Mr. Steve Campbell

Email: scampbell@oak-mountain-academy.org

Astronomy: Seeds, Michael, Horizons: Exploring the Universe; Thomson Learning, 7^th Edition (2002)

Geology: Lutgens, Frederick and Tarbuck, Essentials of Geology; Prentice Hall, 8^th Edition (2003)

Your text is an essential resource for your success in this course. If you do not do the daily readings indicated by Topic headings on your assignment calendar, your success rate in the course will probably be poor.

The methods of this course assume that more than a body of knowledge is being conveyed. This course will help you learn how to learn, sharpen your critical thinking skills and make you perceive interconnections in the world around you.

This course will include lecture, laboratories, Internet and media experiences, discussion and projects. Regular attendance and full participation in class are essential for success in this course.

While laboratory work is an essential component of science courses, the subject matter of this course is difficult to convey in the high school lab. Therefore, we will use a limited amount of field study combined with computer-based activities and experiences.

Homework is a daily feature of this course. If you do not complete your homework, thoroughly and thoughtfully, on a regular basis, your success rate in this course is likely to be poor.

This course operates on a point-accumulation system. Each TEST is worth 100 points. Other assignments are given point values based on this fact: for instance, homework checks might be worth 5 to 15 points, a PQ worth 15 points, etc. Homework is sometimes collected and graded, sometimes a homework check (full points for showing your work when asked) is given.

Typically, you can expect around 400 points to be available per quarter.

Here is how semester averages are determined:

Extra Credit work may occasionally be made available. Students may also petition the instructor for Extra Credit assignments. Extra Credit may not raise your score a full letter grade. Any individual extra credit assignment may not raise your grade more than 3%.