DEPARTMENT OF SCIENCE
SCHEDULE
CRN Days Time
30586 M,
W, F 12:00 pm – 12:50 pm
Note: this syllabus contains policies that will be enforced by the instructor of this course, in compliance with school policies, which may be found at this link: http://www.abac.edu/bmiburo/CHEM1211/CHEM1211GenericSyllabus.htm
INSTRUCTOR INFORMATION:
Dr.
Office: Gray Hall S-216
Office Phone: 391-5117
Office e-mail: bmiburo@abac.edu
INSTRUCTOR’S
OFFICE / ACADEMIC ASSISTANCE CENTER HOURS
Monday:
Office: 8:00 am - 8:30 am
AAC: 8:30 am – 9:30 am
Tuesday:
Office: 8 am – 9 am, 11a m – 12 pm, 4 pm – 5 pm
AAC: 9 am – 11 am, 2 pm – 4 pm
Wednesday:
Office: 8:00 am – 8:30 am
AAC: 8:30 am – 9:30 am
Thursday
Office: 9:30 am – 11:30 am
Friday:
Office: 8 am – 9: 30 am
The complete schedule may be found at this link: http://www.abac.edu/bmiburo/ScheduleSp12.htm
You are required to attend all lectures. By school regulation, instructors will keep accurate attendance records and must report the number of absences for each student when midterm and final grades are turned in. Two tardiness instances will be equated to one absence. 2% of the class grade will be attributed to attendance. Points will be deducted from the attendance grade proportionally to the number of documented unjustified days of absence. Unjustified absence for a time equivalent to two or more weeks of class will result in forfeiture of the attendance grade. To avoid penalty, any absence will have to be justified beforehand or immediately after it has happened.
A student who serves as an official representative of the college will not be penalized with unexcused absences when the absences result from regularly scheduled activities in which he/she represents the college.
However, it is the responsibility of the student to contact the instructor prior to the absence and to make arrangements to make up any work that will be missed, in a manner acceptable to the instructor.
More information on this and other issues may be found at the following link: http://www.abac.edu/catalog/2011_2012/AcademicPoliciesandProcedures.pdf
COURSE DESCRIPTION,
PRE/CO-REQUISITES, TOPICS, AND OBJECTIVES
Prerequisite: Mastery of a certain body of knowledge is necessary if students
are to be successful in the target course. Most commonly, such knowledge is
measured by successful completion (C or better) of the prerequisite course
listed in the class schedule.
Co-requisite: Concurrent (simultaneous) enrollment in or prior successful
completion of a companion course is required. The information presented or the
practice gained in the co-requisite course is considered necessary for success
in the target course.
Students
are responsible for meeting the prerequisite and/or co-requisite requirements
for any course in which they intend to enroll.
Admission in CHEM 1211 requires the following prerequisites: Exemption from or successful completion of READ 0099, ENGL 0099, and MATH 0099. The pre/co-requisites for CHEM 1211 are MATH 1111 (College Algebra) and CHEM 1211L. You must show proof that you fulfill the pre/co-requisites conditions to be in this class. In order to do that, when requested, turn in a printout of your transcript highlighting the part that shows that you have passed, or obtained a waiver for, or are currently registered in ENGL 1101, MATH 1111 or a higher level class. This must be done by the next time the class meets.
Before the drop/add deadline, students should add the missing co-requisites to their class load.
If any prerequisites have
not been successfully completed by the start of the course, or co-requisites have not been added by
the drop/add deadline, the student is
required to drop the course.
Any student taking CHEM 1211 must also be registered in the corresponding lab: CHEM 1211L. Departure from this rule must be allowed by the appropriate authority of the school.
Students choosing to withdraw
from a co-requisite course are required
to also withdraw from the target course.
Successful completion of
the co-requisite course is required
before the student can take classes
beyond the target course. Co-requisite courses should be considered
pre-requisites for higher level courses.
Any student not meeting prerequisite and/or co-requisite
requirements and who does not voluntarily withdraw is subject to withdrawal
from the target course by the appropriate administrative authority at any time
during the semester.
On recommendation of the instructor, the department chair may waive prerequisite requirements. This waiver must be in writing.
Chemistry 1211 will appear in either Area D (Science, Mathematics, & Technology Courses) or F (Major-Specific Courses) of your core curriculum. In Area D, the CHEM 1211-1212 sequence may be used to meet the lab science sequence requirement for science majors. Non-science majors may use both 1211 and 1212 in Area D or may take only 1211 and apply it in Area D as one of the lab science courses.
