• Honors Chemistry                                    John Theisen

    Grosse Pointe South High School                email: theisej@gpschools.org

     

                                                                                                                                     click here for a printer friendly version 
     
    Common Questions ...
     
    1) Are there specific school supplies I will need for this class?
     
    Answer: Nothing specific absolutely required. I would suggest a bound notebook or two for class notes (get them while they're cheap in the back to school sales) and some sort of binder or folder to keep your handouts. You will need a scientific calculator, but I would imagine you already have one of those from earlier classes.

     

     
     
     
    Goals: There are several goals for you in this course, namely:

    · prepare for the rigors of AP and college chemistry

    · build study skills and self discipline

    · promote scientific literacy through content knowledge

    · increase lab proficiency

    · grow teamwork skills

    · succeed in a challenging course

    Expectations: It is expected that the you will

    · attend class on a regular basis in a timely fashion

    · promptly make up missed work independently when absent
     
    Parents and students are encouraged to monitor their attendance using Parent Connect and Student Connect via http://gpschools.schoolwires.net/grades .   

    · prepare for class on a daily basis by keeping up with your assignments, notes, etc., and asking for help when necessary

    · take responsibility for your own learning

     

    Assessment: Grades are earned in the following ways

    · content knowledge and synthesis

    · quizzes and tests

    · Quality and completeness of written work

    · Analytical skills, comprehension and “professional” presentation demonstrated in lab work and reports

    Homework is assigned from two to four times weekly. The answers are discussed in class to monitor progress and understanding, and are usually posted in the showcase for you to check your own progress. The material on the homework and lab work is included on the quizzes. This is an incentive to help you discipline yourself to complete the assignments on your own. In Honors Chemistry, quizzes come about every five to seven class days (never “pop” quizzes), and tests are administered at the end of each unit, usually about every three weeks.

    In Honors Chemistry, the tests count as four weights, the quizzes are usually one weight, and lab reports or other written work typically counts as a ½ weight. The tests and quizzes are curved based on class results from all the sections of Honors Chemistry I teach (highest score gets the A). Students who achieve lower than a C on a test may opt to retake a similar test. If the student retakes the test and scores a C or higher, their test score is changed to a C. If they score lower than a C, the higher of the two test scores is maintained.

    As part of our school’s workload planning initiative, every effort to choose assessment dates that limit your testing to a maximum of three tests/assessments per school day.  It is your responsibility to check Schoology and monitoring your own schedule. If you have more than three assessments scheduled on the same day and are feeling overwhelmed, please speak to me at least three days in advance and we will agree upon an alternative completion time.    

     

    Test or Quiz Make-up Policy: As tests and quizzes are announced well in advance, it is expected if you are present on the class day before the test or quiz, the missed test or quiz will be taken on the next day you are present in school.

     

    Work return policy: All work, other than semester exams, is returned to the students.

    Honors Chemistry   Example of typical Quarter grade calculation

     

    Points possible

    grade

    Score recorded

    Score in calculation

    Test #1

    (four weights)

    100 (400)

    B-

    81

    324

    Test #2

    (four weights)

    100 (400)

    B+

    88

    352

    Test #3

    (four weights)

    100 (400)

    A-

    91

    364

    Quiz #1

    (two weights)

    100 (200)

    B+

    88

    176

    Quiz #2

    (one weight)

    100

    A-

    91

    91

    hw #1 (half weight)

    48

    5

    40

    40

    hw #2 (half weight)

    48

    6

    48

    48

    hw #3 (half weight)

    48

    5

    40

    40

    hw #4 (half weight)

    48

    6

    48

    48

    hw #5 (half weight)

    48

    6

    48

    48

    Lab report

    (half weight)

    48

    5

    40

    40

    Lab report

    (half weight)

    48

    6

    48

    48

    Lab report (one weight)

    96

    10

    80

    80

     

    1932

     

     

    1715

     

    (1715/1932)*100% = 89%  B+

     

    Grading Scales used in Honors Chemistry 2019 - 2020

    Test/Quiz grading scale

    Letter grade

    score recorded*

    A+

    100

    A

    95

    A-

    91

    B+

    88

    B

    85

    B-

    81

    C+

    78

    C

    75

    C-

    71

    D+

    68

    D

    65

    D-

    61

    E

    50

     

    *multiplied by the number of weights in determining quarter grade

     

    “one-weight” completion

    Score on assignment

    score recorded

    12

    96

    11

    88

    10

    80

    9

    72

    8

    64

    7

    56

    6

    48

    5

    40

    4

    32

    3

    24

    2

    16

    1

    8

    0

    0


    “half-weight” completion

    Score on assignment

    score recorded

    6

    48

    5

    40

    4

    32

    3

    24

    2

    16

    1

    8

    0

    0

     

     

     
    When can you come for extra help?

    · before school - I am usually here by ~7:15 am

    · during first or sixth hour, by appointment

    · before or after class, or during if appropriate

    · immediately after school

    Course content

    Semester One

    Introductory material

    Unit conversion and dimensional analysis

    Atomic theory

    Quantum Mechanics

    Periodicity

    Bonding

    Nomenclature

    The Mole concept

    Chemical Reactions

    Stoichiometry

    Gases

    Semester Two

    Intermolecular Forces

    Solids and Liquids

    Thermochemistry

    Thermodynamics

    Kinetics

    Equilibrium

    Acids and Bases

    Electrochemistry