Environmental Science Syllabus

GLOBAL SCIENCE Fall Semester 2007-2008

Instructor: Mr. Gary Colangelo, colangelo@fultonschools.org
Textbook: Environmental Science 2000, HOLT ($66.95)
Room #: H101

Course Description

The Environmental Science course is designed to be equivalent of a year. The goal of the course is to provide students with the scientific principles, concepts, and methodologies required to understand the interrelationships of the natural world and to analyze environmental problems both natural and human-made. The following topics provide the foundation for the structure of the Environmental Science course: parts of an ecosystem; adaptation to the environment; ecological succession; human population; endangered species; pollution; conservation of resources; major global problems; environment and society.

Format
The course is divided into the following sections with evaluations upon the completion of each unit.

Unit 1: INTRODUCTION TO ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCEChapter 1: Environmental Science: A Global PerspectiveChapter 2: Living Things in Ecosystems
Unit 2: ECOLOGYChapter 3: How Ecosystems WorkChapter 4: Kinds of Ecosystems
Unit 3: WATER AND AIRChapter 5: WaterChapter 6: Air
Grade Determination
The Fulton County Grading Scale will be used for all graded assignments.

A=100-90 B=89-80 C=79-70 F=below 70

1. Major Assessments – 40%: A project, portfolio and/or written test will be given at the completion of or during each unit. Tests include information from class notes, text, lab activities, handouts, and demonstrations that were completed during that unit. Detailed project and portfolio guidelines will be given during the unit of study. You are expected to take a test even if you are absent the day before the test.
2. Laboratory Activities – 25%: Lab activities will be done approximately once a week. You will be responsible for doing the lab in class and completing the necessary paperwork. Lab handouts and reports should be kept in your class notebook. Several lab activities will be collected and graded for both completeness and accuracy. Students are expected to make up all missed labs within one week of return to school.
3. Daily Grade – 10%: This portion of the grade includes homework, class assignments and notebook checks. Students that turn in homework late will receive no credit. Notebooks will be checked regularly for completeness. All notes, homework, handouts, etc. should be kept in order in your notebook.
4. Quizzes – 10%: Quizzes will be given every 1-2 weeks. Quizzes may or may not be announced prior to class.
5. Final Exam – 15%: The final exam for this course will be comprehensive.
Recovery Policy
Provision for Improving Grades

1. Opportunities designed to allow students to recover from a low or failing cumulative grade will be allowed when all work required to date has been completed and the student has demonstrated a legitimate effort to meet all course requirements including attendance.

Students should contact the teacher concerning recovery opportunities. Teachers are expected to establish a reasonable time period for recovery work to be completed during the semester. All recovery work must be directly related to course objectives and must be completed ten school days prior to the end of the semester.

2. Teachers will determine when and how students with extenuating circumstances may improve their grades.

CHATTAHOOCHEE HIGH SCHOOL GUIDELINES:

Recovery is available to students with a cumulative grade below 74% after a minimum of two (2) major grades. The maximum grade a student can earn for a recovery activity is 70%. There will be only one recovery opportunity per failed major assignment or test. The individual teacher will determine the means of recovery. THE STUDENT MUST INITIATE THE PROCESS WITHIN FIVE (5) DAYS OF NOTIFICATION OF A FAILING GRADE ON A MAJOR ASSIGNMENT/TEST.


General Information
1. Extra Help: Tutorial time is between 8:00 and 8:30 AM on Monday-Thursday by appointment. You can come to me with concerns regarding grades, assignments, make-up work, recovery, etc. If alternate plans need to be made, please see me.
2. Make-Ups: Make-up work is to be completed within a week of returning to school. Please see me to schedule a time for make-up of labs. Quizzes and tests will be made up in room H109 on Wednesday afternoons from 3:45-4:40. You must be on time for test make ups.
3. Absences: Assignments made prior to a full day absence and due on the day of the absence will be due upon the student’s return. Students who are present for any portion of the school day are expected to turn in all assignments due on that day in order to receive full credit for the assignments.
4. Extra Credit: Extra Credit is not available for this course. It is your responsibility to keep up with the daily work and ask for recovery if appropriate.
5. Technology Code of Ethics: According to the Fulton County School Policy “students shall not alter or attempt to alter school or private property including technology hardware and software.” This includes:
a. Changing desktop settings or control panels on computers.
b. Removing or damaging mouse tracking balls, keyboard keys, cables, connectors, network jacks, or any other hardware.
c. Modifying computer software.
d. Damaging computer disks, CD-ROMS, or other media.

