Syllabus for Chemistry 310N, Fall 2006
Class: Sophomore Organic Chemistry
Welch 2,224
MWF
Unique # 55200
Instructor:
Eric V. Anslyn
Office Hours Mon.
Welch
5.201
anslyn@ccwf.cc.utexas.edu The
instructors e-mail is to be used only for organizational questions about the
class. I will not respond to e-mails
about the material on the exams, homework questions, or questions about the
notes. You must go to office hours or
send e-mails to the TAs for these issues.
Web Site:
http://courses.cm.utexas.edu/eanslyn/ch310n/
Lecture
outlines, syllabus, old exams, and other stuff to help you out.
Teaching Assistants (TAs):
Byron Collins (web master
also), e-mail: byroncollins80@mail.utexas.edu
Office Hours: Fridays
Shagufta Shabbir, shagufta_hasnain@yahoo.com
Office Hours: Tuesday
Diana Leung, dleung1@mail.utexas.edu
Office Hours: Wednesday
Shuhui Wan, wanshuhui@hotmail.com
Office Hours: Thursdays
All office hours will be held
in cubicle A on the 1st floor of Welch.
Text:
"Organic Chemistry" by Brown, Foote, and Iverson, 4th Edition
Please
also purchase Student Study Guide and Solutions Manual (Iverson and Iverson),
along with a molecular model set.
Attendance: Attendance in
class is highly recommended but not mandatory.
No attendance will be taken. Turn
off all cell phones, pagers, etc. during class.
Recitation Sessions: There
are also 4 weekly recitation/review sessions held by the TAs. These are optional, but highly, highly
recommended! Review sessions begin the
first week of class. The point of these
is to get the material in a different manner, to work problems, and to practice
the art of organic chemistry. These will
help you a lot!
Byron Collins: Wednesdays
Shagufta
Shabbir: Mondays 6:00-700 pm. (Welch 4.132B)
Diana Leung: Tuesdays
Shuhui
Wan: Thursdays
Section changes, adds,
and drops: All registration matters
are handled by the Undergraduate Office (Welch 2.212), and not by me.
Homework: Homework problems are assigned for each Chapter (see
last page of this syllabus). These
assignments will be passed in after the last lecture dealing with the
Chapter. For example, when we are done
with Chapter 13, the homework for Chapter 13 will be passed in on the next
class. You must keep track of when the
homework is due. NO LATE HOMEWORK IS EVER ACCEPTED. This assures that you are keeping up in the
class. We assume you look over or do all
the problems placed in the bulk of the chapters. The list given below is for homework to be
turned in. If you plan to study from the
homework, please copy it before passing it in.
The homework will be given a grade of +, -, or 0. + means all is OK, - means the performance is a bit weak, and 0 means you did not turn in the homework. To not get a 0, the homework must be turned in on time, and in class. The tally of these +, -, and 0 will be used to help or hinder your grade if your grade is border line. If you are one T-score point (see below) or one percent point (out of 100) from a grade cut off (high or low), then the homework tally will be examined. Mostly +'s will boost the grade, mostly -'s will not affect the grade, whereas mostly 0's will drop the grade. Indeed, your grade will drop based upon homework!
You will note when taking the
exams that about 1/3 of the test is directly out of the tougher homework
problems, 1/3 is similar to the notes, and 1/3 makes you think. Therefore it is highly recommended that you
do the homework and study your notes. Do
as much homework as possible. Working
these problems (not copying the answers) will prepare you for the exams.
The
final grade will be based upon the grades from two midterms and one final
exam. Two midterms out of the three are
mandatory. The lowest midterm (or one
missed midterm) will be dropped from your final average. The final cannot be dropped. Failure to
complete at least two midterms will result in a grade of F, as will missing the
final exam. A class that conflicts with the exam dates is not a valid excuse
for missing exams. No
make-ups will be held for the final exam regardless of the reason. Please arrange your schedule
accordingly. The midterms will comprise
60% of your grade, with the final making up the other 40%. Due to the nature of the course, the final
exam is inherently comprehensive and no area is intentionally stressed. A valid
UT ID must be brought to each examination. Questions are to be answered on the
exam pages only. The only items
allowed at your seat are pencils, pens, and model sets; no calculators are
allowed.
