Chemistry 211 Lecture Syllabus

GENERAL REMARKS:

This is the first of a two-semester chemistry course for science majors. It is designed to help the student learn the fundamental principles of some important areas of chemistry. It is the same in fundamentals to courses that have been taught at many other universities for many years. If the work seems overwhelming at times, take heart there have been many of us who have survived and become successful afterwards. I hope you find this course enjoyable even if it is hard to you. Please feel free to discuss any aspect of the course with me during office hours.

A serious student will read the textbook and work problems at the end of each chapter-spending about ten hours per week on these. Problem solving is a very important part of learning in any science course. If a student intends to pass this course, (s)he will spend a lot of time solving the problems at the end of the chapter so that (s)he can understand the intent of each problem. Usually, the problems start out being reasonably easy. Make sure you work some of these and then move on to the section listed as "General Problems", which are more challenging especially if the other problems seem quite easy. Many of the "A" students in the past have worked all of the problems at the end of the chapter. We will work problems in class after each chapter, if time permits. The student should be prepared to work problems on the board. When the student finds that (s)he cannot work certain problems or understand certain concepts, the student is urged to contact me during office hours. I feel the instructor's duty is to assist the student in the learning process. Thus, when the student comes for help, I will expect the student to demonstrate that a reasonable effort has been made to understand the concepts. The student is not expected to have wasted hours on a problem, however, before coming to me. I will be more than glad to provide any help that I can as long as I feel that you are putting forth a reasonable effort. Please purchase a spiral notebook for working problems; then when you come to me (or the tutors) for help we can easily try to understand where you are having difficulty. I will expect to see some evidence of previous effort and this will be good evidence of effort.

The most successful students will make use of many learning aids. This person will discuss difficulties with fellow students, will read the text and other books, will work problems at the end of the chapter and be active in class- asking and answering questions. The student must take responsibility for the learning process and work at finding every possible way to learn the CONCEPTS. The lecture is nothing more than a learning aid and does not control how much you learn - you do. Instead, it is the instructor's duty to clarify concepts that students do not understand and to provide a fair way to evaluate the student's progress. The course is outlined in the lecture syllabus. Anything in those chapters may be on the tests. Summaries of methodology will often be presented on overheads. Lecture notes are outlines and learning what is on the lecture notes will not be sufficient to do well in the coures.

To provide the student with a little more guidance, homework assignments must be completed. The homework assignments can be accessed from the Internet using a link on the General Chemistry web page or at http://www.gmu.edu/departments/chemistry/genchem.html.

In-class quizzes will be given very often - in fact you should assume there will be some sort of in-class quiz every period. Students must purchase the i>clickers (personal response devices) and bring it to every class to record the individual answers to the quizzes. The i>clicker automatically records your answers to each quiz. If you do not have an i>clicker, you will not be able to complete the quiz.

Once you obtain your i>clicker you need to register it. On the back of your i>clicker find your unique registration
number (at the bottom). This registration number must be assigned to your name on the class roll sheet. If this is not completed, you will not get credit for your answers. To register, go to the following URL: www.iclicker.com/registration. Complete the registration form. Enter your G# for student ID (including the G). Grading for quizzes will be done as follows: 3 points for each correct answer, and 2 participation points will be given for each answer -whether it is correct or incorrect. No points will be given if a question is not answered. Because the i>clicker is also a measure of lecture attendance, there will be no make ups and written answers will not be accepted.

Homework will be done online at http:/genchem.cos.gmu.edu . There are algorithmic questions in the homework which change each time the problem is shown. The problems are sorted by level of difficulty. You are required to get a correct answer correct three times in a row for a particular problem type to receive credit for it. You may save the homework frequently to avoid loss of any work. Upon returning to the homework only the unfinished homework will be shown.

Midterm examinations will be computerized with 80 minutes allotted for an examination in which one would normally be given 50 minutes. There will usually be 20 questions on each of the three exams taken during the semester.

Final Examination: The final examination is cumulative and will be a nationally standardized examination produced by the American Chemical Society (ACS).

Copies of old examinations are posted on the WEB at my WEB page. You should refer to it frequently for this or other late breaking news. The address is: http://osf1.gmu.edu/~jschreif. You should go to the GenChem site to find out tutoring center schedule, lecture and laboratory syllabi.

Laboratory grade: Students, who have not taken this course before must be enrolled in a laboratory section and earn a laboratory grade. Students, who have taken the class before, may be allowed to use their previously earned lab grade - as long as it is at least a 80%. These students, will need to fill out a lab waiver and leave a copy with the Chemistry admin in Planetary Hall room 303 as well as with me. A special waiver form is also taken to the registrar so that the lecture can be taken without a lab.

Successful Studying Strategy

A student, who really wants to successfully complete this course should design a well-thought out studying strategy.  This should include reading the chapters, studying worked problems, and working other problems at the end of the chapter prior to finishing the homework, quizzes or exams.  More specifically try the following:

1. Spend about a half-hour skimming the contents of the chapter to familiarize yourself with very general concepts.   

2. Read the chapter through completely, but do not spend much time working problems.

3. Study how the worked problems are solved.

4. Work problems at the end of the chapter until you can solve most of the ones you encounter.  Make sure you focus on concepts.  You should go back to the section from which the problem is derived and look at worked problems to help learn how to solve these.

5. Work the homework problems.

6. Ask for help from the tutors at the tutoring center, which is next door to the testing center. Hours for the tutoring center will be available through the genchem web page.

GRADING

A student, who finds it necessary to miss an examination, must notify me as soon as possible before or immediately after the examination and bring in documented proof of the problem. Otherwise the student will receive a zero for the missed examination. Calculators are allowed for examinations, but small computers are not. Use of a large calculator or small computer will be considered an honor code violation.  In the event that there is a bomb scare, class will not necessarily be cancelled. Instead, all of the class should assemble outside the front entrance to the building until I have dismissed it. Otherwise the student will receive a zero for missed work. Students, who have more than one final examination scheduled at the same time, should bring proof of the conflict before it can be rescheduled. The final grade will be determined as indicated below: The grading scale for the homework and examinations will be curved at the end of the semester.

Tentative Lecture Syllabus

Approximate Midterm Examination Deadlines:

Oct. 6, Nov. 3 and Dec. 4

FINAL EXAMINATION:

Dec. 15 - Final Exam. 10:30-12:30

Note: Students must enroll and obtain a passing grade in a laboratory section to complete the course. To more fairly grade all students the laboratory grade will be normalized.