Chemistry 100 (Sect. 1043) Schedule - Summer 2014

Homework Problems: For homework, you should do at least some of the problems at the end of each section of the chapter and at the end of the chapter.  How many problems you do is up to you, but you should do enough that you feel comfortable with the concepts being added in that section.  Answers for many of the odd-numbered problems are available at the end of each chapter.  You will be given credit for doing homework, but your homework will not be graded for correctness, only that you have done homework.  No fixed number of problems should be solved, but in order to receive credit, you must turn in at least 10 solved problems. Just showing the correct answers will not be accepted for credit.  Please remember that homework is not graded for correctness, but you are given credit for handing in homework on time with the required number of problems being solved. Homework is due by the end of the lecture period on the day after the lecture for the chapter was completed, based on the schedule in the syllabus. Homework handed in late will receive no credit.

Lab Attendance: Chemistry is an experimental science, and lab attendance is mandatory. The laboratory section must be passed in order to pass the course. If you miss two or more labs, you are subject to dismissal from the class. Each lab experiment has a lab report that must be handed in for credit. You should fill in the lab reports as the experiments are being performed in the lab. Do not take notes and then transfer data to your report later. Lab Reports are due the next week at the beginning of the next lab period. Lab reports turned in after the beginning of the next lab period will be deducted 10%, if turned in that day. Lab reports turned in after this date will be deducted 50% as a late penalty, but lab reports cannot be turned in for credit later than one week after it was originally due (that is, two weeks after the lab was completed). Format for Lab Notebook and Lab Reports is online.

Additional Lab Information:

1. Chemical splash goggles (not safety glasses) must be worn by all students whenever anyone in the lab is working with chemicals. A limited supply of these is available in the lab, but there are not enough to go around. If you don’t have goggles with you and cannot borrow a pair.  You have two options–go to the bookstore and buy a pair or don’t do the lab that day.
2. All students must sign a copy of the Lab Safety Rules before being allowed to work in the lab.
3. Come to lab prepared with chemical splash goggles, lab book (or handout), pen or pencil and calculator. Lab experiments must be read and understood before you come to lab.
4. Any pre-laboratory questions must be solved prior to coming to lab.
5. You will often work with another person, who will be your lab partner. Experiments that are done in pairs will be done with that person. Some experiments may be done solo.
6. There will be no makeup labs. If you miss one lab, it will be the one dropped. If you miss more than one lab, you will forfeit the points.
7. Students who are absent for more than two lab periods any time during the semester may be dropped from the course or be assigned a failing grade.
8. During the lab you will fill out data and observations on the report sheets included with the experiment. Your data and observation sheets must be checked by the instructor and stamped before you leave lab for the day.
9. Each week’s lab and lab report is worth a total of twenty points. The minimum score for collecting and recording the data but not doing the rest of the lab report is ten points. You are also graded on your lab notebook.
   
   • Lab reports are turned in on the report sheets included with each experiment. They may be done in pencil or pen. Please show your calculations, with units, to get full credit.
   • Lab reports will usually be due at the next lab meeting following the experiment.
   • You cannot write your lab reports with your lab partner. You must show the data that you personally collected. Do not share your actual data and observations with anyone other than your lab partner, unless you also want to share (split) your score. Both the sharer and the sharee will be penalized.
   • Write your lab partner’s name under yours on the report. Your partner is the person with whom you actually performed the experiment that day.
   • Some of the experiments include post-lab questions. Please answer these and turn them in with your report. They will be worth ten points.
   • Most points on lab reports are lost as a result of missing or incomplete information. Check over your report before you turn it in to make sure that it is complete.
   • Late reports will be accepted up to one week after the experiment was due, with a penalty of 50%. No late reports will be accepted for the last lab.

Cheating:

You are expected to abide by the MiraCosta College Academic Intregity Policy.  Cheating includes the copying or exchanging of information during exams or quizzes or plagiarism (copying another's work and turning it in as your own). If you are caught cheating you may be permanently removed from class, given a zero for that particular occurrence, disciplined by the Dean of Students and you may fail the course. The following is MiraCosta's policy on Academic Intregity:

"MiraCosta College highly values academic integrity.  At the core, this means an honest representation of one's own work. MiraCosta College also promotes the approach that education is best accomplished as a cooperative, collaborative enterprise in which students are encouraged to work with and learn from each other. The line between academic integrity and collaborative education is not always easy to define and may vary from one discipline to the next and from one instructor to the next. Many aspects of cheating and plagiarism are universally recognized, while others are subject to debate. This policy provides some broad, general guidelines and allows instructors to be more restrictive according to their preferences and practices."

