Oakland Community College                                                                                                                 D. Becker

CHE1510 - Syllabus                                                                                   

Catalog Description: This course builds on skills acquired in introductory chemistry and elementary algebra. Completion of CHE 1000 or equivalent and completion of MAT 1150 or equivalent is recommended. This course explores the principles of atomic structure, chemical nomenclature, valence shell electron pair repulsion theory, chemical bonding, stoichiometry, acids and bases, thermochemistry, gas laws and kinetic molecular theory. Both conceptual development and problem solving are emphasized. The laboratory section of the course involves application and amplification of the concepts developed in the course. This course provides skills required for subsequent chemistry courses.

Prerequisites: Secondary school chemistry or equivalent and two years of secondary school algebra or equivalent. The course is taught at a college level with an expectation that you have completed the prerequisites in a satisfactory manner.

 Format: There are two lectures (T, Th, 10:00 am - 11:25 am) and one lab (A1501, T, 12:05 - 3:00; A1502, Th, 12:05 - 3:00) per week. Lectures are in room F-122 and labs are held in room C-212.

Method I:                                                                             Method II:

Final exam              200                                                          Final x 1.5                   300

Labs (12 x 10 pt)    120                                                          Labs (12 x 10 pt)        120

                                 720                                                                                              720

Useful Information From Your Instructor. This is the Fine Print!

Working in Lecture and Lab:

• In order for you and your fellow students to go on to the next Chemistry course in your education, we must stay on schedule. Please do not fall behind; it is almost impossible to catch up in a college science course.

• This is an honest-to-goodness General Chemistry course! Get ready for a semester of enjoyable and challenging work.

• It is not possible to lecture on every single detail of every topic for which you are responsible. Please be prepared to read, study, and work problems on your own. Questions in class are always welcome.

• Please bring your books and calculator to lecture. We use them just about every day.

• This is a lab course. Three absences from lab or the lack of three lab reports will result in a faculty initiated withdrawal or failing grade, no matter what your exam grades are.

 • The class (almost always) starts on time! Important announcements are usually made during the first few minutes of lecture or lab, so please make every effort to be on time. If you are late, please enter quietly by the rear door and do not disrupt the lecture as you sit down. Everyone is late occasionally, but habitual lateness is discourteous. Coming late to lab is a safety problem. If you are habitually late to lab, you will be asked to drop the course.

 • If I am late, please wait at least 20 minutes before leaving. In any case, please be present for lab. If I will not be in for some reason, our department secretary or chairman will usually post a note for the class.

 • Please read and understand labs before coming to labs and relevant book material before coming to lecture. The course is much more enjoyable, understandable, and rewarding if you prepare in advance. Get your money's worth! Prepare!!

 •You should be prepared to spend a minimum of 15 hours a week on homework and home study on this course.

 Ethical Standards:

 • Be careful to avoid plagiarism (presenting someone else’s work as your own). I encourage cooperation between students, but the work you hand in must be your own. If two papers handed in to me have substantially identical wording, both receive zeros (no credit). Plagiarism on exams is cause for an automatic F in the course. (Roommates and relatives in the course, please be especially alert to the rules regarding plagiarism).

 • Any cheating of any sort on any exam will result in (at least) a zero for the exam and (likely) an F for the course.

Outside help:

• If time allows, here will be an optional extra help problem-solving session held once a week, with the time to be announced. This is a good time to ask as many questions as you would like about the chemistry we are covering.

• Do not be afraid to ask me for help if you are having difficulty. Helping you learn is my job — one which I enjoy immensely.

• The IIC (Individualized Instructional Center) has free tutors who can give you individualized assistance if you need it. The IIC is one of the strengths of our college — use it!

• My office hours are set aside expressly to discuss Chemistry with students. If you can not see me during my regular office hours, talk to me about arranging some time when we can meet. Under no circumstances do I want you to be unable to find me or see me for help!

• We have Computer Aided Instruction (CAI) programs available in the open computer laboratory in F-116. You do not have to know how to use computers in order to use these programs. CAI can be immensely helpful for practicing problem solving and preparing for exams.

• Houghton Mifflin (your textbook publisher) has a superb web site ("eduspace") with many excellent features. Included is an "e-professor" service which allows you to email questions and get answers within 24 hours. This is an excellent site which may be very helpful.

Miscellany:

• I have a slight but noticeable hearing loss. Please speak up clearly when you ask a question in class (there is no need to shout).

• If you want to receive your final course grade before you get your unofficial transcript in the mail, hand in a self-addressed, stamped post card with the notations "Final Exam Grade ____" and "Course Grade____" written on it. I will fill out the card and mail it as soon as grades are completed. If the card is missing any of your address, a stamp or the blank spaces to fill in, it will not be sent.

• You and I have the same goal in this course — that is for you to learn a lot of chemistry and to enjoy doing it. If you (and I) maintain a positive attitude and roll with the punches, we will attain that goal. If you come in thinking of me or the course as "the enemy", you have primed yourself for failure. Relax, work hard, and enjoy the attainment of knowledge; you may be amazed at how much you can learn!