Organic Chemistry I Syllabus for 2011-2012
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Course

CHEM-2323-001 Organic Chemistry I

Prerequisites

Prerequisites: CHEM 1312-minimum grade of C; RDNG 0331-minimum grade of C or a score on a state-approved test indicating college-level reading skills
Corequisite: CHEM 2223

Course Description

Study of the compounds of carbon focusing on hydrocarbons. Basic chemistry concepts from organic point of view, IUPAC nomenclature, structure and reactions of alkanes, alkenes, alkynes and haloalkanes, stereochemistry and spectroscopic techniques.

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Department Expectations

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Hours

(3 sem hrs; 3 lec)

Class Type

On Campus Course

Syllabus Information

Textbooks

Text: Organic Chemistry, 8th Edition, by John McMurry

Online Access:  OWL Access Code

Other Recommended Materials:  Organic Chemistry I (as a Second Language) by David Klein

Supplies

Recommended: 

Molecular Modeling Set; flashcards; multicolored pens (at least black, blue, red, & green)

Student Performance

To provide a strong foundation in organic chemistry for chemistry and other science majors as physics, engineering, pre-medical, pre-dental, pre-pharmacy, pre-chiropractic, and pre-veterinary medicine majors.

This course, along with Chemistry 2325 and the corresponding laboratory courses should also fill the requirements for the Associate in Science degree for the above students and transfer to universities to satisfy the organic chemistry requirements for the above science degrees.

Students Rights and Responsibilities

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In order to receive your AC Connect Email, you must log in through AC Connect at https://acconnect.actx.edu .

If you are an active staff or faculty member according to Human Resources, use "Exchange". All other students, use "AC Connect (Google) Email".

Expected Student Behavior

Please be respectful of both the instructor and the other students in class.  Turn off cell phones/pagers.  Pay attention in class.  Do not be disruptive.  Please arrive on time, but if you arrive late, do not try to go to your accustomed seat, but quietly take a chair close to the door.  If you are causing a disruption in class, you may be asked to leave.   If there is any evidence of cheating on any homework, quiz, test, or final, you will receive a zero for that item and cannot make it up or replace it and it cannot be dropped.

Please see Student Rights and Responsibilities Handbook for further information.

Grading Criteria

METHOD OF EVALUATION OF STUDENTS: The final average will be derived from the following weighted grades: Quizzes - 5%, Tests - 70%, Homework - 10%, Final - 15%

                Grades are based on 90.00+ = A, 80.00-89.99 = B, 70.00-79.99 = C, 60.00-69.99 = D, and 59.99 and lower = F.

Reading the Text:  It is vital that you read the text BEFORE the lecture on that chapter.  This will greatly improve your understanding of the topic and therefore your grade.  As there is a large amount of information to cover, not all of it can be covered in the time allotted for class.  You are responsible for the information presented in the text even if it is not covered in lecture and vice versa.

Tests: In addition to traditional exams there will be an in-class group presentation (see below).  The lowest grade will be dropped, but you cannot drop the group presentation.  Work must be legible and the final answer must be clearly indicated to receive credit.  There are NO makeup exams.  If special accommodations become necessary, arrangements must be made BEFORE (at least 24 hours) the exam date and you must have permission IN WRITING from me to take an exam at an alternate time.  You may not leave the room during a test.

Tests in this class typically take students longer to complete.  Because of this, you are allowed to begin the exam anytime after 5:30 a.m.  The front, double doors will be unlocked.  Regardless of start time, the test must completed by 8:45.

I do not return exams in class.  When you see the grades available on AC Online, you may come by my office to pick up your exam.

Quizzes: The quizzes will be assigned to ensure that students are keeping up with reading the text. Quizzes will be administered in class in the first few minutes of lecture time.  Generally quizzes on a subject will be the first full day covering that chapter.  That is, if we finish chapter X one day and begin chapter Y that same day, the next day will have a quiz over chapter Y.  Likewise, if we finish chapter Y at the end of the class period, the next period we will begin chapter Z and will have a quiz over it.  The lowest grade will be dropped (see Reading Assignment). If a quiz is missed it will automatically count as the low grade.  There are NO makeup quizzes.  If you are not in the classroom when quizzes are passed out, you cannot take the quiz for that chapter.  Do not arrive tardy for class.

Homework Problems: Problems will be assigned for each unit.  Doing the homework improves the understanding of the subject matter.  The homework will be done online using the OWL network.  There are three types of assignments:  Homeworks which are repeatable as often as you would like and are required, Tutorials/Simulations/Exercises which are also repeatable but are optional, and the end-of-chapter assignments which can be taken three times for each question.  The end-of-chapter items are graded based on the number correct and count for 30% of your Homework grade.  The rest of the homework will be counted as a completion grade, but you must complete all parts to get full credit.  Late Homework will not be accepted.  Due dates will be posted on the OWL website.  The lowest Homework grade will be dropped (see Reading Assignment, below).

