\ This course, along with 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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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

Tests: There will be a test approximately every 2-3 chapters.  In addition to traditional exams there will be an in-class presentation (see below).  The lowest grade will be dropped, but you cannot drop the presentation.  If a test is missed it will automatically count as the low grade.  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. 

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.  Regardless of start time, the test must completed by 8:45.

I do not return exams in class.  When available, 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.

Presentation:  Students will be assigned a chapter of the Biomolecules section.  The students will present the lecture and submit the quiz and test questions for the chapter. They will be graded on presentation and appropriateness of questions.  The quizzes and tests will be made up of student submitted questions as much as possible.  The presentation grade will count as a test grade in addition to the in-class exam made from student questions.

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 below).

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 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 emailed to you, 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 February 20^th (1^st book), April 2^th (2^nd book), and May 4^th (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 4/5 and 5/7, if only one, it is due 5/7).  You may read only one fiction book/novel and only one non-science book from the pre-approved list.  Your writing MUST be legible to receive credit.  You may NOT use a book you have used in any previous semester.

Extra Credit:Occasional extra credit assignments given in class 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.  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.

Final Exam: The final exam will be given on Monday, May 7, 2012, from 7:30-9:30 a.m. in Warren 201.  This will be a comprehensive, multiple-choice exam over the entire year’s material.

Overall Grade:  It is the students’ responsibility to keep track of theiroverall grade based on Quizzes - 10%, Tests - 65%, Homework - 10%, Final Exam - 15%.  The lowest quiz, test, and homework grade will all be dropped and the average for that type of assignment will be based on one less than the total.  If you have trouble calculating your grade, you may come to my office to see your overall grade.

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.

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 assignment due date or there will be no change to the grade.

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 drop courses is April 19.

Calendar

Additional Information

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.

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 was given with the syllabus in the first semester and can be emailed to you.  Additional helpful books are available on reserve on the 4^th floor of the library.  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.

Class Evaluation:  At the end of each class period, you may 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.

Email:  Every student has an account in AC Online.  You need to check this daily. Announcements, extra credit assignments, grades, and contact will all be made through email in AC Online.

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.***