Kate Deline’s suggestions for a successful semester in general chemistry
You are responsible for everything that is covered and handed out in lecture and in lab. If you discover that you are missing a handout, check the three-ringed notebook in the ISC (36-110) labeled Deline Chem 220. It contains a copy of each handout. You may hand copy or photocopy the handout but you may not remove the notebook and/or its contents from the ISC.
Homework assignments are a crucial part of this course. The study of chemistry requires a DAILY commitment to problem solving and disciplined study of the new vocabulary and concepts. Photocopy the homework and carry it with you. That way when you have ten minutes you can take it out and get a problem done.
Working together on homework assignments is highly recommended as long as everyone involved is participating. It is amazing how trying to explain a concept to your peer will help you to solidify it in your mind.
There is a solution manual for the homework. I do not recommend it. However, if you choose to use it remember that looking at the solution is NOT doing the problem yourself and you have not challenged yourself yet with that concept. Be very careful when you use the solutions manual.
Also remember to redo any of the problems done in class without looking at the answer to make sure you understood what we were doing.
Kate Deline’s suggestions for a successful semester in general chemistry (continued)
These are pop quizzes during lecture. There is no way to make these up. You must be present in lecture and get the correct answer to receive credit. They are worth at least one point. Yet another reason to make sure you come to every lecture.
Content checks are very useful to make sure you understand the topics before the exam. There will be 11 content checks. Your top ten scores will be used in determining your course grade. They are located on webacess. You must turn them on Wednesday before I leave campus. If you are absent you can email your scanned content check to me the day it is due before 5pm. Late ones will not be graded and you will receive a grade of zero. Make sure you try every content check.
Three intra-term exams will be given. The use of dictionaries or translators during exams is prohibited. The general dates for the exams are included in the lab schedule handout. Any changes in the exam schedule will be announced in lecture. A non-graphing scientific calculator is required. Graphing calculators are NOT allowed on exams. There will be no exceptions.
Make-up exams are not automatic. I reserve the right to decide whether a make-up exam may be taken on a case-by-case basis. If you are permitted to take a make-up exam, 12.5 points will be subtracted from your score as the penalty for taking the exam late.