The three examinations will be
on the following dates: Sept. 28th, Oct.
26th, and Nov. 30th from
The average on the exams is often between 45 and 60%. I aim for an average of 50 to 55%. This allows a large distribution of grades, and more clearly delineates boundaries between A, B, C, D, and F. Expect the exams to be very challenging but fair. The final grade cutoff lines will be determined by the instructor, not by T-scoring. I will base the cutoffs from experience in teaching the course.
The raw scores earned on each of the exams in this course will be
converted to Standard T-Scores. The
Standard T-Score is computed as
follows:
T = [(x-X/s) 10] + 80
where:
x = your raw test
score
X = the
class mean score = S x/N
N = number of test
scores
s = standard deviation = [S (x-X)2/(N-1)]1/2
Using Standard T-Scores
allows an effective averaging of grades without introducing a bias in favor of
tests with the greatest standard deviations. Since it is based on a normal
(Gaussian) distribution, it generally represents the fairest way of grading.
(Nearly all national exams such as the
Your final course grade will be calculated as 30% of your best midterm T-score, 30% of your second best
midterm T-score and 40% of your
final exam T-score. There will be
three midterms during the semester, so this means that your lowest midterm exam
T-score will be dropped OR
you will be able to miss one midterm for any reason with no penalty.* The
following conversion table will be used to calculated final course grades:
T-Score
........................Letter Grade
90.000 < T .............................A
80.000 < T < 89.999 ..............B
70.000 < T < 79.999 ..............C
60.000 < T < 69.999 ..............D
T <
60.000 .............................F
*Missing two midterms
or the final exam without a documented, valid excuse will result in a failing
grade.
*****Important Notice****** In general, using
T-scores increases everyone's grades compared to using absolute percentages.
Nevertheless, we will keep track of your percentage scores on every test. If
the percentage scores are ever higher than your T-score, we will use the
percentage score for your course grade calculation. Thus, if everyone does
extremely well in this course, no grade will be lowered by using a curving
system!
Regrade Policy. If you use a pencil to take your exam, we will not allow a regrade. Any exams to be regraded must be presented to Eric Anslyn within one week of the return of the exams. The entire exam will be regraded by Eric Anslyn (not the graders, you must choose who you believe to be tougher or more alert!). You cannot discuss the exam with Eric Anslyn at all prior to the regrade. A higher or lower score can result, but a score will only be changed if it differs by 3 percentage points or more from the original score. Complaints about the final exam grading must be presented within one day of the return of the final exam. Therefore, if you anticipate a complaint, you must be diligent in following the progress of the graders.
Picking up Old
Exams: There is an Exam Request Form available at the undergraduate office. Students will fill out this form and leave it
in a locked box in the hallway. Each day
the forms will be collected, and exams can be picked up the next day at the
windows from
Students with Special Needs: Any student needing extra time, special environment,
aids, etc. for exams is required to notify the TA in writing at least one week
before the examinations. A letter of documentation of special need must be
furnished by the Dean of Students office before the first exam. Failure to meet these deadlines may result in
our inability to meet the special need.
For more information, contact the Office of the Dean of Students at
Scholastic Dishonesty. Students who violate University rules on scholastic dishonest are subject to disciplinary penalties, including the possibility of an F in the course and/or dismissal from the University. Since such dishonesty harms the individual, all students, and the integrity of the University, policies of scholastic dishonesty will be strictly enforced.
Review Sessions: Optional review sessions for the midterms will be
scheduled during the course, run by either the instructor and/or the teaching
assistants.
