Chemistry 221 and 222

when taught by Edward E. Waali

Office Hours:

MWF 11:10, TTh 12:10 (other times may be easily arranged). Please be present at the beginning of these periods.

Prerequisite:

For Chem 221: Passing grade in Chem 152, 162 or the equivalent; For Chem 222: Passing grade in Chem 221 or 261. Passing = D or above (a D grade in a chemistry prerequisite indicates poor preparation for further study).

Course Objective:

The overall objective of the Chem 221-222 sequence is to provide an integrated, comprehensive understanding of the physical and chemical properties of organic compounds. Unlike some areas of chemistry and other sciences, organic chemistry continually builds on previously learned material. For instance, a student may need material from Chapters 2, 3, 5, 6, and 8 to successfully solve a problem from Chapter 15. A student must develop a systematic way to review previous material. A student will quickly recognize that organic chemistry involves a very large number of facts to learn. You will be tested on this knowledge base on exams and quizzes but most questions will go beyond this. You will be expected to put together your knowledge of "old organic chemistry" to solve new problems. Using old tools in new situations is important for success in organic chemistry.

Quizzes & Exams:

A short quiz or an hour exam will be given every week, usually on Friday at 4:00 p.m. There will be no early or late exams given. The quizzes will concern very recently covered material. They will generally consist of one or two questions. Fifteen or 20 minutes will be allowed for the quizzes. The exams will require a full period for completion. They will generally emphasize the material given since the previous exam but the student must recognize that some material given much earlier in the course might be required to successfully answer questions on quizzes and exams. A comprehensive two-hour final exam (worth 200 pts) will be given on the scheduled day for Chem 221. The final exam for Chem 222 will consist of the two-hour ACS Standardized Organic Exam and will be worth 200 pts. Quiz and Exam Schedule

The graded exams and quizzes will be returned before class. The exams/quizzes will be left upside down with the student name on the back of the exam/quiz. If another method of returning the exams/quizzes is desired, see Waali. The correct answers will be explained in class. If the student has a question about how an answer was graded, the exam must be left with the instructor before he leaves the classroom. The graded final exam will be available for inspection, but will not be returned.

Quiz and exam grades will be posted outside SC216 by the last four digits of the SSN. If another four-digit code is desired, see Waali.

Lowest Quiz & Exam Grades:

Neither the lowest quiz grade nor the lowest exam grade will be included in the final point total. A missed exam or quiz counts as a zero and will be dropped. There will be no make-up exams or quizzes for the first one missed. Makeups are permitted for the second quiz missed and second exam missed, respectively. This make-up policy is designed for emergencies and other infrequent absences. It is not designed for schedule conflicts.

Point Distribution and Grades:

Example -
Quizzes (if 9 given) 8 x 20pt = 160pt*
Exams (if 4 given) 3 x 100pt = 300pt
Final Exam = 200 pt (always included)
TOTAL possible in course 660pt

* Each quiz is worth 20 pts and each exam is worth 100 pts regardless of how many are given, A = 90.0% (or above) of total possible points B = 80.0% C = 67.0% D = 57.0 F = 56.9% or below

Class Attendance:

Attendance will not be taken. You are responsible for all information given in class whether you were in attendance or not. If you must be absent, check with a fellow student first to see what was missed. If you must be absent from an exam or quiz, see the instructor as soon as possible to make sure you understand the above policy.

Cheating:

All exams and quizzes are closed book. Notes are not allowed. Looking at another student's exam or quiz is cheating. Altering exams for regrading is cheating. The score on an exam where cheating is detected is zero and will be included in the final point total. The next lowest score will be dropped. Additional penalties, including an F in the course, may be assessed in keeping with UM policies.

Incompletes:

The University guidelines of the present "Incomplete" grade policy include the following points:(a) factors beyond the student's control (and acceptable to the instructor) must make it impossible to complete the course on time, (b) the student should have been in attendance and passing through three weeks before the end of the semester, and (c) the instructor should believe that there is a reasonable probability the student can complete the course without repeating the entire course. Early travel before the final exam date is not sufficient reason for an "Incomplete."