Physical Issues in the News

All students enrolled in AP Physics are required to complete four written reports based on current sources.  Two reports will be due each semester.

Procedure for Written Reports

Section I - Heading

                                                                                                     Student name

                                                                                                      Course

                                                                                                      Teacher name

                                                                                                                               Lit Teacher’s name

                                                                                                       Date

Title of Article

Source of Article

Printed Date of Article

Section II - Summary of Article

1.       Each article MUST be at least 1-2 pages in length.  Articles taken from internet sources must be in 12 pt font and the article should have a body that would be 2 pages in length if pictures, advertisements, etc. were removed.

2.      A very neat and readable copy of the article must be attached to each summary

3.      Reports are due on the given due date, but may be submitted early.

Section lll – Analysis

Answer the following questions about your article.

1.      Does the article present two different points of view?  If so, what are they?  What other points of view might exist?

2.      The order in which information is presented and the amount of text devoted to it can influence readers’ opinions.  Is this article slanted in this way?

3.      What additional information could have been presented?  Consider technical information about the chemistry involved, the evaluation or opinion of experts, and opinions of people involved.

4.      State your perspective on this news based on your personal knowledge of the topic and your reading of this article.

FCA’s:  Article of correct length is attached :  10 pts

               Summary in student’s words:  25 pts

                All analysis questions are answered:  25 pts

                Mechanics:  10 pts

                Report is typed:  5 pts

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Physics Laboratory Reports

Your name                                                                              Course name and period

Name(s) of partner(s)                                                           Date

TITLE OF EXPERIMENT

(Above is worth 5 pts.)

Purpose:  (10 pts.)State the purpose of this lab.  What were you trying to accomplish in this lab?  What were you trying to prove?  What law or fact in chemistry were trying to confirm?  This should be well written and in complete sentences.

Apparatus: (5 pts.)  Describe the apparatus used in the experiment.  A diagram is usually helpful.

Procedure:  (10 pts.) Describe the process you used to perform the experiment.  Your goal is to write the procedure in such a way that another individual could recreate the experiment you performed.

Data: (15 pts.) Data is only measurements that you took during the experiment.  Data does not include any calculation.  All data should have correct units attached and it should also always contain correct significant figures.  Use data tables.

Results: (20 pts.)  This section includes any graphs that were generated, shows sample calculations, and clearly state the values that you calculated during the experiment.  For example:

Density = grams/liter

=76 g / 75 liter

=1 g / liter

Error Analysis:  (15 pts.)   Was your data accurate?  Do an analysis to show percent error whenever this is possible.  Explain, in complete sentences, why your data does or does not reflect what should result.

Conclusion:  (20 pts.)  State your conclusion in complete sentences.  The conclusion should first go back to the purpose.  Did you accomplish the purpose?  Why or why not?  The answers to any questions posed in the lab should be included here.  Be sure to state sources of uncertainty.

Late Reports:  Lab reports handed in after the due date lose 25 pts.

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STUDY SKILLS

REQUIREMENTS

For each chapter, the student needs to:

·        Convert each subtitle into a question

·        Write the required end of chapter questions

·        READ THE TEXT

·        Write all bold-faced vocabulary with a definition

·        Complete a graphic organizer for all vocabulary words

Note:  Tests will include portions of these study skills.

RUBRIC:

4                                            Work is thorough and complete.  Student is able to understand and synthesize the material.  Relationships between vocabulary words and/or concepts are sound.

3                                              Work is complete.  Student is able to understand the material Relationships between vocabulary words and/or concepts are sound.

2                                              Most of the topics are completed.  The student understands the majority of the material.  Most of the relationships between vocabulary words and/or concepts are sound.

1                                            Some of the topics are complete.  Student understands some of the material.  Relationships between some vocabulary words and/or concepts are sound.

0                      Missing or extremely poor work