 The Academic Integrity Policy is available online, simply click policy now. Any action, based on failure to adhere to these policies can be appealed. To view the MiraCosta College Academic Appeals Policy, click appeals now.

COURSE GRADING POLICY

Exams (480 pts): Four exams will be given, but only three of these exams will be counted towards your final grade. If you miss an exam, that will be the exam you drop.  Missed exams cannot be made up or taken at a different time (a missed exam due to medical emergency, or other legitimate causes, may be made up at the discretion of Dr. Robertson).  If you believe the exam is missed for a legitimate reason, please contact Dr. Robertson before the exam. Dr. Robertson will be the only judge of whether the exam can be made up. Exams will include material covered in lecture. There may be times when a specific question was not covered in class, but if you learn to apply what you know from lecture, the application of this knowledge to these questions will allow you to answer these questions. If you have concerns about exam grades, please return it to me and I may regrade it, but I have the option to regrade the entire exam.

Quizzes (100 pts): Quizzes will be given during classes, and may be unannounced.  Quizzes will cover material covered in the previous lecture, and are used to assess the understanding of the class on covered material.  Quizzes are also designed to give you a feel for what you need to know and help prepare you for regularly scheduled exams. Missed quizzes cannot be taken late or made up. At least one quiz will be dropped, and this will be the lowest score, or it will be your missed quiz.

Homework (20 pts): Homework problems are not graded, but you are given credit for handing homework in on time. Homework is due the lecture period after the lecture for the chapter was completed. Homework handed in late will receive no credit.

Lab (200 pts): You must pass the lab in order to pass the course. Your lab grade will depend on your preparedness, technique, safety, lab notebook and your written reports, including any assigned problems. You can drop one lab. Since labs cannot be made up, a missed lab will be the one dropped. If you miss other labs, you will forfeit the points for that lab. Lab reports, and lab exercises, are worth 100 points. There will be a lab mid-term and final lab exam. Both exams will cover experiments, techniques and equipment used during the lab. Your two lab exams together are worth 100 points.

Final Exam (200 pts): A comprehensive final exam covering all lecture material must be taken to pass course.

For students whose Total Score at the end of the semester is within one percentage point (1%) of a grade cutoff (e.g., you have an 89% average, and a 90% score is required for an "A" grade), I will use your Final Exam percentage to determine your grade. For example, if your Final Exam score is 90% or higher, you will get an "A" grade.  If your Final Exam is below 90%, you will receive a "B" grade.  (Similar comparisons will be made for "B" or "C" grades, near 80% or 70%, respectively.)  Your Final Exam score will be used as the deciding factor for your course grade only if your Total Score is within one percentage point of the higher grade (i.e., if you are more than 1% below the grade cutoff, you will receive the grade your Total Score determines).

Preparation and Study Time Required: Depending on your background, how easily you grasp the material and how effectively you listen, take notes, and study, the time you will need to spend outside the class will vary. A good estimate is at least 1-2 hours outside studying for each hour in lecture. The amount of time you need to spend depends upon how well you use your time, and your preparation. If you are struggling, you probably need more study time.  I look forward to teaching you. I hope you enjoy learning chemistry. I'll be glad to discuss concerns or suggestions regarding this class or related topics. I encourage you to set goals for yourself, stay current in the class. Be sure to read the assigned chapter prior to lecture.

Attendance and Drops:  In order to pass the class (lecture and laboratory together) you must pass the laboratory portion of the course, regardless of your performance in the lecture portion.  One lab may be dropped automatically (it will routinely be the lab you miss, or the lab with the lowest score). Therefore, it is your responsibility to attend all the labs, and to be on time, since the first part of the lab is usually the time the instructor gives out information pertinent to the lab protocol and sometimes when quizzes can be given.  Proper lab attire (discussed in the MiraCosta College laboratory safety rule) and behavior is required.  If you decide to drop the class, it is your responsibility to drop the class, do not expect the instructor to do this for you.  Please be careful in the laboratory and be certain that laboratory glassware that is used is cleaned and put back into the shared lockers.  Your lockers are used by all other students using that particular laboratory classroom during the semester.  You cannot store personal items in the lockers since they are not checked out to you individually and because the locker drawers do not have locks on them.  Laboratory safety is everyone's responsibility.