Chemistry 1211 (3 credit hours) will have three 50 minute
lectures per week and will be accompanied by one 3 h laboratory session (1
credit hour) per week.
General topics of the course include dimensional analysis, study of atoms, molecules and ions, chemical reactions, chemical stoichiometry, atomic and molecular structure, bonding theories, and gas laws.
Chemistry 1211 seeks to reach a variety of objectives. An obvious goal is to obtain useful knowledge of those chemistry topics just mentioned. Emphasis will continually be placed upon concept understanding and application of the information learned, rather than simple memorization of the material.
In addition to the mastery of CHEM 1211 concepts, the knowledge acquired by successfully completing the course should help far beyond introductory chemistry. A helpful ramification of mastering the chemistry-related problem solving strategy is its usefulness to non-chemistry related subjects and endeavors. Success in the class implies that you (the student) have acquired the ability to explain, interpret, and predict much of what goes on around you to the point to see chemistry as a subject of fundamental importance to your everyday life.
Additional goals include the realization that chemistry is
an ever changing body of knowledge. As an even broader goal, it is expected
that students learn to continually ask and answer questions as an aid in their
pursuit of knowledge. Learning to question is one of the most important goals
of this class.
Textbook: Chemistry: A Molecular Approach, 2nd edition by N. J. Tro. Students are expected to bring their textbooks to lectures. We make ample use of diagrams, charts, figures, data tables, and problems contained in the textbook on a regular basis during lectures. You will have regular reading and problem-solving assignments. The textbook provides an excellent source of example problems, complete with detailed solutions. Other aspects of the text, include various internet resources. Practice answering those questions and solving those problems. This will increases your chances of success on the actual quizzes and tests. The same textbook will be used for Chemistry 1212.
iClicker. It is a device used to achieve two objectives:
iClickers are to be purchased at the bookstore. Each student is responsible for having and registering his/ her personal iclicker. No
student is allowed to use any other
student’s iclicker. As you register your iclicker, make sure you use the same name as
the one recorded in Banner
web. Otherwise your iclicker grade will be zero. At the end of the semester, the iclicker
grade will be incorporated into the quiz
grade.
Mastering Chemistry : it is an online computer program carrying problems to solve interactively by students. Homework will be assigned using Mastering Chemistry . Every student is required to buy his/her own Mastering Chemistry online access code from the bookstore. As soon as you purchase your Mastering Chemistry , you need to register it. Make sure you use the correct course and section numbers. Homework assignments will start promptly after lectures start.
Scientific Calculator: used for
both Chemistry 1211 and 1212. A basic scientific calculator which has
keys for exponents, base 10 and natural logarithms, and base 10 and natural
inverse logarithms is fine. If you have a graphing calculator similar to those
used in the algebra and trig classes, you may use it as long as you know how.
EXPECTED COURSE
ACTIVITIES
Quizzes & Homework will be regularly given on topics covered in class.
Quizzes are designed to assess the extent to which students understand and apply the concepts covered in class. Furthermore, this is true especially for online quizzes, they impel each student to get fully engaged in the calculations conducted in class, which is a crucial step in the acquisition of problem-solving skills.
In-class quizzes will be given throughout the lectures, notably using i-clickers. Those quizzes will include review quizzes on the material covered in the previous class session and comprehension quizzes designed to empower students to understand the material as we cover it in class.
Besides in-class quizzes, a number of quizzes will be given online on WebCT. Those quizzes will be chapter portion review quizzes. Each one will cover the part of a chapter covered in a given class and will have to be completed by the end of the next class day. Those completing the quizzes by the next class time will receive extra credit. Chapter portion review quizzes are designed to help students cover small amounts of material at a time and keep up with the material as it is covered in class.
Questions on those online quizzes will include mostly fill-in-the-blank and calculation types. In the first type, you will need to fill blanks with words from lecture notes. Online calculation questions will use randomized numbers, so that no student will work with the same numbers as another.
In order to empower students to review and practice more often the concepts and processes covered in class, the online quizzes will be open on a continuous basis up to the deadlines of the quizzes. You are encouraged to take the quizzes as many times as possible to get as high a grade as you want. Resist the temptation to put off the work until you are close to the deadlines of the quizzes. That will bring you only low grades, not just on the quizzes, but also on tests. Take a minimum 3 attempts on each assignment. The first attempt produces acquaintance with the material. The second attempt produces familiarity, and the third attempt produces proficiency, which leads to mastery of the material, which in turn leads to success on tests. At the end, only the highest grade is recorded. The number of times you take the quiz with improving grade may be used to give you extra credit applicable to test grades.
