Tests: The final grade is determined mainly by exams, lab grade, and class participation. There is no make-up
on chapter exams. A single final exam (cumulative, covering selected material from all chapters)
is given at the end of the course. If you miss an exam the final exam will be given additional weight to include the weight of the missing exam. The exams will consist of multiple
choice and non-multiple choice problems drawn from lecture material and homework.
Class participation is determined by your effective participation in class and laboratory.Effective participation includes active involvement in class discussions,problem solving, and lab experiments.
Tentative Exam Dates (subject to change): 9/14, 10/19, 11/16,
12/7, and 12/14 (cumulative).
Your
grade will be calculated as follows:
5
Exams
70%
Laboratory 25%
Participation 5%
90% and above: A; 80-89 %:
B; 70-79%: C; 60-69: D; < 60%: F
Lab Grade: Your lab instructor will discuss lab
procedures and grading for your section of Lab.
There will be no formal ‘curving’ of the grades. However, I reserve the right to alter the above grade assignment to reflect student/ class achievement more accurately and fairly. Please remember that grades represent the accumulation of performance during the semester, not your potential as a person or a student. Grades are not negotiable
Other
Information: You must be
officially enrolled to attend class. Last day for schedule adjustment WITH
TUITION REFUND is September 10. You can withdraw from the course without a grade
penalty up to November 2 by completing a withdrawal form available online or from Admissions and
Records. Failure to complete withdrawal
form; or dropping the class after the last allowable date, without permission,
will result in an "F" grade.
Incomplete (“I grade”) is rarely given and only given for an
extraordinary reason. Review: "Notice to Students Regarding Attendance and Grades" for more information regarding withdrawal policy
Audit: Conversion from credit to audit requires completion of Form NVCC 125-12 and approval by the Dean of the Division. Also, this form must be received in Admissions and Records on or before the last day to withdraw without grade penalty to audit a class. You will not receive a refund for an audit. Tuition costs for credit or audit are the same. Audit is a final grade and may not be changed.
Recipients of Student Financial Aid and /or Veterans' Educational Benefits must notify the College Financial Aid Office (703) 323-3199 and/or the campus Veteran's Office of all changes in enrollment within 24 hours. Changes to enrollment may affect benefits eligibility and result in financial liability.
Cheating: Any attempt to give or receive information
improperly (Cheating) on an Exam, Pre lab, lab quiz, or lab report will result in an
immediate zero for that item that cannot be dropped. This includes looking at another student's
exam or quiz, having any type of un authorized note on your desk or person during an exam or
quiz. Providing information to another
student during an exam or quiz is also cheating and will result in both of you
getting zeros. A second attempt at
cheating will result in an automatic F for the course.
HELPFUL
HINTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
1. Read the text prior to coming to lecture
2. Solve
assigned problems in the text. Students are encouraged to do all problems.
In working a problem, it is important that you first try to solve it without
the aid of the Solution Manual. If you are unable to solve the problem in a
reasonable period of time (e.g., 10 min.), then use the Solution Manual as a
learning tool.
3. (Borrow (not buy!) another General Chemistry text
to use as an auxiliary text
4. Use Internet sources for any topic that you need additional information about, e.g., Significant figures tutorials.
5. KEEP CURRENT!!!!!
Special Needs and Accommodation:
Any student who thinks he/she may need an accommodation based on a disability should make an appointment to see a counselor for disability services. You must provide a memorandum of accommodation which can be obtained from the Counselor for Disability Services, Academic Center, Room 228 Bisdorf building Tel No. (703) 845- 6067
The Learning Environment:
The Alexandria Campus is committed to
providing a positive learning environment in which students of all ages and
backgrounds can learn together in a setting that encourages the free exchange
of ideas and information. To accomplish this goal, the members of the
Alexandria Campus Council have established the following expectations for
learning.
1. All backgrounds and cultures are respected.
2. During class discussions, everyone feels
welcome to participate and a free exchange of ideas takes place.
3. All members of the class arrive on time and
leave the class only on breaks or in case of emergency.
4. Distractions are kept to a minimum. Cell
phones and other electronic devices are turned off in class, labs and library.
Students remain seated throughout the class and refrain from talking with
classmates while another class member or the instructor has the floor.
5. Each student turns in work that is his or
her own. For team projects, each team turns in work that is only the work of the team.
6. Consideration is always given to other
classes that are taking place in adjoining classrooms.
7. At the end of a class, the members of the
class and the instructor leave the classroom in good condition so that the next
class can begin without disruption.
Study Methodology and Homework:
Chemistry is an empirical science that can only be learned by doing many problems at the end of each Chapter. Answers for blue numbered problems are located in Appendix lll of the text; the solution for these problems is given in the Selected Solution Manual. A solution manual is on reserve in the library. The publisher’s web site has additional study aids to assist the understanding of assigned subject matter. Other helpful information is available on the INTERNET.
Homework is assigned for each chapter. This homework is not collected, but many of the problems on each test will be similar to problems in the assign homework. You are encouraged to do all of the problems at the end of each Chapter. The minimum homework required includes the following: 1 Working knowledge of the solution to all odd numbered (blue color) problems for topics covered in the above noted Chapters. To assure that you do have this working knowledge, do as many even numbered problems as you feel is necessary.
The above described Minimum Problem Set as applied to Chapter 1 is as follows:
1,3,5,7,9,11,13,15,17,19,21,23,25,27,29,31,33,35,37,39,41,43,45,47,49,51,53,55,57,59,61,63,65,67,69,71,73,75,79,81,83,85,87,89,91
Similar problem set is assigned for Chapters 2-10.
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To provide additional assistance in problem solving, the Chemistry Department at the Alexandria Campus has started a Chemistry (Science) Tutoring Center. The full time faculty will be available for at least 10 hours/week to assist students with lecture and lab (times to be announced). Worksheets are available for CHM 111. at www.nvcc.edu/home/kburton for additional problems and for use in conjunction with these workshops.