CHEM 2411 - Organic Chemistry I
Course Syllabus - Spring 2009

Course Schedule

Individuals with disabilities who need to request accommodations should contact the 
Disability Services Coordinator, Student Center 255, 678-466-5445, disabilityservices@clayton.edu.

Course Description:

        Number and Title

        CHEM 2411 (CRN 24369)
        Organic Chemistry I

        Credit Hours:

        3.0 semester credit hours

        Course Description:

A study of the common classes of carbon compounds, including their physical and chemical properties, methods of preparation, and reactions, utilizing modern theories of electronic structure and reaction mechanisms.

        Course Prerequisite:

        CHEM 1212 and CHEM 1212L with a grade of C or better.

        Course Co-requisite:

        Co-requisite: CHEM 2411L (CRN 24370)

    Note: Due to the co-requisite nature of CHEM 2411 and CHEM 2411L, students dropping one of the two courses must also drop the other

        Computer Requirement:

Each CSU student is required to have ready access throughout the semester to a notebook computer that meets faculty-approved hardware and software requirements for the student's academic program. Students will sign a statement attesting to such access.  For further information on CSU's Official Notebook Computer Policy, please go to http://itpchoice.clayton.edu/policy.htm.

        Computer Skill Prerequisites:

In-class Use of Student Notebook Computers:

Student notebook computers will occasionally be used in the classroom in this course. Computers will also be required to access course materials and to communicate with your instructor.

Course Learning Outcomes:

Program Learning Outcomes:

         General education outcomes:

Biology Outcomes:

 CHEM 2411 is a required course in the B.S. degree in biology. CHEM 2411 supports outcome 3 of the biology major.

Instructor Information:

Instructor:

Dr. Caroline Clower
Office phone: (678) 466-4777
Fax: (678) 466-4797
Office: Administration Building, Room A31-B
Email: CarolineClower@clayton.edu
Internet: http://a-s.clayton.edu/cclower/

Office hours: 
          
          Wednesday, 10:00 am - 12:00 pm, 1:00 - 4:00 pm
          Thursday, 8:00 - 11:00 am
          or by appointment

Class Meetings:

Days Times Room
TR 12:45  - 2:00 pm  B11

 

Textbook Information:

Text:

Organic Chemistry by L.G. Wade, 6th Ed., Prentice-Hall, 2006

Other Required Materials:

Molecular Model Kit
OneKey/CourseCompass Online Homework Access
Molecular Modeling Workbook

Text Coverage:

Chapters 1 - 7

Evaluation:

Your evaluation in CHEM 2411 will be based upon the following components:  

component points
In-class examinations (4 exams @ 100 points each)

400

Homework/In-class assignments

100
Comprehensive Final Exam

200

TOTAL

700

 

Grading:

The grade you receive in Chemistry 2411 will be based upon the following distribution:

letter grade percentage range point range
A 90% or greater 630 - 700
B 80% - 89% 560 - 629
C 70% - 79% 490 - 559
D 60% - 69% 420 - 489
F less than 60% < 420

 


Mid-term Progress Report

The mid-term grade in this course which will be issued on or before March 3, reflects approximately 20% of the entire course grade.  Based on this grade, students may choose to withdraw from the course and receive a grade of "W."  Students pursuing this option must fill out an official withdrawal form, available in the Office of the Registrar, by mid-term, which occurs on March 6, 2009.

Tentative Course Schedule:

The instructor reserves the right to change the schedule as necessary and will communicate any changes clearly to the class.

Date Lecture Material
1/13 Introduction (syllabus, class management, etc)
Chapter 1:Introduction and Review
1/15 - 1/20 Chapter 1, cont.
1/22 - 1/29 Chapter 2: Structure and Properties of Organic Molecules
2/3 - 2/5 Chapter 3: Structure and Stereochemistry of Alkanes
2/10 Exam I
2/12 - 2/19 Chapter 3, cont.
2/24 - 2/26 Chapter 4: The Study of Chemical Reactions
3/3 Exam II
3/5 Chapter 5: Stereochemistry
3/10 - 3/12 Spring Break
3/17 - 3/19 Chapter 5, cont.
3/24 - 4/2 Chapter 6: Alkyl Halides: Nucleophilic Substitution and Elimination
4/7 Exam III
4/9 - 4/16 Chapter 6, cont.
4/21 - 4/23 Chapter 7: Structure and Synthesis of Alkenes
4/28 Exam IV
4/30 Semester Review
TBA Final Exam

