General Information and Grading System, Fall 2005

EXAMINATONS: There will be four (4) one-hour examinations, as indicated in the schedule and the final exam. The final exam will be comprehensive, i.e., cover the entire semester's work.

NO MAKE-UP EXAMS: Only illness, court dates, and University sponsored events are acceptable excuses for missing an exam. Forgetting the exam is NOT an excuse. Family trips, vacations, weddings, work, etc. are NOT reasons for missing an exam! You must contact Dr. Gelder in advance if you can not take an exam for an excused absence! In calculating your total points for the course, an excused missed one-hour exam will be replaced with your final exam percentage. Therefore, the final exam score counts twice, once for the final exam score and once for a missed hour exam. If you should miss TWO hour exams, you should see Dr. Gelder as soon as possible to discuss your situation. Make-ups will NOT be scheduled. Feeling like you are not prepared to take the exam is NOT an excuse. Suck it up and take the exam!

PRE-LECTURE EXPLORATIONS: A PLE is a web-based activity that must be completed before class. PLEs will begin on Thursday, August 25, 2005 and continue every lecture day for the remainder of the semester. To count, a PLE must be completed before class begins. PLEs will typically be posted 24 hours before class begins. A PLE consists of a series of questions that will cover the content of that day's discussion. The questions will typically progress from easy to more difficult. The questions in the PLE will not be graded right or wrong. You will be judged as completing a PLE if you have made a reasonable effort to answer the questions on the PLE and you have taken a reasonable amount of time to answer those questions. I expect most PLEs will take 10 minutes or more to complete. PLEs are intended to help me better understand what you know about a particular topic we are going to discuss in lecture. Your responses will provide me with an idea of how many students understand the concept(s), how many students are having difficulty, which ideas are not clear, and what kind of misconceptions you have. PLEs will help you prepare for class by giving you some questions that you want answered in class. Your personal web page will track how many PLEs you have completed and it will allow you to review any completed PLE at any time during the semester.

After Class Applications: An ACA is a web-based activity that must be completed following class. ACAs will begin on Tuesday, August 23, 2005 and continue most lecture days for the remainder of the semester. To count, an ACA must be completed approximately 36 - 40 hours after class ends. ACAs will typically be posted after class ends. An ACA consists of a series of questions that will cover the content of that day's class. The questions will typically progress from easy to more difficult. The questions in the ACA will not be graded right or wrong. You will be judged as completing an ACA if you have made a reasonable effort to answer the questions on the ACA and you have taken a reasonable amount of time to answer those questions. I expect most ACAs will take 10 minutes or more to complete. ACAs are intended to help me better understand what you understood about a particular topic after we discussed the concept in lecture. Your responses will provide me with an idea of how many students understand the concept(s), how many are having difficulty, which ideas are not clear, and what kind of misconceptions you have. ACAs will help you prepare for class by giving you some questions that you want answered in class. Your personal web page will track how many ACAs you have completed and it will allow you to review any completed ACA at any time during the semester.

HOMEWORK: At least sixteen (16) problem sets will count towards your final grade. The majority of the problem sets will contain 10 problems. These will be due at the beginning of the class on the date indicated on the problem set, or announced in class. Late problem sets will NOT be accepted. If the problem set is not turned in when it is due it is late. Sets of PLEs/ACAs will make up a few of the Problem Sets. Your score on the Problem Sets based on your PLE/ACA work will be calculated based on the percentage of the PLEs/ACAs that you complete. For example, a Problem Set based on PLEs/ACAs could cover the PLEsACAs completed during the first 3.5 weeks of class. If you complete 90% of those PLEs/ACAs you will earn 12 points * 0.9. Sets of DCIs (During Class Inventions) will also constitute a Problem Set. DCIs are completed in class in small groups. Periodically DCIs will be turned in. Those turned in will make-up a set and be counted towards a PS. Typically four DCIs will constitute a set for a Problem Set. The highest scores of sixteen (16) problem sets will contribute to your final grade in this course. Each problem set is worth 12 points. For the problem sets with 10 problems, only three representative problems will be graded. Each graded problem will be worth three points, unless otherwise noted. The remaining three points will be awarded, on an all or nothing basis, for completing the remaining problems in the problem set. Unannounced In-class problem sets may occur at anytime during the semester. If you are going to miss class and a problem set is due, you can mail Problem Set to Dr. Gelder. In such cases the postmark must be the same day (or earlier) as the date the PS is due. You can also FAX or e-mail your answers to Dr. Gelder. There are no make-ups for missed In-Class Problem Sets.

LABORATORY: This semester there are thirteen (13) laboratory experiments. The two lowest laboratory experiment scores, will be dropped. Laboratory quizzes may be given during the semester. The quiz could be worth approximately 10% of the grade for the particular experiment. An In-class problem set may count one laboratory grade. Labs and InClass Exercises must be turned in before leaving the laboratory, unless stated otherwise. Any late laboratory write-ups will be penalized 50% for the first day and 90% after the first day. Late InClass Exercises will not be accepted. If you are going to miss a laboratory, you need to make sure any laboratory write-up which may be due is turned in on time or it will be subject to the same point deduction as described above. Questions on examinations will cover material from laboratory.

LABORATORY MAKE-UP: There will be NO make-ups laboratory experiments or InClass Exercises. FOUR OR MORE LABS MISSED ANYTIME DURING THE SEMESTER WILL RESULT IN AN "F" GRADE FOR THE COURSE!

EYE PROTECTION: State law requires approved protection over the eyes at all times in a laboratory in which an experiment is in progress. A student found without goggles/safety glasses will cause the loss of lab points for every student in the laboratory section, and may be asked to leave the lab.

