My aim is to put down on paper what I see and what I feel in the best and simplest way.- Ernest Hemingway
During COVID-19 pandemic paper journals will not be kept. Students are expected to maintain a running vocabulary glossary as a Google doc. on their chromebooks instead.
All students will be required to keep a chemistry journal.
It should be a bound journal somewhat as shown above. You will be given one the first week of school
Daily entries consist of 3 parts: daily objectives; key vocabulary with definitions, an attempt to answer the prompt on the front board.
Daily objectives: A list of our educational goals for the
day. It is what you will be held responsible for. It will correlate
with material on tests. This can be a powerful end of unit study guide.
Key Vocabulary: The specialized vocabulary that you must
be comfortable to have a high level of success in Chemisty.
Write both the word and the definition. If a working definition is not provided,
try to come up with one and
then check it against fellow students, or a reference.
Journal Prompt: Usually a review numerical problem to get the brain
shifted into thinking about Chemistry.
Sometimes a brain teaser, or I may just
want to hear your opinion. Close to tests we will use the
journal to practice the really tricky questions in advance : )
Format:
Date each day.
Answer the prompt as fully as possible. Don't just say "I don't know". Say " I'm not sure but I think..."
Skip at least two lines before the next entry.
Date the next day's entry.
Answer
Use front and back of the sheets. (You'll have plenty of room)
It can also serve as a place to record raw lab data like masses, temperature etc.
Make sure your entries are legible.
Due: Randomly. Usually on Fridays.
Grading:
Grading will be based on completeness, neatness and effort.
To get points, you must attempt to answer the question. If you leave it blank or write " I don't know" you will lose points. No points will be taken off for an incorrect answer though.
Sample
8/27/20 |
| Objectives: Determine the density of a regular object by two methods: LWH and displacement |
| Determine the density of an irregular object by the displacement method. |
| Key Vocabulary: Volume: the space an object occupies |
| Mass: the amount of matter in an object, like by weighing but in grams |
| Prompt: What is the density of water? I don't know, but I think that it might be 1.0. I can't remember the units. |
| 8/27/10 |
| Objective: Learn the factor-label method for conversions in chemistry. |
| Key Vocabulary: giga, mega, kilo, centi, milli, micro, nano. |
| Prompt: How many seconds are there in one school year? |
Miscellaneous:
Bring your journal every day. If you forget it you must copy the day's entry from a friend.
You do not have to write out the question, but if not, you must answer in complete sentences.
If you are absent. Simply put the date and the word absent. You will receive full credit.
Write your name legibly on the front cover! You may recognize your journal, but it will probably take me a while to do so.
Like most things in life, you will get out of this exercise what you put in it. Your journal is designed to help you succeed.