Texts: 

• J. McMurry, Organic Chemistry, 7th ed.
• S. McMurry, Study Guide and Solutions Manual to Organic Chemistry, 7th ed.
• J.G. Traynham, Organic Nomenclature: A Programmed Introduction, 5th ed.

Other Materials: 

• Web site: http://courses.chem.psu.edu/chem210
• ANGEL (lecture notes (transparencies), quizzes, and the discussion forum)
• A molecular model kit is required, and we strongly recommend that it be used frequently
• Three other good texts have been placed on the reserve shelf in the Physical Science Library (230 Davey) for use if you want to read alternate accounts of the course materials:
• Streitweiser and Heathcock, Introduction to Organic Chemistry, 3rd ed.
• Solomon and Fryhle, Organic Chemistry, 7th  ed.
• Bruice, Organic Chemistry, 3th  ed.

Teaching Assistant  

A graduate teaching assistant (TA) is assigned specifically to this course. TA will hold extensive office hours in 211 Whitmore Lab, Monday - Friday (the time schedules are posted in 211 Whitmore, and on the Web).  TA will also run evening review sessions before exams.

Tutorial Room 

Capable undergraduate students are available to assist Chemistry 210 students in the Chemistry Department Tutorial Room (211 Whitmore Lab) after the first few days of classes. The hours are 6:30 - 10:30 p.m., Sundays through Thursdays.

Grades 

Your course grade is based on the following criteria:

• Three comprehensive mid-term exams, 25% each
• Comprehensive final exam, 25%

Final grades are based on a curve. Periodically throughout the course, you will receive some feedback as to how your numerical scores might translate into class grades. These indications should be treated as rough estimates of your final grade.  After the third exam and before the late-drop deadline of April 11, 2008, the guaranteed maximum grade-line cutoffs (GGLs) for the letter grades will be provided to facilitate your planning for the rest of the semester. The +/− grade-lines will be available only after the final exam. The grade-lines have to be drawn somewhere, and the unavoidable consequence is that some students are just "a point" away from the higher grade. For the reason of fairness, the policy in this course is to NOT adjust students grades in such circumstances.

The past experience indicates that the average scores on the exams vary from 70-55%. The average for the class (usually around 65%) corresponds to C+/B− grade.  About 20% of the class receives A's (A, A−, with scores above 75%), and about 6% fail the course (i.e. receive F's with scores below 40%).  These estimates do not include students who drop the course or withdraw for various reasons. The above information is based on the results from the last few years, and should not be considered as any kind of a guarantee.  It is provided only to help you evaluate your own efforts and scores in the course.

Exams

• 1st exam: Monday, 2/11/2008, 8:15 -10:15 p.m.
• 2nd exam: Monday, 3/3/2008, 8:15 -10:15 p.m.    
• 3rd exam Monday, 4/7/2008, 8:15 -10:15 p.m
• Make-up exam: Wednesday, 4/23/2008, 6:15 - 8:15 p.m.
• Final exam: as scheduled by the University Registrar

The exam locations are posted on the web. Only students with valid excuses are permitted to take the make-up exam. Only one comprehensive make-up exam is given. Conflicts in scheduling should be resolved in advance (at least one week before the exam). The procedures for taking conflict or make-up exams are described below (under Procedures).

All  exams are comprehensive multiple-choice tests (but they concentrate on the material covered since the previous test). They are constructed in such a way as to emphasize active understanding of the material. Practice exams are provided on the web. To take the exam you will need writing implements (pencils) and your student I.D. card.  You cannot use books, scratch paper (other than furnished), calculators, etc.  You may, however, use a molecular model kit (it may not contain any written materials).

No electronic devices (except for simple watches) are permitted on the exams. If such devices are detected (whether in use or not) students may receive a zero score on the exam in question. An exception to this rule for medical (or otherwise essential) equipment must be arranged before the exam.

Answer keys for the multiple-choice exams are posted on the web (under News and Updates) immediately after the exam. The exam scores are e-mailed to students by the University Testing Services and posted on ANGEL.

Problems

Working book's problems (in chapters and at the ends of chapters) is one of the best methods to learn the material and the first step in preparations for the exams. It is anticipated that students will be able to solve all the problems. The problems that help to develop the necessary basic skills (the early problems in each set) and those that are particularly indicative of what to expect on the exams are listed at the end of the syllabus as "Assigned Problems".  The problems from the book are not collected or graded.

Additional problems in the form of multiple-choice questions are posted on ANGEL after each lecture (excluding pre-exam Q&A lectures).  These on-line quizzes should be attempted after studying the material covered by the lecture and solving book's problems. The quizzes are designed to help you develop daily studying habits and to check your progress. There is no credit earned by working on these questions. The quizzes are the second step in exam preparations.

Testing Center on our website contains supplementary problems in the form of training sets and practice exams.  These should be used extensively for practice and self-evaluations during the last two weeks before the exams. Working on these sets of problems constitute the third and final step in exam preparations.

More detailed instructions on how to study and prepare for the exams are contained in Tutorials on our website. These recommendations are based in part on feedback from students who have successfully finished the course in the last few years.

ANGEL Materials  

Copies of transparencies shown during lectures are available on ANGEL.  Printed copies should be brought to class as they provide framework for organizing lecture notes.  Taking detailed and well organized lecture notes helps in studying and reviewing the material.

Post-lecture quizzes are offered after all lectures (except for Q&A sessions just before the exams). More information on these quizzes is provided in the section above (under Problems).

