Back to previous Page..Syllabus for Chemical Science (CHEM 100, 3 cr.) January 1, 2002
Notes: 1. This syllabus can be found at http://webpages.shepherd.edu/evolker/main.htm
2. The syllabus is subject to change at the discretion of the instructor. It is not a contract.
Instructor: Dr. Eugene J. Volker, (304)-876-5285 (office) , evolker@shepherd.edu. Outside of class, communicate with me by email, if possible.
Content: This course is a one semester survey of general, organic, and biochemistry with emphasis on topics relating to the environment, health, and consumer goods.
Textbook: World of Chemistry Essentials by Joesten and Wood, 2nd ed., Saunders, 1998. ISBN 0-03-005888-0.
Chapters in the text
Student Presentations
Exams: Exams will be given on Fri., Sep. 14, Fri., Oct. 26, and Mon., Dec. 3. The final is on Saturday, December 15, at 9:00 a.m.
Each exam and the final is worth 100 points. Each exam will consist of some combination of multiple-choice questions and short problems. Exams will be graded and returned. The comprehensive final exam will consist of multiple-choice questions. It will be graded but will not be returned.
If the grade on the final is higher than the lowest grade among the three examinations, and the studen has taken all three examinations, the final grade will replace that lowest exam grade. If a student misses one exam, the final grade will be the grade counted for that exam. If a student misses two exams, a comprehensive make-up exam, consisting of problems only (no multiple choice) will be given to him/her along with the final. The final grade will replace one of the missed exam grades, while the make-up exam grade will replace the other missed exam grade.
Research Papers: There will be 2 research papers each semester on topics of current interest in chemistry. On each of these you can earn a maximum of 20 points. You will usually have three weeks to write a paper. Topics and deadlines will be given out during the semester.
The format of the papers is as follows: they MUST BE TYPED (double spaced) and must consist of a minimum of 750 words exclusive of title, references, and illustrations. Two students may submit a joint paper of at least 1000 words. In the latter case, they must sign the statement "Both authors have contributed about equally to this assignment". Papers should be stapled in the upper left-hand corner. No cover sheets or covers of any sort should be used.
Each paper should start with:
Title of Paper
Name
Word count
This should be followed first by a numbered list of references you have consulted, then by the text of the paper.
The text should be written as a coherent essay on the assigned topic, not as numbered answers to the corresponding questions on the instructor's handout, but the sequence of topics in the discussion must follow the handout exactly. Do not repeat the instructor's questions.
A good essay will address all issues raised by the instructor using separate (often multiple) paragraphs but will do this with smooth transitions between paragraphs, showing how the different issues are linked logically.
If you copy verbatim from a source, that source should be one of your references and you should cite it by its reference number. In such a case you must use quotation marks. An example is "Semisynthetic penicillins are prepared from 7-APA by the technique of acylation (ref. 3). "
Some criteria for the evaluation of a research paper are:
BEWARE: Copying of another student's work by whatever means, especially copying a computer file, will result in a ZERO grade for BOTH papers, but joint papers may be submitted, as described above.
Homework: Assignments of problems will be made for each chapter of the book. You can earn 0-2 points by turning the homework in by the deadline given in class. No homework past the deadline will be accepted.
A few comments on the format of the homework are in order. 1. Each problem assigned must be started on a new page. 2. Each problem must be started by copying the text of the problem or attaching a photocopy of the text of the problem. 3. Pages must be in the same order that the problems were listed in the homework assignment. 4. All pages must be stapled together. 5. The name of the student must be prominently indicated on the first page.
The homework will be spot-checked, that is, only selected problems will be evaluated in order to speed up turnaround time.
Additional materials: 1. You can find this syllabus on the Web at http://webpages.shepherd.edu/evolker/evolker.htm. 2. The reading library on the chemistry floor (BY 317) and the reserve book shelf behind the librarian's desk in the main library have a variety of short and long chemistry texts and lab manuals. Books in BY 317 can be borrowed based on the honor system.
Grading: An "A" is given to the student who obtains 87.5% or more of the (required) points possible for the course, a "B" if he/she is within the next 12.5% bracket, and so on. You can compute your grade at any time during the course. Let's say you have a 60 and an 80, respectively, on the first two exams. The maximum possible score being 100 and 100, you are at (140/200)*100=70% and you have earned a "C".