Chemistry 108 (Sect. 1557) Schedule - Spring 2007
Dr. Donald Robertson (DONinLA@pacbell.net)
Office Hours: T 3:00-4:30 p.m. & Th 2:30-3:00 p.m. OC4502
Lecture: TTh 1:00-2:15 p.m. OC3609

Text: Basic Chemistry (5th Edition) - Steven S. Zumdahl
Complete Solutions Guide: Introductory Chemistry (5th Edition) - James F. Hall (optional)

Miscellaneous Information:

Special Needs: A student with a verified disability may be entitled to appropriate academic accommodations.  Please contact your instructor and/or the Disabled Students Program & Services Office at (760)795-6658, or the office of the ADA Coordinator at (760)795-6866.  Additionally, students at the San Elijo Campus may contact Alketa Wojcik at (760)994-4449, extension 7768, and students at the Community Learning Center may contact Denise Plant at (760)795-8709 or Raquel Chavarria at (760)795-8746. Some lead time will be necessary, so please make arrangements as early as possible, preferably during the first two weeks of classes.

Office Hours:  Office hours are 3:00-4:30 p.m. on Tuesday and 2:30-3:00 p.m. on Thursday in OC4502 (my office is inside OC4505).  Please come in if you have questions about the class lecture, laboratory, anything related to chemistry or just to chat.  You can come in unannounced during my regular office hours (if the door to OC4505 is locked, just knock).  I will be available at other times, but you will need to make an appointment.

Chemistry 108 is the preparatory chemistry course designed to prepare the science major with the skills and background necessary to succeed in Chemistry 110, General Chemistry.  The scientific method is used to teach students how theories evolve and how data that supports the theories are acquired and analyzed.  It concentrates on developing both analytical and reasoning skills, via problem-solving and establishing cause and effect.  Topics include historical development of chemistry, graphing and measurements, dimensional analysis, atomic theory, nomenclature, quantum theory, stoichiometry, chemical reactions, the Kinetic Molecular Theory of Gases, bonding theory, Lewis structures, and the relationship between chemistry and society. There is not lab, but laboratory experiences will be discussed as part of lecture.

Homework Problems: Problems from the end of each chapter should be solved, with an emphasis on the even-numbered problems which have answers at the end of the text.  You do not need to solve all of the even-numbered problems, but you should solve at least some for each section in order to obtain an understanding of the concepts. Homework is not graded but you are given credit for handing in on time.

Cheating: You are expected to abide by the MiraCosta College Honor Code. Cheating includes the copying or exchanging of information during exams or quizzes or plagiarism (copying another's work and turning it in as your own). If you are caught cheating you will be removed from class, disciplined by the Dean of Students and you may fail the course.

COURSE GRADING POLICY:

Exams (550 pts): Four exams will be given, but only three of these exams will be counted towards your final grade. If you miss an exam, that will be the exam you drop.  Missed exams cannot be made up or taken at a different time (a missed exam due to medical emergency, or other legitimate causes, may be made up at the discretion of Dr. Robertson).  If you believe the exam is missed for a legitimate reason, please contact Dr. Robertson before the exam. Dr. Robertson will be the only judge of whether the exam can be made up. Exams will include material covered in lecture. There may be times when a specific question was not covered in class, but if you learn to apply what you know from lecture, the application of this knowledge to these questions will allow you to answer these questions. If you have concerns about exam grades, please return it to me and I may regrade it, but I have the option to regrade the entire exam.

Quizzes (150 pts): Quizzes will usually be given during weeks when no exam is scheduled and may be unannounced, although you will usually be informed when a quiz will be given. Missed quizzes cannot be taken late or made up. At least one quiz will be dropped, and this will be the quiz with the lowest score or one that you may have missed.

Homework (50 pts): Homework problems are not graded, but you are given credit for handing in your homework. Homework is due the lecture period after the lecture for the chapter was completed. Late homework will receive no credit.

Final Exam (250 pts): Final Exam is comprehensive covering all lecture material and must be taken to pass course.

Final Grade: Your final course grade will be based on the weighting described above. Letter grades will be assigned as follows:

A 90% B 80% C 70% D 60% F <60%

Preparation and Study Time Required: Depending on your background, how easily you grasp the material and how effectively you listen, take notes, and study, the time you will need to spend outside the class will vary. A good estimate is at least 1-2 hours outside studying for each hour in lecture. The amount of time you need to spend depends upon how well you use your time, and your preparation. If you are struggling, you probably need more study time.  I look forward to teaching you. I hope you enjoy learning chemistry. I'll be glad to discuss concerns or suggestions regarding this class or related topics. I encourage you to set goals for yourself, stay current in the class. Be sure to read the assigned chapter prior to lecture.

Attendance and Drops:  It is your responsibility to drop the class if you do not wish to continue enrollment.  If you do not officially drop the class, but just stop attending, you will receive an "F" when grades are turned in. Since this course is a lab course, if you drop the class, you must also check out of the lab or you will be assessed a $20 checkout fee ($10 fee for lab locker check out and a second $10 fee for organic chemistry kit checkout).

Online Course Information: Important class information, including grades, review information, sample quizzes and exams, and other useful chemical information is online at http://home.pacbell.net/doninla or http://www.miracosta.edu/home/dlr/ .  If you forget this URL, you can go to my web pages from the MCC Chemistry Homepage, or the online MiraCosta College full-time faculty directory. You can E-mail me at: DONinLA@pacbell.net or DonRobertson@miracosta.edu.

Extra Credit information: You will get credit for one quiz (50 points) when you send me your E-mail address and your name, so that I can communicate with you during the semester.  In order to receive credit, you must do each of the following (precisely following instructions):

1. This E-mail must be sent to DONinLA@pacbell.net by February 2, 2007 (if you send it to my MiraCosta E-mail address, I may not record it as being received, since I only send E-mail to my students from the pacbell.net address),
2. It must include "Chem108" (parentheses not needed) in the E-mail subject line, and
3. You must include your name in the text part of the E-mail.  E-mail received after the above date (the end of the second week of the semester), or without the course number in the subject line, will not be accepted for credit (please follow this instructions precisely).

Thanks for being in the class.

(This page was last modified on: 03/20/2007)