Homework will be given to enable students to solve problems in relation with concepts covered throughout each chapter. It will be done on a computer software called MASTERING CHEMISTRY which is accessible online using an access code available for the students to buy at the bookstore. Homework using MASTERING CHEMISTRY is done at your own pace and in an interactive environment that allows you to do the assignments as many times as you wish to obtain as high a grade as you want. MASTERING CHEMISTRY is much more advantageous than the traditional homework assignments out of the textbook.
You are responsible for registering correctly in Mastering Chemistry website, using this course and this section numbers. Any other course or section number is incorrect. The instructor will not do any extra work to transfer grades from an incorrect section to the correct one, or to process separately cases of students who failed to register correctly.
Due dates for the assignments will be set to allow for optimal completion time.
As a way of insuring that the learning outcomes are individually reached by each student in each chapter and to allow students to connect what they study in class to various aspects of their daily lives, personalized chapter assignments will be given at the beginning of each chapter and will be turned in at the end of the chapter. The chapter assignments are designed to incite students to get personally involved in the learning process while solving actual problems. Grades of chapter assignments will be incorporated into test grades.
Group homework may also be given in the form of projects. The projects will deal with selected topics covered in class. The goal of the projects is to give the students the opportunity to solve problems in teams and apply the concepts covered in class to real-life situations. Grades of projects will be incorporated into test grades
No make-ups will be allowed after a corrected quizzes and homework have been returned/opened to the students.
TESTS
Lecture tests will include four unit tests and one final test. The material for each unit test will be announced in due time. The final test will cover all the material of the semester.
Students enrolled in
courses in the
In CHEM 1211, examination questions will seek to assess student knowledge, understanding, application, analysis, and synthesis skills. Computational and drawing or diagramming skills will also be assessed. Rather than rote memorization, the correct answers to the questions will combine knowledge and explanation of concepts, and /or ability to rationalize phenomena and procedures, which are better tools to assess mastery of concepts, critical thinking and problem solving skills.
In-class test questions will be a combination of multiple choice and essay types, as well as completion, true false and matching. Multiple choice questions will typically include statements of facts and their justifications.
Even though they take considerable amounts of time to grade, essay questions provide better insight into student knowledge and thinking process, which allows for better intervention to improve student knowledge quality and level when such intervention is warranted. Typical essay questions will seek to evaluate the ability of the student to explain, interpret, and/or apply concepts.
Questions in the online components of tests will be mostly calculations, in addition to short answers, matching and fill-in-the-blank types.
Each unit test (except for the first one) will carry a number of questions on material from previous test(s), to insure permanent contact with the most important aspects of the material covered previously and to provide students with better preparation for the final test.
A compelling and verifiable reason will be required for make-up tests and only one make-up test will be allowed per student. The make-up test will be done at the time of the final examination, only if it was pre-approved at the time the corresponding regular test was missed. No make-ups will be allowed for the final test.
EVALUATION
The course grade will be based upon student performance detailed as follows:
1. Four unit tests
2. One final test = one unit test
3. Quizzes and homework = one unit test
Overall: 6
performance items, each carrying 16% of the total class grade.
4. Attendance and Conduct: 4% of total class grade
Total %: 100%
Percentage/grade conversion
Percentage Grade
90-100 % A
80-89 B
70-79 C
60-69 D
0-59 F
LOWEST TEST GRADES
In order to insure grade consistency and significance, at my discretion based notably on student exemplary behavior, I may drop the lowest test grade for some student(s). However that test must have been actually taken, and dropping the grade in question must have an impact on the letter grade to justify its removal. Skipped tests do not apply.
Special accommodations will be provided for students with learning disabilities on a case-by-case basis. Any student who fulfills learning disabilities conditions must get in touch with the teacher in order to insure his/her case will be dealt with properly and in a timely manner.
Achieving success in this course requires you to reach two goals: UNDERSTAND and REMEMBER. This is made possible by two types of actions: REVIEW and PRACTICE. In order to perform those actions with success, you will need to do the following:
· Attend all classes
· Pay attention in class
· Participate in classroom activities
· Ask questions to clarify concepts you do not understand or processes which are unclear to you.
· Review the material covered in class:
· The very day it is covered
· Two or more times before the quizzes and tests.
· Work out on your own the examples
· given in class
· additional similar examples
· Do and turn in all assignments on time
· Take all quizzes and tests
· Display appropriate behavior in class.
· Follow the rules on work ethics.
