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Conceptual Physics

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San Marcos High School, Home of the ROYALS!

 

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Course Syllabus

    Welcome

Welcome to Conceptual Physics at San Marcos High School! This semester you will be exploring many topics in physics and how they may apply to our lives. Physics is the study of how the non-living world works. It was the first scientific discipline and serves as the basis for all other sciences (astronomy, biology, chemistry, geology, etc.). 

    Overview

Our course of study this semester will cover the following topics (not necessarily in this order):  

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Algebra, Dimensional Analysis, Graphing, Problem Solving Methods and Vectors

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Mechanics (speed, acceleration, Newton’s Laws, momentum, energy)

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Heat (temperature, specific heat capacity, engines)

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Sound and Light (electromagnetic spectrum, reflection, refraction, lenses)

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  Electricity and Magnetism (electric fields, current, circuits, magnetic fields, electromagnetic induction)  

    Expectations

To maintain an effective environment for learning and sharing of thoughts and ideas, students are expected to show respect, responsibility, and honesty at ALL times. Please consult the Student/Parent Handbook for San Marcos High School conduct rules.

    Respect  

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OUR GOLDEN RULE: Do the right thing!

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The teacher will be ready to teach when the bell rings and the  students should be in their seats, ready to learn, when the bell rings.

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 Pack up only after the bell has rung or the teacher has given permission to do so. The teacher dismisses students, not the bell.

    Responsibility

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The teacher will come to class prepared to teach and the students should come to class ready to learn. This means that students should complete all homework the night it is assigned.

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Students will keep their work organized in a notebook section devoted to Conceptual Physics and bring appropriate materials to class every day (pencil, textbook, notebook, paper, etc.).

     Honesty

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Students are expected to complete all work on their own unless designated by the teacher. Cheating will result in a double F grade.  

    Tardy Policy

Students will be considered tardy if they are not in their seats before the bell rings. After the third tardy, an after-school detention will be assigned. Continued tardiness will result in a call home and/or referral to the administration.

    Absence Policy

Work missed during an excused absence must be made up within the  number of days you were absent. Students are responsible for taking the initiative to make up assignments and arrange make-up times with the teacher for missed labs and tests. Students should call a classmate and/or check the website to find out what they missed before returning to class.

    Required Materials

Students are expected to have a scientific calculator (Texas Instruments preferred), a pencil, and a three ring binder with dividers for warm ups, notes, homework, classwork, and labs. In addition, a quad color pen (black, blue, red, and green) or separate pens are required for note taking.

    Grading Policy

Your final grade will be made up of your scores on homework, labs, and tests & projects. The table below lists the percentages that each type of assessment counts toward your final grade.

Type of Assessment Point Value for Each Assessment Percentage of Final Grade
Homework 10 - 20 20
Labs 10 - 40 40
Tests & Projects 25 – 50 40

Your final percentage grade translates into the following letter grades: 90-100%=A, 80-89%=B, 70-79%=C, 60-69%=D, 0-59%=F. Students are not given grades; rather they earn them. I do not round up UNLESS a student has completed all homework assignments on time. Students are advised to keep all graded work as clerical errors sometimes occur. Grades are posted on the window by the classroom door whenever they are updated (at least weekly).

Labs

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All classwork and labs are to be completed in pencil.

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Students are expected to follow ALL safety rules during labs.

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Late labs will be penalized one grade per day late.

    Homework

bulletHomework will not be graded, rather credit will be given based on full completion of the assignment. All problems or questions must be attempted.
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Late homework will receive 70% credit.

    Tests and Projects

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Normally, tests will be comprised of multiple choice, true-false, matching, fill in the blank, and free response questions.

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Performance based tests, group projects, and portfolios may also be given.

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Projects will be completed individually or in assigned groups with due dates strictly adhered to.

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Make-up tests will be given before school and will be different from the version given to the class. You must make-up missed tests within the number of days you were absent.  

   Teacher Contact

I am available before school for ALL students and parents. Please let me know beforehand if you would like a conference. You may contact me at San Marcos at 967-4581 ext. 275 or via e-mail at shoshaggy@cox.net

    Web Site

www.shoshaggy.net

This site is intended to be a resource for parents and students. It contains daily agendas,  topics, and homework assignments, photos of student activities, weekly updated grades, extra credit opportunities, and a teacher biography.

 

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Last modified: August 26, 2007