Detailed Information and Course Policies

Chemistry 1413.002, Honors General Chemistry

Fall 1998

University of North Texas, Department of Chemistry

This is the first of a two course sequence in Honors General Chemistry, Chem 1413 and Chem 1423. This course is similar to Chemistry 1410, but is faster paced and goes into more depth. The instructor assumes all students have a strong background in high school chemistry or the equivalent and a firm grasp of College Algebra. The topics in this course are identical to those in Chem 1410, thus allowing students to switch between the two course sequences after one semester.

I. Prerequisites

College Algebra, or the equivalent, and a strong high school chemistry background are assumed. The minimum requirements for this course are College Algebra, Math 1100. 

II. Lecture

There will be two lectures per week. Attendance is required. Exam problems will be drawn heavily from the material covered in lecture.

III. Recitation

The recitation section which accompanies this course (Chem 1413.221) meets Thursday, 2 - 2:50 in Room 121. Each student must be enrolled in Chem 1413.221. Recitation is for the purpose of review, discussion, answering questions, and quizzes. Students should have attempted all relevant assigned problems before coming to recitation. There will be a quiz most weeks during the recitation period.

IV. Examinations

There will be three examinations and a final comprehensive examination. Make-up exams will not be given. The final examination will be the equivalent of two exams. It is understood that unforeseen circumstances, including illnesses and family emergencies, do occur occasionally. For this reason, the equivalent of one exam will be dropped in computing the final course grade. Note that if you miss the final exam, you will be given a zero for half of it.

Examinations will be a combination of short answer objective questions, numerical problems, and essay questions which evaluate your understanding of the material.

You should notify the instructor in writing of any planned absences for religious holy days.

V. Home Study

Outside classroom study should be a minimum of two times the hours spent in class.  Distributed study is far superior to study which is concentrated before an examination. Cramming the night before the exam does not work. Even if you retain enough for the exam, it is unlikely you will have the appropriate understanding for future work based on that material.

Relevant sections in the text book should be read before it is covered in class. That will enable you to concentrate on the content of the lecture, rather than frantically scribbling down everything. Following class, you should review your class notes, work examples in the text, and work the assigned  problems. It is essential that you do not fall behind, since most of the material builds on previously covered material.

WORK PROBLEMS!!  It is the key to success in this course. Every student is expected to do all of the assigned problems. It is the student's responsibility to ask about problems which she/he does not understand.

Don't wait until the night before the exam to do the problems or fall into the trap of merely watching the instructor without attempting them yourself. WORKING PROBLEMS IS THE KEY TO SUCCESS IN THIS COURSE.

VI. Having Trouble?...How to Get Help

It is NEVER TOO EARLY TO SEEK HELP IN THIS COURSE. It is easier to solve problems early, whether the problem is poor study habits or misconceptions about course material..

There are several ways for you to get help in this course:

1. Consider working in a study group. Students often learn more by studying together. Problems are not graded so as to encourage such cooperative learning.

2. See the instructor. My office hours are Tuesday and Thursday, 9:30 - 11:00 a.m. I realize that any one time will not be convenient for everyone in the course. Therefore, please feel free to drop in at other times (my office is in the main chemistry office...Chemistry Room 106) or call my secretary (x3515) for an appointment. You may also reach me by e-mail: rthomas@unt.edu.

3. Go to the Chemistry Resource Center, Chemistry Room 119. Chemistry students are available at many different times for free tutoring. The hours of operation are posted on the door or available on the Chemistry Resource Center Web Page.

VII. Grading System

There will be a total of 600 points, distributed as follows:

Quizzes 10 x 10 pts = 100

Exams 3 x 100 pts = 300

Final Exam 200 pts = 200

However, in computing the final grade, the lowest of the following will be dropped: lowest exam or total quiz grade or half of final exam.

The final letter grade for the course is based on the percentage of the remaining 500 points. I will guarantee at least the following, although I usually also curve the grades such that the cut-offs are below the percentages listed here. (A, 90-100%; B, 80-90%; C, 70-80%; D, 60-70%).

VIII. Laboratory

The laboratory which accompanies this course, Chemistry 1430, is a separate course with a separate grade.

IX. Disability Accommodations

The Chemistry Department and this instructor are committed to accommodating the needs of all students. All reasonable accommodation will be made to facilitate special needs. However, it is the student's responsibility to make any special needs known to the instructor. It is recommended that students with special needs first meet with the staff of the Office of Disability Accommodation (ODA), Union Building, Suite 324, 565-4323, then meet with the instructor.

Written and maintained by R.D. Thomas Last updated January 19, 2001

Department of Chemistry, P.O. Box 305070, University of North Texas, Denton, TX 76203