Syllabus

CHY 113 is a presentation of fundamental principles of chemical science. Together with CHY 114, Laboratory Techniques I, it provides science majors with the first half of the first year general chemistry course.

To succeed in this course, you need a solid background in algebra.

Course Goals

By the end of this course, you should

    • Interpret properties and behaviors of materials in terms of atomic and molecular interactions

    • Be more confident in your ability to set up and solve problems

    • Make decisions based on sound scientific principles

    • Expand your own self-knowledge about how you learn

Course Materials

Required

    • The text, OpenStax Chemistry 2e, is available in web view and PDF for free online. Print copies are not required, but if you want one just follow the link on the landing page of the text. Be sure to get the regular, Chemistry 2e, edition, and not the "Atoms First" version.

    • Your own scientific calculator (NOT a calculator phone app, since you will not have your phone during exams).

  • A Chem101 account. Instructions here and on Brightspace.

Optional

    • Essential Algebra for Chemistry Students by David W. Ball, ISBN-13: 978-0-495-01327-3

    • Survival Guide for General Chemistry, 2nd edition, by Charles H. Atwood, ISBN-13: 978-0-495-38751-0

    • A model kit such as the one from Molecular Visions, ISBN = 0-9648837-1-6, or the PacSci Student Molecular Model Set, available at www.target.com or www.amazon.com.

Assessment

There will be 3 in-class exams, each worth 15% of your grade. If you miss (or totally bomb) one, it will be replaced by 10 points less than the average of the remaining 2 in-class exams. So, there are no makeup exams unless you have a truly stellar reason and make arrangements with me at least one week BEFORE the scheduled exam.

There will be a standardized multiple choice final from the American Chemical Society, worth 15% of your grade. This exam is more conceptual and less problem-solving oriented.

There will be weekly "Problem Sets" in Chem101. Collectively these are worth 20% of your grade.

There are also "Class Prep" assignments in Chem101, generally one for every lecture. These class prep assignments (and in-class quizzes) will count for 10% of your grade.

Finally, 10% of your grade is based on your participation in class.

To summarize:

  • In class exams, 3 x 15% = 45%

  • Final exam, 15%

  • Problem Sets, 20%

  • Class prep & quizzes, 10%

  • Participation, 10%


Attendance

Attending class is an essential component of success. (This is not simply a mantra, it is based on data from my own CHY 113 classes. The fewer classes you miss, the better your chances of passing the course.)

You are expected to show up on time, prepared, and stay through the end of the scheduled class time. I will be taking attendance using the Chem101 app on your phone. (If you don't have a phone with you in class, there will be a manual sign-in sheet available.) You are allowed three absences without penalty.

All that said, please use common sense when you are feeling sick.

Course grade

At the end of semester I will calculate a course grade of 0-100 with the above weighted contributions. Your letter grade will be based on this according to the following table:

How to succeed in this course without really trying

You can’t. Chemistry is something you learn by doing. We have improved our student success by structuring the course as a “flipped classroom”, which means YOU need to engage with the material on your own, ahead of time, and come to class with some basic skills. If you do, you will find the classroom activities informative and rewarding. If you do not, you will find class to be confusing and boring and you will struggle to pass the course.

This website will guide you through the process. Start by reading the Student Success page, which will show you what resources are available, offer some study tips, and will tell you why I teach the class the way I do.

Additional Help

Office hours are posted on the instructor's website. Free tutoring is available for this course through the Learning Commons (http://usm.maine.edu/learningcommons). You don't need to have any specific questions to benefit from tutoring, but if you do, let the tutor know in advance.

At any point in the semester, if you encounter difficulty with the course or feel that you could be performing at a higher level, come see me. (My office hours are for YOUR use, and I am happy to meet at other times virtually or in person.) Students experience difficulty in courses for a variety of reasons. The following are resources on campus for students.

    • For writing skills or time management, you can make an appointment to see a student tutor at the Learning Commons located in both the Portland and Gorham libraries. For more information, visit http://www.usm.maine.edu/learningcommons. The Writing Center at LAC is also available to all USM students and is a great option for students living in the greater Lewiston/Auburn area. For more information, please visit http://usm.maine.edu/writingcenter.

    • If you need accommodations due to a disability, please contact the Disability Services Center for confidential assistance and accommodation authorization. If you have already received a faculty accommodation letter from the Disability Services Center, please provide me with that information as soon as possible. Please make a private appointment so that we can review your accommodations. Timely notification of accommodations is essential. For more information, visit http://usm.maine.edu/dsc.

    • University Health and Counseling Services is a student resource that promotes the health and well-being of the USM community. More information can be found at www.usm.maine.edu/uhcs.

Academic Integrity

All students are expected to follow the academic integrity policies that have been implemented by the University. If you need to review the policy you can visit the website for the Office of Community Standards (http://www.usm.maine.edu/ocs/).