Science

Science Department Homework Policy

Homework:
Students will receive a zero for homework not handed in on time.

Make up work policy:
If students are absent from school, it is their responsibility to make up the work missed.  It is the teacher's responsibility to make students aware that the teacher is available and willing to assist them in making up missed work.

It is the student's responsibility to inquire about work that has been missed and to take advantage of the availability of the teacher.  If after five days a student has not met his/her obligation, the parent is to be contacted.  If the student does not meet the obligation in an additional five days, a failure for the work is to be recorded and the chairperson will be informed.  However, if because of protracted illness or absence the student requests additional time, it shall be within the discretion of the teacher to make arrangements.

Students who will be out of school with previous knowledge, before a test/quiz, will be responsible to take the test/quiz on the scheduled day.

Lab write ups/ Projects / Term papers:
It is the student's responsibility to meet all required deadlines.  Cum or Non-cumed absences do not extend due dates.  However, if because of protracted illness or absence the student requests additional time, it shall be within the discretion of the teacher to make arrangements.

Students will receive a zero for homework not handed in on time.

Lab format for Science

All lab reports are to be handed in on the due date. Late labs forfeit 100 points.

Title:      
Copy the name of the lab from the book.

Purpose:
Copy this item from the text. This will be the first item mentioned in the conclusion. (Our purpose was to determine a numerical value for absolute zero.

Procedure:
Your teacher may or may not require this section of the lab write-up.

Verbal Instructions:
These are usually safety instructions and directions specific to your class.

Data:
For each lab you will construct some sort of data table. The table will contain actual measurements taken in class. Take your time and enter the data neatly. Your instructor will initial the data table before you leave for your next class.

Graphs:
All graphs will be constructed according to college standards. You may at any time use the charts and graphs produced by computer. See your instructor for specific examples. This is the most difficult portion of the lab for many students. Take your time and follow directions. Each graph has a title, X axis scale with units, and the Y-axis scale with units. Points are made with fine point pencils and circled. The line on the graph is drawn so that the line covers most of the points. All points on a graph may or may not lie on the line. If you use excel make sure you use x,y scatter graph.

Calculations:
All calculations for your lab appear here. A single trial followed from the first step to the last is sufficient. Remember that you must follow through with all units.   Please remember that numbers in a data table are not calculations.

% error calculations are shown here.

%Error = (Lab value - Accepted value)   x  100%
                                   Accepted value

Note: error can be positive (higher then the accepted value) or negative (lower than the accepted value).

Questlons/Analysis:

These are from the text or lab book. Each question is answered completely with a full sentence.

Conclusion:

This part of your lab has three parts.

First is the statement of completion of the purpose. (e.g.: Our purpose was to determine the value of absolute zero.  Our team value for absolute zero was -271° C)

Any graphs placed in the report should be mentioned in this section.   What was the purpose of the graph, what did it show, how does mesh with the purpose of the lab?

Second, Error analysis. In this section you explain what type of error you found in the lab and explain why you think it occurred. The % error value is shown and explained in this section.

The third section of the conclusion centers on the lessons learned, and improvement of the lab portion of the class. What unique lesson(s) have you learned from this lab.  If you can make any suggestions for improving this lab, please state them here.