Organic Discussions is the web forum where students may ask questions about the covered material, assigned problems, practice exams, etc., and to participate in discussion on organic chemistry topics.  Most of the questions are answered within hours by the instructor or the course TA who also monitor the forum to correct any factual errors or misstatements.  To encourage participation, all postings are anonymous.

Chem 210 Web Site

The web site (http://courses.chem.psu.edu/chem210) is under constant development.  It contains materials on bonding (Quantum Primer) and visualizations of orbitals and molecules (Molecular Gallery), as well as the list of reactions covered in the lecture   There is a collection of very useful old exams (Testing Center), exams schedules, and general information on how to get help and how to study.

We also provide lecture-day announcements and summaries (News and Updates). Specifically, you will find there links to web materials related to the lectures, some additional assignments and problems, as well as exam information.  You should check the "News" on a regular basis: you may not claim ignorance as an excuse.

Procedures

To facilitate the smooth administration of the course, even when the unexpected happens, please abide by the following rules:

• Contact points: You are encouraged to discuss chemistry and/or the course with your instructor and TA's (see "Help" on the web for details).  Simple non-chemistry questions or comments can also be sent via electronic mail. For administrative questions (registration, conflict and make-up exams, exam scores, lost-and-fund, etc.) contact Mike Joyce in 210 Whitmore (preferred hours 9:00-11:00 a.m. and 2:00-4:00 p.m.). Chemistry questions should be posted to our Organic Discussions forum on ANGEL.
• Conflict exams are provided on the same day as the scheduled exams, but at different times.  Students with valid conflicts (for example, University scheduled activities) must sign up for the alternative time with Mike Joyce (in 210 Whitmore, or using a web form) at least four working days before the exam.  For students traveling with PSU instructors or coaches there is an option to take the exam "on-the-road", if the arrangements are made with Mike Joyce at least one week before the exam.  Any final-exam conflicts are resolved through the Registrar.
• The make-up exam is given only to students with valid excuses (PSU-sanctioned activity, family emergency, illness, etc.).  In order to be permitted to take the make-up exam you must provide Mike Joyce  (210 Whitmore) with a written explanation of your absence within 2 weeks of the missed exam. This explanation should include a telephone number for a person who can corroborate the reasons for the absence, but should not include any unnecessary private details. Only one comprehensive make-up exam will be given on April 23, 2008.  All students permitted to take this exam must sign up with Mike Joyce  (210 Whitmore) one week before the exam.
• Late-drop students receive WN designations on their transcripts. Students who have taken at least two exams may request a WP designation, if their class average is higher than the grade line for a C. (The grade-lines are announced after the third exam, before the late-drop deadline).  Requests for WP mark must be submitted in writing to Mike Joyce  (210 Whitmore) no later than May 2, 2008.
• Deferred grades are granted only in special circumstances when for reasons beyond student's control, the student is prevented from completing a course within the prescribed time. Students with deferred grades must take a comprehensive final exam before the University-set deadlines. The deferred grade is based on the average of the scores obtained on all exams taken by the student, with the score of the deferred final exam substituting individually for all missed scores.

General Considerations

Chemistry 210 is a difficult course. It covers a lot of demanding material. Observations made over the past few years suggest some generally useful strategies that help to improve student performance. These are summarized below, and a more extensive discussion is provided on our website.  

• read the chapter material before the lecture
• study everyday, do reviews weekly
• solve as many end-of-chapter problems as possible (resort to answer book only after you have seriously attempted the problem), and take the on-line quizzes (ANGEL) in a timely manner
• study with a friend; if you can explain a concept to your study mate, you understand it
• just reading and understanding the material (passive understanding) is insufficient; you should be able to use the just learned concepts in situations not previously encountered, and make logical connections  with concepts learned previously (active understanding)
• constantly probe your understanding by asking (and answering) question "why?" in relation to all  statements and logical constructions
• do not fall behind in your study; it is virtually impossible to prepare for the exam by cramming

Academic Integrity

Instructors are asked (Senate Rule 49-20) to provide at the beginning of a course a statement to "clarify the application of academic integrity criteria to that course". The Senate Rule includes the following:

You should also be aware of the extensive parts of this Rule that describe procedures for handling alleged instances of academic dishonesty.  Specific instances of academic dishonesty in this course would include (but are not limited to) copying or helping someone else copy during an examination, using unauthorized materials during an examination, stealing or destroying course materials or another student's examination paper, altering answers or grades on graded examinations, having someone take an examination for you, and attempting to do any of the above. Such infractions are considered cause, at the least, for awarding a grade of "0" on the exam in question, and not allowing the student to drop the class. For detailed procedures, see College of Science academic integrity web site.

Lecture Recordings

The audio part of the lectures will be taped as each is given. The recorded lectures will then be available for replay through Dial Access online. The recordings are not intended to be a substitute for the lectures, since they are incomplete (all visual aspects of the lecture, such as board work, demonstrations, slides, etc. will be missing). The purpose in recording the lecture is to provide a back-up if you are forced to miss a lecture because of illness or some other emergency. You may occasionally also wish to review a lecture you have attended. If you find it necessary to listen to the recording of a lecture you missed, you will undoubtedly find it helpful to borrow class notes from someone else so that you can follow the nonverbal part of the presentation. If you want to listen to the lecture in one of the computer labs on campus, remember to bring along a headset. To listen to a lecture, go to http://tips.libraries.psu.edu/dialaccess/crr/chem210_1/.