Extra Credit:Rare extra credit assignments might be given in class that will count toward either your final homework grade or test grade depending on the assignment.  There is always the option to submit questions for any test or quiz with answers and suggested point values.  Please label papers with the assignment for which you are turning in questions. These must be submitted by 5 pm the evening before the test or quiz to receive any credit.  In addition to the EC, the question may well appear on the test/quiz.  The “better” the question and the sooner I receive it, the more likely it is to be included.

Student Presentations:  A list of special interest topics will be provided for small groups (3-5 students). Short presentations followed by questions from the audience will be required.  Grading will be based on amount of information, presentation, and ability to answer questions on your topic.  Interesting and insightful questions asked of other groups will also affect your grade.  The group presentation will receive a single grade (65% of total), but individual effort (35%) will affect the final grade of this assignment.  This assignment will count as a single test grade and cannot be the dropped test grade.   An important aspect of this assignment is condensing the information into an understandable presentation that lasts a very short time (7-10 minutes).  You will only have this length of time for your presentation.  Topics and grading rubric will be available on AC Online.

Reading Assignment:  The percentage of adult Americans reading literature has dropped dramatically over the past 20 years.  Literary reading is declining among all education levels and the steepest decline is in the youngest age groups.  Reading expands a person’s vocabulary and introduces new ideas.  Therefore, you are assigned to read a trade book (a trade book is different from textbooks in that they are published for a wide audience).  This project is different from other “writing about a book” assignments and the focus is simply on reading a book dealing with a subject of your interest.  You GET to read a book of your choosing (with approval), and your evidence that you actually read the book will be a couple of paragraphs of handwritten notes per chapter/section that will be graded on a pass-fail basis—either you read the book or you didn’t.  ANY trade book with primarily science as a theme will satisfy the requirements.  Choose a topic YOU are interested in.  A list of pre-approved books/authors/topics will be posted on AC Online, but if you wish to suggest your own simply give me the author and title and I will look it up to see if it seems valid.  NO textbooks will be approved.  The first book is ASSIGNED as a combined quiz and homework grade (10 and 100 points, respectively).  This means if you don’t wish to read, you simply can’t drop a low homework or quiz grade as this assignment will be dropped instead.  A second book is OPTIONAL, a second turned in assignment will allow you to drop a second quiz and homework grade.  A third book is also OPTIONAL for bonus test points. Requirements for bonus points are the same—handwritten notes for each chapter.  The deadlines to turn in your handwritten notes will be September 26^th (1^st book), October 31^st (2^nd book), and December 2^nd (3^rd book) at 5 pm.  If you miss a deadline, you cannot turn in 3 total books (i.e. if only reading two, they are due by 10/31 and 12/2, if only one, it is due 12/3).  You may read only one fiction book/novel and only one non-science book (from the pre-approved list).  You may not use any book you have used in a previous semester.  Your writing MUST be legible to receive credit.

Final Exam: The final exam will be given on Monday, December 5, 2011, from 7:30-9:30 a.m. in Room 201 of Warren Hall.  Special rules for the final will be discussed beforehand.  Again, if special accommodations become necessary, arrangements must be made BEFORE (at least 24 hours) the exam date and you must have permission IN WRITING from me to take an exam at an alternate time.

Attendance

Attendance in class is expected.  Dropping the course is the sole responsibility of the student.  Failure to officially withdraw will result in a grade of F. 

Last day to withdraw from courses without written permission is November 16.

Calendar

Additional Information

METHODS OF  PRESENTATION: Lecture and use of computer assisted instruction.  Presentations on selected topics by student groups.  Possible occasional in-class group work.

Class Evaluation:  At the end of each class period, you may be asked to fill out a short form including any questions you might have about the subject, whether that day’s lecture or a previous topic.  These questionnaires are intended to assist both you and me in addressing problem areas and will in No Way affect your grade.

Resources Available:  In addition to copies of lecture slides available on both the 2^nd (CD) and 4^th (print-outs) of the library, there are numerous additional resources available to you.  A list of useful links is will be posted in AC Online.  Additional helpful books are available in my office and the Sciences Study Center.  There is a CD on the 2^nd floor of animated reactions that will be very helpful throughout the semester, as well.  Most resources I have in my office including modeling kits, supplementary texts, and additional problems are available for check-out.

Web Portal:  Every student has an account in AC Online.  You must check this several times a week. Handouts, extra credit assignments, grades, and email contact will all be made or posted on AC Online.

Grade Disputes:  While I encourage you to come to me with questions about answers on assignments anytime, if you wish to dispute a grade or have a grade changed, you must contact me about it within two weeks of the grade being posted on AC Online or there will be no change to the grade.

INFORMATION SHEET/SIGNATURE:  You must fill out and return the information sheet for this class (handed out and posted in AC Online).  You must also sign it to signify that you have read and understand the syllabus.  No graded assignments will be returned to you and you will not be shown your overall grades until the signed information sheet is turned in.

***This syllabus is subject to change.  You will be informed of any changes to the syllabus in class, email, and posting in AC Online.***