It may be possible to memorize material by “cramming” a day or two before an exam, but the benefits of this method of studying are uncertain at best. However, progressive review and practice, by working gradually on the material as it is covered, leads to understanding, remembering, and being able to interpret and apply it are far superior and more productive study methods. Working in small groups has been proven an excellent way to study. If you can explain some concept or problem to another student, you are certainly well on your way to understanding it yourself. It also helps to see questions other students have, as you may at some point have those same questions yourself.
Some other tips to help you succeed include:
· study 2 to 3 hours outside of class for each hour in class
· pay close attention to graphics, diagrams, models, analogies, and charts
· try to understand the numeric relations between the parameters of mathematical formulae
· work problems in a test-like mode (this means with no notes, no text, and in a limited amount of time)
· develop confidence in your abilities
· use all the help resources available to you, including instructor office hours, other students, and the academic assistance center
· get a good night's sleep before exams
· make up at least one different question for every practice test question covered in lecture and as homework
· Analyze the questions you missed on quizzes and tests. Find the reasons for missing the questions, and identify the processes that will enable you to get it right next time.
In order to enhance successful learning, lectures must take place free from distraction. As a result:
· You are allowed to talk in class only as instructed by the teacher or when asking questions to the teacher.
· Food and drinks are strictly prohibited in class.
· Cellular phones are allowed in class, but they must be turned off during lecture time.
2% of the lecture grade will be reserved for classroom conduct. Following the 1st two warnings, five classroom conduct citations (by the teacher) will result in forfeiture of the classroom conduct grade. Further action may be taken if the misconduct continues.
Academic dishonesty as defined in the Abraham Baldwin Catalog will not be tolerated. Cheating, plagiarism or any other form of dishonesty is strictly prohibited. Sanctions will be imposed on anybody caught in the act. The source and the beneficiary will be punished equally. Depending on the gravity and / or frequency of misconduct, the punishment could amount to failure in and dismissal from the class. All infractions will be dealt with according to the procedures outlined in the Catalog. Sanctions may include a zero on the assignment or even failure in the class. Students are recommended to read and review this material.
More information on this and other issues may be found at the following link: http://www.abac.edu/catalog/2011_2012/AcademicPoliciesandProcedures.pdf
ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATION DEVICES POLICY
The use of any
device which can deliver and/or receive electronic messages will be strictly
prohibited. The source and the destination of the messages will be sanctioned
equally.
February 29, 2012 is the last day to withdraw from the class without penalty. Before that deadline, a student who withdraws from the class will receive a “W” grade. After the deadline, withdrawing from the course will result in a “WF” grade. Departure from this policy will have to be justified before and approved by the appropriate School of Science & Math authority, following the procedure as described in the ABAC Catalog. More information on this and other issues may be found at the following link: http://www.abac.edu/catalog/2011_2012/AcademicPoliciesandProcedures.pdf
CHEM 1211L is a co-requisite of CHEM 1211. Dropping one leads to dropping the other.
Even though receiving a W
has no negative effect on your grade,
be aware that withdrawing from a class may
impact negatively such processes as your eligibility for Hope scholarship (which considers
attempted instead of completed hours) or insurance
(some companies require full time status for coverage).
As a result of successful learning in this class you will be able to:
1. Demonstrate knowledge of and ability to apply and interpret the concepts related to the forms, composition & properties of matter and measurement of properties.
2. Demonstrate knowledge of and ability to apply and interpret the concepts related to atoms, ions and molecules.
3. Demonstrate knowledge of and ability to apply and interpret the concepts related to chemical reactions and equations.
4. Demonstrate knowledge of and ability to apply and interpret the concepts related to chemical stoichiometry.
5. Demonstrate knowledge of and ability to apply and interpret the concepts related to the structure of atoms.
6. Demonstrate knowledge of and ability to apply and interpret the concepts related to the structure and shape of molecules
7. Demonstrate knowledge of and ability to apply and interpret the concepts related to the properties of gases.
8. Demonstrate knowledge of and ability to apply and interpret the concepts related to properties and reactions of nuclei.
Textbook: Chemistry: A Molecular Approach, by N. J. Tro.
Week Objective Material to cover Textbook Page
I, II 1 Fundamental Concepts 1-41
III, IV 2 Atoms, Ions and Molecules 42-95
Test
I
V, VI 3 Chemical Reactions &
Equations 150-177
VII, VIII 4 Chemical Stoichiometry 97-109
Test
II
IX, X, XI 5 Structure of Atoms 276-357
XII, XIII 6 Chemical Bonding &
Molecular
Structure 358-412
Test
III
XIV 7 Gas Laws 178-229
XV 8 Nuclear Chemistry 864-901
Test
IV
XVI Final
Test