Belleville High School Media Center
Belleville, Michigan

COLLEGE PREP - GRADING RATIONALE

This class is meant to be viewed as a complete introductory chemistry course for students in a college-preparatory program.  It is designed to help students see how chemical principles and concepts are developed from experimental observations and data, and how these principles can be used to explain phenomena in daily life as well as in the laboratory.

Besides the textbook, Modern Chemistry, students will be expected to bring a folder with paper and pencil to class everyday.  While there may not be a written assignment due everyday, students should expect to spend at least a half hour studying chemistry every night.  One of the most important guides for success in this course is attendance.  Modern chemistry is a lab course.  All labs will be prepped the day before the actual lab.  Students absent the prep day but present the lab day may not be able to perform the lab.  These students, along with those students absent the actual lab day will have two weeks to make up the lab after school.  Normally, I accept no late papers.  All assignments are due within two days of the absence.  I give no surprise quizzes.  Students absent the day of a quiz are required to make up that quiz the day they return.  There are also brief daily questions which cannot be made up after an absence.  However, since extra credit is also included within every assignment, lab and quiz, these points are able to be compensated for.  I am always available for help upon request. 

While not strictly necessary, students are STRONGLY ENCOURAGED to purchase and carry with them a scientific calculator.  Chemistry is a mathematically oriented class.  Most students will find the use of a calculator extremely helpful.  Graphing calculators are a luxury.  Students who feel they are interested in pursuing a career in the math or science area, will probably want one eventually; but do not spend all the money these require unless the student really is going to spend lots of extra time learning how to use one.  A great calculator for general use should cost about $15.00.

The grade will be calculated on the point system.  Points will be accumulated in a variety of ways which will vary by the unit being covered.  Roughly, the areas and distribution would be:

                    30% labs        35% quizzes/tests

                    10% notebooks   25% homework/class assignments

The Marking Period grade will be determined by calculating the final percentage of points accumulated to the total points possible, using the following scale:

The final semester grade will be calculated based on this arrangement:

1st 9 weeks - 45%, 2nd 9 weeks - 45%, and semester. ex - 10%.

I believe in students working together cooperatively on assignments.  The key phrase being ‘working together’.  I do not condone copied assignments however, and will not accept any such work.  I also do not allow ‘cooperative’ tests and quizzes.  Any student found to be cheating will receive a zero on the test or quiz.

A $5.00 lab breakage fee is assessed each student payable within three weeks after school begins.  This fee is to maximize good, careful lab techniques as it will be refunded in total, in June, as long as no equipment is broken.

Recommendation Letters: I am always happy to write a college, scholarship or summer institute recommendation for deserving students. There is a form you must fill out and return to me at least two weeks before your filing deadline. My integrity and professional reputation with college admissions and scholarship offices are as important to you as they are to me since they are the very basis of a "recommendation." If you have any concerns about this approach I am happy to discuss them with you.

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Updated on 07/27/2005