COURSE
INFORMATION
1.) There is one formally assigned book for this course, The Cosmic Perspective (Media Updated) by Bennett, Donahue, Schneider and Voit. Students do not need to buy this book, although if they are "into" astronomy and want a good resource, this would be it. Supplementary material will also be provided in a downloadable form from the class Web site, generated by Mr. Fletcher.
ABOUT THE CLASS:
1.) General format: The original idea behind the class was to give seniors the chance to take a course that was festooned with archane facts and exotic bits and pieces of information that would inflame their curiousity and blow their minds. It unfortunately evolved over time into a somewhat plodding course in which students were required to memorize a huge amount of information, much of which they would invariably forget within minutes of taking their most recent test.
The format for this year is going to be different. In an attempt to get back to the spirit of the original class, the assignment will be as follows: every class, find something that you find amazing or, at least, noteworthy. For homework, write up in your journal what that was. If you are so moved, do a little research on that something. Your tests, which will be oral, will be your opportunity to impress me with what you've garnered.
In other words, there will be no set questions for your test. Your grade will be determine by how completely impressed I am with how involved you have become in the class and the section we are studying.
2.) In a more formal sense, grades:
a.) TESTS: You may expect from 3 to 4 tests per quarter (one-to-two weeks, give or take). As I said above, tests will be oral (at least at the start while we are feeling our way into this new protocol). The test "scrores" will make up an as yet undetermined percentage of your grade. We will talk more about this during the first class secion.
b.) LABS: There will be occasional labs but in all probability no lab write-ups. There will be points somehow associated with doing the labs and analyzing the results in class, but at this time that amount is undetermined.
c.) HOMEWORK: There will be assigned homework. Each assignment will be posted on the calendar found on the class's Website. If I don't happen to mention the assignment in class on a particular day, IT IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY to go to the calendar and get the posted assignment on your own. You will be expected to journal your responses to the homework nightly (or as often as the homework is assigned).
d.) QUIZZES: Although I don't plan to give quizzes at this point, if I get the idea you aren't doing the homework I will institute them (threat, threat!).
e.) CLASSROOM PARTICIPATION: A physics class can be designed to have lots of classroom participation or none at all. As we will often be dealing with material that is more conceptual than mathematical, our class will fall into the former category. Consequence: I will expect you to keep up with me and to participate in any class room discussions or exercises that might happen. As students tend to be more animated if points are involved, there will be a portion of your grade devoted to classroom participation. How much? That will be determined with time.
f.) There may be an evening when the entire class goes up to the Griffith Park observatory. It is also possible that on another night, we may take the school's two telescopes and go star gazing up on Mt. Wilson. We have done neither of these outings in the last few years, but the possibility is there if students are interested.
2.) Assignment deadlines:
a.) There will not be much in the way of deadlines, but when assignments are due, extensions will be generally frowned upon unless unusual, extenuating circumstances dictate leniency.
b.) Having made the above statement, IF YOU HAVE AN UNFORESEEN PROBLEM, DON'T BE BASHFUL ABOUT COMING TO TALK TO ME. Assuming the individual doesn't have a history of abusing the privilege, I am not averse to giving someone a break if there is a good reason to do so . . .
c.) Legitimate absence (i.e. for sickness) is automatically grounds for an extension, but God help you if I find your "sickness" was intimately related to your need to write a paper for another class.
3.) Cheating: It's a little bit hard to see how one might cheat in a class like this, but if there is a way to do it and you are tempted, don't.
What I have said on the topic to my Honors and AP Physics classes has been:
"In a nutshell, it is not acceptable for a student to gain an unfair advantage over his or her classmates in any respect other than through sheer personal brilliance and/or tenacious and hard work. There are many reasons why people are tempted to cheat. No matter the reason, if caught, and sooner or later you will be caught if you choose to take that path, cheating puts your grade in jeopardy, your standing at this school in jeopardy, and ultimately the possible acceptance by the college of your choice in jeopardy. All this, not to mention the injustice you do to your classmates as you attempt to appear as knowledgeable as they when indeed, you are not.
When just one student cheats, he or she generates a cancerous environment in a school. Under that circumstance, the simple minded often rationalize doing the same and the honest become angrier and more frustrated as the injustices build.
Cheating is monumentally
selfish.
Cheating is destructive not only to
the cheat but also to those on the periphery.
Cheating is not acceptable. Do not do it!"
4.) FINAL EXAM: According to the school, there will be a final exam at the end of the semester (though I wouldn't blink too hard because if you do, you may miss it).
5.) DROPPING THE CLASS: You may drop the class without teacher approval within the first three weeks of the first quarter of the semester. You may drop the class after the three week period only with teacher approval (this, by the way, is generally frowned upon due to the serious consequences it poses for the rest of a student's class schedule).
Parting Shot:
This class should be fun. Don't make it harder than it has to be.