CHEMISTRY 103 SYLLABUS – SPRING 2007 INTRODUCTION TO BIOLOGICAL CHEMISTRY REQUIRED MATERIALS: 1. Chemistry: An Introduction to General, Organic, & Biological Chemistry (9th edition) by Karen Timberlake. Also included with the purchase of your textbook is an excellent CD that contains extra study materials, tutorials, practice problems, and simulated quizzes. 2. A response-card keypad (available at the bookstore) INSTRUCTORS: Section Professor SC Office Phone 395- Lecture Email 01 Dr. Clark 3063 7266 11:00 MWF SC1019 [email protected] 02 Prof. Smith 3019 7323 11:00 MWF VWF102 [email protected] 02 Dr. Fu 3027 7312 11:00 MWF VWF102 [email protected] OFFICE HRS: Each instructor will provide you with their individualized office hours. However, please, please, please feel free to contact one of us if you need help and wish to meet at another time. All three professors will be available to all CHM 103 students. One can always attempt to "seek and find" any lecture or lab professor, but an appointment will guarantee a meeting. Plan ahead by calling or emailing in advance. OBJECTIVE: CHM 103 is primarily aimed at students who are preparing for a career in the health professions. This class provides a foundation of many chemistry principles of life on 3 levels: 1. General chemistry – how atoms and molecules interact; 2. Organic chemistry – how carbon & other atoms form the basis of molecules used in living systems; and 3. Biochemistry – how organic molecules are used as fuel, structural material, communication, and other roles in cells and organisms. Since organic chemistry and biochemistry require a working knowledge of atoms and molecules, the first third of this course is devoted to discussing principles of general chemistry. The latter two thirds of the course will then be devoted to discussing the principles of organic chemistry and biochemistry. During our whirlwind tour of several important areas of chemistry, you will gain experience with analytical thinking and problem solving. You will also learn some cool stuff about how our world works, such as becoming a savvier consumer or an intelligent shopper, and perhaps even have some fun! LAB CLASS: In addition to this lecture class, you will attend weekly labs in which you conduct experiments that count toward your final grade. Thus, you will need to get a lab manual. Make sure to get a new one from the bookstore; used copies will not work. Supplemental materials will be distributed as needed. Lab quizzes, grading, and assignments are at the discretion of your individual lab instructor. Your lab grade will be worth 25% of your overall grade. GRADING: The points that comprise your grade will be distributed as follows: Quizzes & in-class assignments 10% Keypad questions 05% Three one-hour tests (each is worth 15%) 45% Comprehensive final exam 15% CHM 103 laboratory class 25% Total 100%Achieving 90% or more of the available points will earn you some sort of an A. Scoring in the 80%’s will merit a grade in the B range, 70’s get you C, and 60’s a D. A total score of less than 60% will constitute failing the course. Note that there is no limit on the number of A’s that can be earned – grading is not done on a curve. EXTRA CREDIT: To increase your understanding of how chemistry concepts are applied in your intended career, you may earn up to 10 additional points to improve your quiz grade by (i) conducting an interview with a healthcare professional in your field and (ii) submitting a report based on this interview. Your summary report must be at least 1-2 well-written pages, word processed, double spaced, use 12 point font, have a business card of the person you interviewed attached, and provide the following information: i. the name of the healthcare professional you interviewed and his/her specific vocation; ii. how long this person has had a career in his/her area of expertise; iii. who has been a key role model for this individual; iv. any assumptions you had before the interview about the role of chemistry in this vocation; v. the chemistry concept(s) that actually serve an important role in the career of this person; vi. how these chemistry concept(s) are applied in a real-world setting or application; vii. where the healthcare professional first learned about these chemistry concepts; viii. how your impression about the role of chemistry in this field has or has not changed; and ix. how this interview experience has impacted your desire to pursue a career in this field. The extra-credit reports may be submitted at any time but are to be turned in no later than Friday, April 20th. CHEMBOARD: Copies of the CHM 103 syllabus and course schedule will be posted on the web (http://www.chem.hope.edu/chemboard). Once you have navigated to the Chemboard site, select “Introduction to Biological Chemistry” for information about this course. The PowerPoint slides that are used in some lectures will be available to all on ChemBoard. Individual instructors may also post additional materials such as quiz and exam keys. HOMEWORK: Homework is very important as an active way to learn chemistry; you practice explaining chemistry concepts and solving chemistry problems. In addition to your independent studies, a homework session in which you will work with your peers will take place during your lab class. More details on these assignments will be provided in lab. Although the homework assignments will be counted toward your lab grade, these assignments will be an important part of your preparation for the tests and final exam in the lecture portion of the class. QUIZZES: Quizzes or other in-class assignments will generally be given every Wednesday unless announced otherwise. The total of your “quiz” score will count as 10% of your semester grade. Each quiz will typically cover material from the previous three lectures or so. Make-up quizzes will only be allowed under mitigating circumstances. Finally, your one lowest quiz score will be dropped. The best way to succeed on these quizzes is to stay ahead of the material assigned and to attend every class! The reading assignments for each class are listed on the course syllabus (attached as the last page to this handout!) TESTS/EXAMS: Three one-hour tests (Friday 2/9, Wednesday 3/14, and Wednesday 4/18) are scheduled during class periods. These tests