A. L. Rheingold, Drake 304 Ext. 8720

Texts.  "Chemistry" R. Chang, McGraw-Hill, 7th edition.  Chang Chemistry Resource Card.  Lab manual.

Attendance. It is expected that you will attend class. Poor attendance may negatively affect borderline grade decisions.

Exams. Three hour exams are scheduled on the dates shown in the syllabus. These dates may change, but two weeks notice will be given. There are no makeup hour exams. If you miss an hour exam, your final exam grade (appropriately scaled) will be used to replace the missed exam.

Grades. The final course grade will be determined by 45% hour exams, 30% comprehensive final exam and 25% laboratory. The lowest course grade you can receive is one whole letter grade below the letter-grade equivalent on the final exam.

Calculators. Handheld calculators (not computers!) without remote communications may be used during quizzes and exams. No restrictions on programability or stored contents. However, calculators may not be shared while taking a test.

Office Hours. I will try to keep Tuesday and Thursday late mornings free for meetings with students. However, I have an active out-of-town speaking schedule this semester and will frequently be away. You are welcome in my office at any time we are both free, but making an appointment will better ensure my attention.

Academic Dishonesty. All University of Delaware definitions of and regulations on academic dishonesty will be enforced.

Teaching Philosophy. Mastery of material comes only through hard work. Text reading and problem solving are essential. This course is designed for students who understand that the most important teacher is themselves. Long-handled spoon feeding of chemistry will not occur in this course.

Class Preparation. Lectures are designed for the student who has read the text before class. If you find the course disorganized or hard to follow, you probably didn't read the text before class.

Working Problems. Work lots of problems. You will see many again on exams. Also, use the resources available to you at your textbook's websites.  Proficiency with working problems is the single most important way to a good grade in this course.

Some Myths and Realities about C103/104

1) Myth: "Since I don't really care a whole lot about chemistry, I'll just do what is needed to get a C and maybe I can survive all of this without too much pain."

Reality: The GPA for this course has been about 2.0-2.1 for the last several years. About 30% get a D or F. This group is almost entirely populated by those who thought they could get by with a minimal effort. Aim high.

2) Myth: "Since all of the important stuff is covered in lecture, I won't need to spend much time reading the text. Which is good because I don't understand the book, anyway."

Reality: Success in C104 will depend on at least three readings of the text. Once, before lecture, once after lecture, and once before exams. Nobody expects you to understand it fully the first time.

3) Myth: "This is the middle track chemistry course UD offers. How hard can it be?"

Reality: Consider the course GPA. This is a hard course. Get used to the idea. The 103-104 sequence differs from higher numbered freshman-level courses mainly in that it has fewer math prerequisites. Although prior or concurrent calculus is not required, it will be assumed that skills in algebra are equal to a year's study. This is a college course; standards of intellectual rigor and achievement will be maintained consistent with those of this University.

4) Myth: "Most of chemistry is not relevant to my professional field. What possible value can it have?"

Reality: Almost everyone taking C104 is doing so to fulfill a requirement in his or her major field; a professional accrediting society has determined that chemistry is important for you. Therefore, questions about relevancy should be addressed to your major field faculty. This University is not a trade school; courses in the liberal arts are not job training courses. (Also see (5))

5) Myth: "Too much time is spent on solving problems. For instance, in real life, I'm never going to need to know how to determine whether a chemical reaction proceeds by a first- or second-order rate law, am I?"

Reality: In all likelihood you will never have to deal with the kinetics of chemical reactions, but you will, if you plan to be successful in what you do, need to use the same

analytical reasoning skills required to solve chemical problems. Weightlifting is a general conditioning exercise for many sports. Think of chemistry as weightlifting for the brain. If you plan to keep your job in a competitive job market, you will need to demonstrate an ability to analyze information rapidly and accurately, and make consistently reliable decisions. The context may not be chemistry, but the problem-solving process is identical. How many other courses are sharpening your analytical skills?

6) Myth: "I can always get a tutor if things get rough and I find myself falling behind."

Reality: Tutors seldom are useful except for helping you with background subjects such as logarithms, or if you need special assistance due to a learning disability. There is absolutely no substitute for your own hard work, sweat and tears. Unless you prove to yourself that you can solve problems on your own, you've not studied long or hard enough.

7) Myth: "If we all do poorly, he'll have to curve the grades."

Reality: Grading will be done in relationship to a standard developed over many years. All can get A's; all can get F's.

8) Myth: "If I take good notes during lecture, I'll be way ahead when I study for exams."

Reality: While good notes are essential, unless they are reviewed immediately, notes often develop non sequiturs due to the haste with which they are written. Usually effective note takers create only a skeleton in class, and add the flesh later the same day while memories are still fresh.

9) Myth: "Class attendance really isn't all that important."

Reality: Past experience has shown that class attendance is one of the most consistent indicators for success in C104.

10) Myth: "Everyone does well in lab. I can count on an A or B for 25 % of my grade."

Reality: Some folks can and do flunk lab. There will be exams in lab and some will not be announced. Do not take this part of the course any less seriously than the lecture.