequent quizzes or exams in a closely monitored environment, since your honesty will now be questioned. If I think you were cheating I reserve the right to have you take another similar exam in a monitored environment, if the scores are vastly different, then you were probably cheating and will receive zero points.
14. I do not mind if you eat or drink in the class. You must clean up any mess you make. During labs, when chemicals are out, you may NOT eat or drink in the classroom – for safety purposes.
15. I will not allow you to use any electronic devices, except calculators, in my class without my permission. If you use a cell phone in class it will be confiscated. You may not listen to music in my class. You may not use an iPad or other device as your calculator, or periodic table, unless you have prior permission. My reason for this is that you could use the iPad/Chrombook to look up answers. You may not use any electronic device on a test, except your calculator, unless I authorize it before the test.
General Study hints
Science is a foreign language and in order to become comfortable with the language you must study. I encourage you to read every chapter we cover, preferably more than once, and take notes on the chapter. I also suggest that you work through every practice problem in the book, do not simply look at the problems. Lastly, never do a problem only one time. If you solve a homework problem just one time you probably haven't learned anything, especially if it is a difficult problem. Expect to make mistakes, because you will make them. There is nothing wrong with making a mistake; the only thing that is wrong is when you don't learn from them. Here is a quote that I like, “If you are not making mistakes then you are not working on difficult enough problems, and that is a mistake.” I don't remember the source of the quote.
TO PARENTS/STUDENTS –IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS REGARDING ANY MATERIALS OR SUBJECTS COVERED IN THIS CLASS PLEASE CONTACT THE TEACHER TO SET-UP A MEETING TO DISCUSS THE CURRICULUM OR USE OF ALTERNATIVE ASSIGNMENTS.