Traveling: I will miss
class on the following dates: Sept. 8th, 11th, 13th,
and 15th, Oct. 30th, Nov. 1st and 3rd,
and Dec. 6th. The instructor will be either another professor or a
post-doctoral associate from my group.
Sept
8th Dr. Nicola Edwards
Sept
11th Dr. Jack Gilbert
Sept.
13th Dr Jack Gilbert
Sept.
15th Review session, Byron Collins
Oct.
30th Dr. Nicola Edwards
Nov.
1st Dr. Nicola Edwards
Nov.
3rd Review session, Byron Collins
Dec.
6th Review session, Byron Collins
The Level of Difficulty of the Class: This course is known to be hard. The pace is very fast, and it is imperative
that you remain current with the material.
Do not get behind, this is fatal!
The biggest problem is absorbing all the material. Please feel free to ask questions in class,
to correct the instructor in class, and to visit the Professor and TA office
hours. Eric Anslyn
sits in his office during his office hours to help, please take advantage of this
offer. He will be available to help you,
as will the TAs for this course and your laboratory TAs.
Course Philosophy: Organic
Chemistry is truly the chemistry of life.
It is also, however, the most common chemistry used in the manufacturing
of drugs, clothing, plastics, explosives, fuels, and almost all chemical items
routinely used in modern life. The goal
of this course is to give the student a firm foundation from which to
understand chemical transformations, such that specialized courses in polymers
and biochemistry can be easily approached, and in order that the common
chemical problems confronting society can be understood from a rational and
educated basis.
Scheduling: The following is a rough schedule of how the class is
to proceed. The timing is really a means
for me to check that the class is not falling behind, but also gives the
student a way to anticipate how fast we fill be going.
Aug.
30th Intro to class
Sept.
1st Chap 13
Sept
4th Chap 13
Sept.
6th Chap 13
Sept.
8th Chap 13
Sept.
11th Chap 14
Sept.
13th Chap 15
Sept.
15th Chap 15
Sept.
18th Chap 15
Sept.
20th Chap 16
Sept.
22nd Chap 16
Sept.
25th Chap 16
Sept.
27th Chap 16
Sept.
29th Chap 17
Oct.
2nd Chap 17
Oct.
4th Chap 17
Oct.
6th Chap 18
Oct.
9th Chap 18
Oct.
11th Chap 18
Oct.
13th Chap 19
Oct.
16th Chap 19
Oct.
18th Chap 19
Oct.
20th Chap 29
Oct.
23rd Chap 29
Oct.
25th Chap 20
Oct.
27th Chap 20
Oct.
30th Chap 21
Nov.
1st Chap 21
Nov.
3rd Chap 22
Nov.
6th Chap 22
Nov.
8th Chap 22
Nov.
10th Chap 22
Nov.
13th Chap 23
Nov.
15th Chap 23
Nov.
17th Chap 23
Nov.
20th Chap 24
Nov.
22nd Chap 25
Nov.
24th Chap 25
Nov.
27th Chap 25
Nov.
28th Chap 26
Dec.
4th Chap 26
Dec.
6th Chap 26
Dec.
8th Chap 27
Homework Assignments: In many of these chapters (16, 17, 18, 19, 21, 23,
24, and 25) there are numerous problems.
Please just do at least half of them to get a +. Remember, the homework is meant to prepare
you for an exam, so if a problem is fair for an exam I have assigned it even if
that leads to a large number of problems.
Chapter
Chapter
14: Nothing assigned
Chapter
15: 7 - 15
Chapter
Chapter
17: 17-13, 18-42
Chapter
18: 12, 13, 16, 17, 19 55
Chapter
19: 17 67
Chapter
20: 6 14, 19
Chapter
21: 8 20, 32 - 62
Chapter
22: 7 - 61
Chapter
23: 16 22, 25 - 70
Chapter
24: 25 - 47
Chapter
25:7 23, 29 - 49
Chapter
26: 2 - 16
Chapter
27: 23 40, 51 53