ADVANCED CHEMISTRY 2 SYLLABUS AND POLICIES

2011 - 2012
Mr. Greg Krotz – Instructor, Classroom: room 210
email krotzgreg@bcchs.org , phone 722-2390 ext. 530

Office Hours:  I am available most days from 7:30 - 7:50 a.m. and 3:15 - 3:45 p.m.   Other obligations or conflicts may take me out of the classroom during these times.  If you can mention that you are coming in advance, this would be helpful (but not required).

Text:  Raymond E. Davis, Ph.D., Regina Frey, Ph.D., Mickey Sarquis, Jerry L. Sarquis, Ph.D.  Modern Chemistry. Orlando, Florida: Holt, Rinehart and Winston, Inc., Ó2009

Required materials:  3 ring notebook with paper, blue or black pen and/or pencil, textbook, agenda book and a scientific calculator.  Demerits or other consequences may result from failure to bring materials.

Description:  Chemistry is the science concerned with the composition, structure and properties of matter, as well as the changes it undergoes during chemical reactions and accompanying energy and entropy changes during such processes.

Purpose:  Advanced Chemistry 2 is a level 1 class (honors level credit is granted) intended for college preparation.  Successful completion of  this class will partially fulfill Kansas Board of Regents admission requirements.   Although some students will need to work harder than others to be successful in this class, there are certain behaviors that almost always result in failure: poor attendance, not taking studies seriously, lack of attention and participation and failure to complete work.

Because of the nature of Chemistry, both as a body of knowledge and a scientific endeavor that helps us to attain new knowledge, you must be willing to actively participate to be successful.  My intent is, rather than teach you chemistry, to facilitate your efforts to learn chemistry.  Most class time will be spent emphasizing major concepts and assisting you with areas of difficulty.  It is vital that you ask questions.  My assumption will be that you either have complete understanding or don’t care if no questions are asked.  Assignments will be listed on a unit assignment sheet given at the beginning of each chapter and tentative due dates will be given.  You are encouraged to work ahead so that you have time to ask questions.  Although due dates may be changed to accommodate questions, I will not use class time to answer questions on the day an assignment is due. Please plan ahead!

If you will take advantage of all opportunities presented, you can succeed in Chemistry.  You will be given second chances (retests) on tests, if needed (you may earn up to 76% on the second test).  To earn the opportunity to do a retest you must complete an additional study assignment before the first test over a unit is administered.

Some common causes of difficulty in Chemistry…

• Absences (for any reason, excused or unexcused)…it's not enough to simply complete the homework.  If gone, you will miss important instruction and activities.  Missed labs will always be made up after school as scheduled by the teacher!  If you can't do this, don't be gone on lab day!
• Copying homework from others.  Homework should be considered as preparation for tests.  If you can't do the homework independently you probably won't be able to do it on the test! (as explained in the grading section, tests make up 60%  of the term grade).
• Poor mathematics preparation.  You  must have completed or be concurrently taking Algebra 2.  You will be expected to be proficient in and ready to use basic algebra (as learned in Algebra 1).
• Not asking questions and getting extra help, when problems arise.  If you wait until the morning of a test, I might not be accessible or you might not be able to get the explanation that you need.  Chemistry is "cumulative" in nature and if you don't understand a concept, you will probably struggle with others that follow.
• Lack of student interaction.  Try questions and problems on your own.  Ask questions and get help when needed. 
• Poor time management.  If you wait until the day before assignments are due to begin working on them you will not have an opportunity to get help!

If you are willing to make the necessary effort, Chemistry will be enjoyable and you will be successful!

Course Policies :  (Note- I reserve the right to add or modify policies for this course at any time as necessary)

• All assignments will include a proper heading as explained by the teacher.  Lack of proper heading on an assignment will result in a 10% penalty.  Late papers (excused) without a proper heading will not be accepted.
• In case of absence, it is your responsibility to get make-up work.  Use your assignment sheet and check with the teacher.  Assignments due when you were absent are due upon your return.
• Tests or quizzes missed due to absence will be made up on the day of your return if no new material was covered during your absence.  If you were absent more than one day, please see me about a make-up time.  If you miss a pre-arranged make-up time without a valid reason, you will receive a “0” for that test or quiz.
• All assignments are due at the beginning of the designated period.  Papers will be collected in an orderly manner.  If your paper is not received with the rest of the class, it will be considered late, unless you make arrangements to receive help from me and follow through.  You will not receive credit for late work, except when associated with an excused absence or you make arrangements to work with me to clear up misunderstandings with the assignment (and actually follow through with this).
• Assignments missed because of unexcused or non-excused absences must be completed but will receive no credit.  Suspensions, either in school or out, are unexcused absences.  You will not receive credit for missed assignments if you are asked to leave my classroom for behavior problems.
• If you are going to be absent for a planned school activity, see me in advance.

7.    Test study guide questions (either from me or from the text) will be available for each chapter or unit covered.  A satisfactory attempt (as determined by the teacher) to complete these questions will allow the student to earn 5 extra credit homework points and the opportunity to retake the test and improve their test score to a maximum of 76%.  The study guide questions must be turned in before the regular test is given to retake a test.  The student must attempt to answer all assigned study guide questions and/or problems, in the format and with the level of completeness as described by the teacher, to be eligible to do a retest.  A student may retake a test more than once (additional retests may be given in written or oral form) if they make arrangements to receive extra, individual help from me to prepare.  Students must sign up with the teacher to take a retest.  If you sign up to take a retest and are absent without communicating with the teacher, you may be prohibited from signing up for later retests.

Rules:

• Everyone will be treated with dignity and respect.
• You will be in your assigned seat ready to learn (with necessary materials) when the bell rings.  Sleeping in class is not tolerated.
• Safety is a primary concern.  Unsafe behavior will receive the harshest response allowed by school policy.

Food, drink, gum and/or candy will not be allowed in room 210.  Exceptions may be made for plain bottled water at teacher discretion.  Don't ask for a pass to fill a water bottle!  Exceptions will only be made based upon the recommendation of a medical doctor. 
4.   Academic dishonesty will not be tolerated.  If you are caught cheating you will receive a zero on the test or
assignment and may suffer other consequences at my discretion and according to school policy.
5.    Restroom and /or other passes will be given at the discretion of the teacher only when they will not 
interrupt instruction.  You must have your agenda book to receive a pass.  Use discretion…if I think you
are taking advantage of passes, you will no longer receive them. 
6.   Be familiar with rules for conduct outlined in the BCCHS student handbook/agenda.  These rules are in affect
at all times.
7.   Use common sense!

Grading:  Semester grades will be based upon this weighting:
Tests and Quizzes     60%
Homework and Lab  30%
Semester Exam         10%

Grades will be assigned according to the Diocese Schools grading scale as described in the student agenda.

Eligibility grade checks should be given to me at the beginning of the period and picked up at the end. 
Grades may be checked by students and parents using Powerschool.