Chemistry for the Citizen (CHE 102)

Instructor:Dr. Noel Sturm, NSM D-323, (310) 243-3383 or (310) 243-3376.

E-Mail:

Course Organization and Policies:

  1. Required Text: “The World of Chemistry Essentials” by Joesten, Castellion & Hogg, Thompson, Brooks/Cole; fourth edition, 2007; ISBN: 0-495-01213-0.
  1. Power Point Presentations: Many of the chapters have Power Point presentations arranged via lecture topic as links: . There is also supplementary material towards the end of the course that has been provided as Power Point presentations.
  1. Examinations:

There will be four examinations each worth 100 points.

Examinations will be multiple-choice. There will be 50 randomly generated questions each worth 2 points.

From the time you log-on you will have 100 minutes to complete the examination. If you go over the time limit penalties will be assessed based on the following:

15 minutes over = 5 point deduction

30 minutes over = 10 point deduction

45 minutes over = 15 point deduction

more than 45 minutes beyond the stated time limit will result in a score of “0” for that exam.

You may not log-off and back on during the specified time period.

When you have finished a module and feel comfortable with the material you may take the exam.

To receive credit for the course all examinations must be completed by 5:00PM PST Friday, December 11th, 2009.

  1. Homework:Homework will be assigned. Given the array of unfamiliar material and the speed with which we cover the material doing the assigned homework problems is required to succeed in the course. Answers for the homework assignments will be posted in Blackboard. Each Homework assignment is worth 5 points, there are 10 assignments for a total of 50 points.

Homework Assignment

/

DUE DATE

/

How To Submit

Blackboard.
Digital Dropbox.
Attach a .doc or .pdf file.
Make sure you put your name on the submission.
Use the “Browse” feature to attach your file.
Hit “Submit”, then “OK”.
Now you MUST click-on “Send File” or I will not receive your submission.
Chapters 1 and 2 / Friday, September 11th, 2009
Chapter 3 / Friday, September 18th, 2009
Chapter 5 / Friday, September 25th, 2009
Chapter 8 / Friday, October 2nd, 2009
Chapter 9 / Friday, October 9th, 2009
Chapter 10 / Friday, October 16th, 2009
Chapter 13 / Friday, October 23rd, 2009
Chapter 14 / Friday, October 30th, 2009
Chapters 15 and 16 / Friday, November 13th, 2009
Forensics and Chemistry and the Gym / Friday, December 4th, 2009
  1. Discussion Board Etiquette: Effective usage of the discussion board means that only quality information should be posted to it. The best uses for the discussion board tend to concern course content for which you are unclear, and need help to more fully understand. As such, posted questions should be reasonable for your classmates to understand and contribute (but perhaps with some forethought!). It should not be one of the following types of questions that vaguely incorporates course content:
  • A question for which there is no known answer (i.e., “What is the atomic number of the heaviest possible element that could be created in a particle accelerator?”)
  • A question involving trivia (i.e., “What is the thrust, in pounds, of the Saturn V rocket?”)
  • A question that is surveying an opinion (i.e., “Is the automobile the most important invention of the twentieth century?”)
  • What types of questions does this leave? Questions about understanding processes. A good example might be, “How is it that the loss of trees contributed to the collapse of civilization on Easter Island?”

Lastly, you should be cautioned that the discussion board is not the venue to ask questions concerning answers to the problem sets. Naturally, you may pose questions about general concepts—some of which may be implicitly embedded into questions on the problem sets—but if discussion board questions veer into, “Igot 300 meters for problem 4. Did anyone else get this?”, that is a clear misuse of the discussion board. Such postings will be immediately deleted.

  1. Chat Room: There will be a facilitated weekly chat room where you will have a chance to participate in discussions with other students and ask questions in a non-threatening environment.
  1. The Goal: of this course is to understand the basic principles of chemistry.
  1. Grading Criteria: Letter grades will be assigned on the following basis. Grades are not curved.
  1. Four Exams @ 100 pts=400 pts
  2. Ten Homework Assignments @ 5 pts=50 pts
  1. Total=450 pts

Grade / Percentages / Grade / Percentages
A / 100-91 / A- / 90-89
B+ / 88-87 / B / 86-81
B- / 80-79 / C+ / 78-77
C / 76-71 / C- / 70-69
D+ / 68-67 / D / 66-60
F / 59-0
  1. Course Description: A non-mathematical treatment of the basic principles of chemistry and their application to various facets of life in a highly technological society.
  1. Academic Integrity Statement: A university is a community of learners bonded together by the search for knowledge; the pursuit of personal, social, cultural, physical, and intellectual development; and the desire for the liberating effects of an advanced education. California State University, Dominguez Hills (CSUDH) has a culture--an academic culture--shared with other universities and colleges across the nation. Integral to that culture is a set of values such as academic freedom, dedication to teaching and learning, diversity, civility toward others, and academic integrity. Academic integrity is of central importance in the university community and involves committed allegiance to the values, the principles, and the code of behavior held to be central in that community. Integrity concerns honesty and implies being truthful, fair, and free from lies, fraud and deceit.
  1. Disabled Student Services:CSUDH adheres to the American with Disabilities Act with respect to providing reasonable accommodations for students with temporary or permanent disabilities. To receive accommodations, students with disabilities must register with Disabled Student Services. For more information, please contact their office in Welch Hall B250 at (310) 243-3660 or (310) 243-2028.