6. Expected Classroom Behaviors:
All student handbook rules apply in the class, including but not limited to the following.
a. Be in your seat when the tardy bell rings.
b. Bring paper, pen/pencil, textbook and handouts to class.
c. Have homework on your desk after the tardy bell has rung.
d. Dress appropriately for class.
e. No eating or drinking in class.
f. All lab safety rules are to be followed in this class.
g. Cheating is a violation of the honor code.
h. No sleeping or putting your head on the desk during class.
i. No headphones during class time.
j. Please use the restroom before the tardy bell rings.
k. Be respectful of yourself and those around you in the class.

Failure to follow class rules result in:
1. A warning the first time the rule is not followed.
2. The second time the rule is broken, private detention is assigned.
3. The third time the rule is broken, private detention and a call to your parents is required.
4. The fourth time the rule is broken, your will be sent to the appropriate administrator.

Failure to follow lab safety rules result in:
1. A warning the first time the rule is broken.
2. The second time the rule is broken you will have to sit out of the lab for 10 minutes in front of the room.
3. The third time the rule is broken during a lab activity; you will sit out of the lab the entire period and will be referred to the appropriate administrator. Lab make up will be at the convenience of the teacher.

Honor Code Violations

Cheating is defined as giving or receiving, in any form, information relating to a gradable experience and is considered an honor code violation.

Honor Code Policy will be strictly enforced. (Chattahoochee Cougar Handbook, page 25)

Honor Code Policy: In an effort to encourage good study habits, fair competition and positive development in the area of academics, the Chattahoochee faculty supports a strong policy on cheating. Cheating is defined as “giving or receiving, in any form, information relating to a graded experience, either inside or outside of class”. The honor code policy will be enforced as described in your student handbook. Students may be asked to submit certain assignments through an internet program called TurnItIn.com. This program gives students the opportunity to review their own writing and correct possible plagiarism errors, thereby not violating the Honor Code.

Students are required to sign the attached honor pledge for major tests or projects/papers completed at Chattahoochee High School.
Plagiarism Statement
Plagiarism is the use of another’s words or ideas and the representation of them as though they are entirely one’s own. Acts of plagiarism might include, but are not limited to:

USING WORDS OR IDEAS FROM A PUBLISHED SOURCE WITHOUT PROPER DOCUMENTATION USING THE WORK OF ANOTHER STUDENT (E.G.COPYING ANOTHER STUDENT’S HOMEWORK, COMPOSITION, OR PROJECT) USING EXCESSIVE EDITING SUGGESTIONS OF ANOTHER STUDENT, TEACHER, PARENT, OR PAID EDITOR

Plagiarism on any project or paper will result in a zero for the assignment and an Honor Code Violation. Unless strictly stipulated by the teacher, collaboration on written work is not acceptable. Students who willingly provide other students with access to their work are in violation of the Honor Code.

A NOTE ABOUT WHAT CONSTITUTES “EXCESSIVE EDITING”:

Students learn to write well by writing well. Struggling independently through the writing process produces growth (as well as a certain amount of agony), and eventually the student’s own voice. When well meaning parents, siblings, tutors, or others contribute their own ideas, words, phrases, revisions, etc. to students’ writing; student writers miss the opportunity to achieve literary self reliance.
SO, what is helping, but is NOT excessive editing? The answer is: questioning and cueing. For example—“Is this word strong enough?”, “Interesting enough?”, “Specific enough?”, “Can you think of another word that means the same thing?”, “Does this sentence seem awkward?”, “What exactly do you mean here?”, “I don’t understand what you are trying to say; can you say it more clearly?”, “This sentence is interesting.”, “That is a forceful verb; can you find one as forceful for that other sentence?” These kinds of questions and statements are powerful helpers, yet allow the students to think and write independently. Please help students to achieve their own voices and to develop their writing skills by allowing them to write and revise independently.