LABORATORY CHECKOUT: If you drop the course, check your locker equipment back to the storeroom within TWO WEEKS, otherwise check out of your locker by the last scheduled laboratory. Failure to do so will result in a $10.00 clearance fee PLUS charges for any breakage or dirty equipment that must be replaced during the cleaning procedure. Charges accumulated during the semester will also be added. The Bursar's office will receive an invoice of these charges.

GRAPHING CALCULATORS: If you have a graphing calculator you are encouraged to take advantage of its capability. Graphing calculators can greatly simplify many sophisticated mathematical relationships used in chemistry. You are encouraged to use your graphing calculator in lecture, laboratory, and on problem sets and laboratory write-ups. Note: Graphing calculators will NOT be allowed to be used during examinations! Only calculators with single line displays can be used when taking an examination in this course.

WEB (intro.chem.okstate.edu): We will take advantage of the Internet/WWW to handle many administrative details associated with CHEM 1314. Additionally many resources will be available from our class web site to aid you as you learn chemistry this semester. The strength of our class web site is it will have many features that will supplement our classroom discussions. What will you need to take advantage of the resources on our web site. To access some of the digital resources available this semester you must have a reasonably fast computer, some memory, a audio headset, and a fast internet connection (cable modem, DSL or T1 line). If your computer is not able to handle the video resources bring your audio headset and use the campus computers. To access the video resources you will need the latest version of QuickTime. Additional animations will require MacroMedia's ShockWave Plug-in for Director. You will also need Adobe's Acrobat Reader to view the answers to problem sets, in-class exercises and sample examinations. Check the plug-ins link on our web site to locate these resoures. All campus computers will have these accessories for your browser. The Gas Law laboratory experiment will require the latest version of Microsoft's Internet Explorer.

DROP POLICY: (See the OSU Class Schedule for more details.)

ACADEMIC MISCONDUCT/DISHONESTY: The expectation for all students in this course is that complete integrity will be demonstrated at all time. Faculty regulations require notification of advisers, deans, etc. in the event of academic dishonesty. You should be aware that both 'taking' and 'giving' assistance during an examination constitutes academic dishonesty. The following procedure will be adopted: students who are found to copy laboratory write-ups or problem sets may receive a 0 for the laboratory portion or homework portion of the course. Copying answers on problem sets is an example of academic misconduct. Do not allow another student(s) to copy your answer! Do not ask another student to copy their answers! If I believe students have copied answers I will give both students a zero for the assignment. You are welcome to work together, but write up your answers independently. Students who are caught cheating on examinations may receive an 'F' in the course. In the event you are penalized for academic dishonesty, or academic misconduct, you may appeal the decision. Any appeal must begin with a discussion with Dr. Gelder. Students may obtain information regarding the proper appeal process from the Academic Appeals Board, 101 Whitehurst Hall. Students must initiate an appeal within ten days after notification by Dr. Gelder that a penalty for academic dishonesty or misconduct has been imposed.

SPECIAL ACCOMMODATIONS FOR STUDENTS: OSU is committed to serving the needs of students with disabilities. Federal Law protects individuals with disabilities and states that the University must provide appropriate academic accommodations. According to the OSRHE Task Force on the Americans with Disabilities Acts, it is the responsibility of each student with a disability to notify the University of his or her disability. If any member of this class has a disability and needs special accommodation of any nature whatsoever, the instructor will work with you and the Office of Student Disability Services, 326 Student Union, to provide reasonable accommodation to ensure fair opportunity to perform in the class. Please advise Dr. Gelder of any disability following the first week of scheduled classes.

ATTENDANCE: While attendance will not be taken during lecture it is strongly recommended students attend all lectures. Important information regarding examinations, homework and laboratory will be announced in class. In addition insightful, stimulating discussion of chemistry concepts will occur during the lecture period. Lecture is the student's opportunity to ask questions over the material. Students are encouraged to inform Dr. Gelder when attendance in lecture is not possible. Missing lecture could result in not turning in a During Class Invention activity. A missed During Class Invention activity that is turned in will result in a loss of one fourth of a problem set. Attendance in laboratory is mandatory. Four missed laboratories will result in an "F" in the class, independent of student's performance on examinations and homework.

SCHEDULE: The lecture schedule is tentative. Depending on rate and extent of coverage the date of coverage for a particular topic may change. The order of topics will not be changed significantly. All tests will be given on the dates shown and all problem sets and laboratory reports will be due on those dates given in class.

TERMS AND CONDITIONS: It is the student's responsibility to communicate to Dr. Gelder any potential problems that result in missing lecture, laboratory, problem sets or exams. Pay close attention to course withdrawal dates. Any extra credit opportunities will be available to all students. No individual student will receive any 'special' treatment for missed work. All course policies will be applied consistently to students. Requests for deviations from course policy should not be made. Contact Dr. Gelder if any extented, continuous periods of missing class occur.

Total Point Breakdown

Tentative Grade Distribution

POSTING SCORES: Exam, problem set and laboratory scores will be accessible through a Grades Database. The Grades Database is linked through each student's Personal Web Page. Students can communicate their Secret Identification number/name to Dr. Gelder by completing the SID#/N form on the Web. You are not required to have your scores posted, however, reviewing posted scores is an excellent way to know exactly what scores Dr. Gelder is using to determine your course grade. Along with your scores Dr. Gelder will also calculate your predicted course percentage (your final grade). This calculation is only a prediction and is usually based on the assumption that your future performance will be the same as your performance up to the time the percentage is calculated and posted. Sometimes Dr. Gelder can screw this calculation up (if he is not careful), although extreme care is taken so such a possiblity is unlikely. So be careful interpreting this prediction. It is strongly recommended that you keep all of your exams, homework and laboratory write-ups so that in the event of any recording error you can support any change.