 

Course Policies:

Homework/In-class Assignments:

Throughout the semester problems will be assigned using the online homework system and/or the molecular modeling workbook packaged with your textbook. These assignments will vary in length and format, may be given in-class or as homework, and will be graded. Details for each assignment will be announced in class and/or posted on the course website. You make work on these assignments with your classmates (unless otherwise instructed), but each student must submit their own work for grading (either online or to the instructor, depending on the assignment).

Additional Problems:

This course demands and expects approximately two hours of work per night. Reading assignments are tentatively made on this syllabus. The student is expected to complete problems from the textbook upon completion of each topic in class. However, these will not be collected or graded. Completion of these problems is your responsibility. Supplementary problems will also be posted on the course website.

University Attendance Policy

Students are expected to attend and participate in every class meeting. Instructors establish specific policies relating to absences in their courses and communicate these policies to the students through the course syllabi. Individual instructors, based upon the nature of the course, determine what effect excused and unexcused absences have in determining grades and upon students’ ability to remain enrolled in their courses. The university reserves the right to determine that excessive absences, whether justified or not, are sufficient cause for institutional withdrawals or failing grades.

Course Attendance Policy:

Attendance is expected for all class periods. Attendance is required for all examination periods. It is your responsibility to sign the roll sheet at every class meeting you attend. This roll sheet is the instructor's official record. You will be held responsible for all announcements and material covered in lecture in addition to text, references, hand-outs and study guides.  Note: Lectures will contain valuable explanations of content and thought processes which are difficult for most students to extract from the text book on their own. Therefore, regular attendance is strongly encouraged.

Academic Dishonesty:

Any type of activity that is considered dishonest by reasonable standards may constitute academic misconduct. The most common forms of academic misconduct are cheating and plagiarism. All instances of academic dishonesty will result in a grade of zero for the work involved. All instances of academic dishonesty will be reported to the Office of Student Life/Judicial Affairs. Judicial procedures are described at http://adminservices.clayton.edu/judicial/.

Disruption of the Learning Environment:

Behavior which disrupts the teaching–learning process during class activities will not tolerated. While a variety of behaviors can be disruptive in a classroom setting, more serious examples include belligerent, abusive, profane, and/or threatening behavior. A student who fails to respond to reasonable faculty direction regarding classroom behavior and/or behavior while participating in classroom activities may be dismissed from class. A student who is dismissed is entitled to due process and will be afforded such rights as soon as possible following dismissal. If found in violation, a student may be administratively withdrawn and may receive a grade of WF. A more detailed description of examples of disruptive behavior and appeal procedures is provided at: http://a-s.clayton.edu/cclower/Disruptive Classroom Behavior.doc.

Exams:

There will be four (4) in-class examinations and one 2-hour final (comprehensive). All examinations are closed book. Attendance is mandatory.  If a student has an excused absence on an exam day, the student's final exam percentage score will be used in place of the missed exam score. No make-up exams will be given. In order for an absence to be considered excused, the student must contact the instructor within 24 hours and provide a written excuse from a doctor or other competent authority. Without a valid excuse, a grade of zero points will be assigned for any missed work.

Grades will not be communicated via email or telephone.  Exams will be handed back in the next lecture period after an exam.  If absent, a student must come by during office hours to retrieve their exam.  Final exam papers may be viewed the following semester during office hours.

Other Class Policies:

Students must abide by policies in the Clayton State University Student Handbook, and the Basic Undergraduate Student Responsibilities.

Turn off all electronic devices during class. All electronic devices including computers, cell phones, palm pilots, pagers, calculators, MP3 players, etc. are not allowed during exams or quizzes.  During such activities, these devices are not permitted to be in your possession at all (which means they cannot be clipped to your belt, in your pocket, etc.).  Possession and/or use of these items during an exam or quiz will result in an automatic zero on the graded activity.

Visitors (friends, children, etc.) are strictly prohibited from attending class without the permission of the instructor.

 

Last update: January 11, 2009