Course Syllabus

CHM 2210.1, Organic Chemistry I 

Fall 2020

Monday, Wednesday, Friday 3:30-4:20pm

3 Credit hours

Welcome to Organic Chemistry! Your instructor is eager to work with you to meet the goals of the course. This syllabus contains important information that will be of use to you throughout the semester. Please revisit it often as needed. 

Prerequisite:

CHM 2046 or equivalent with a grade of C (2.0) or better. Students are expected to have good recall and command of topics from earlier chemistry courses.

Location and modality:

No classroom is currently assigned to us. The plan is for this course to be conducted entirely online and mostly asynchronously although testing and office hours will be during our regular scheduled class time when I know you should be available.

Instructor:

Seth Elsheimer, Ph.D.

Office hours and location:

Mon, Wed, Fri, 3:30-4:30pm (our normal class time). These will be via Zoom

Join Zoom Meeting    https://ucf.zoom.us/j/99875922976?

pwd=Nm1FejdPSDZmM3VmSG93QWEyNFhGUT09

Please feel free also to send e-mail anytime to Seth.Elsheimer@ucf.edu and I will respond as soon as possible although there may be some delay during times of high traffic or power outages, so please be patient. A slow response does not imply disrespect.

Required textbook, software, and hardware:

1) Organic Chemistry, 3^rd Ed. By David Klein. The e-book is contained within the required WileyPLUS software package along with a Study Guide/Solutions Manual and other valuable resources including assigned graded practice exercises. The UCF bookstore offers this at a discounted price via the “First Day” program that should be accessible via the “Course Materials” tab at left. Purchase from the UCF bookstore is not required but they claim to offer the best price. Feel free to shop around including from the publisher (Wiley). All sections of Organic Chemistry I and II at UCF have agreed to use the above materials so you can plan for two contiguous semesters. Bound and loose leaf hard copies of the textbook are also available but not required. This semester we will cover chapters 1-13 in order.

2) A desktop or laptop computer equipped with built-in or auxiliary webcam is required for testing and office hours along with a fast, stable, and reliable internet connection.

Confirmation of academic activity:

The UCF Registrar requires all students to confirm academic activity in each of their courses by the end of the first week of classes.  A short graded quiz on the content of this syllabus has will be available under "Quizzes" at 3:30 the first day of our class.  After you have read and understood this syllabus please complete the assignment. Failure to do so by Friday 8/28/2020 may delay financial aid distribution.

Course description: (per UCF undergraduate catalog)

Theory and applications of organic chemistry: structure, bonding, kinetics, thermodynamics, reaction mechanisms, synthesis, and stereochemistry. 

Course goals: 

1. Recognize the relationships between an organic compound's molecular structure, properties, and reactivity pattern.
2. Understand and appreciate how organic chemistry relates to the study of Biology, Medicine, Forensic Science, Physics, Pharmacy, etc.
3. Prepare for courses having CHM 2210 as a prerequisite.
4. Gain understanding and problem solving ability in organic chemistry sufficient to pass standardized tests such as the MCAT or an American Chemical Society standardized test normally given at the end of Organic Chemistry II (CHM 2211).

Course requirements:

1. CHM 2046 (Chemistry Fundamentals II) is a prerequisite. All students must have already earned a grade of C or better (2.0) in CHM 2046 or approved equivalent and have sufficient current mastery of that material to build on it this semester.
2. Complete all assignments, tests, and the final exam before the scheduled due dates. Exceptions are rare but can sometimes be made in advance if a test is to be taken a day early (but not late). No "make-up" tests are offered so please do not ask.
3. Read each chapter before viewing the lecture PowerPoint files or attempting related assignments.
4. Review each graded test for accuracy as soon as possible and request any adjustments before the start of the next class period after test results are released and while everything is still fresh. (Do not request regrading after that or at the end of the semester in search of additional points.)

Grading: 

Assignments  =  20% 

Quiz, Progress Tests. & Final Exam   =  80%

     1 point   = Start up syllabus quiz
600 points = 6 progress tests, 60 minutes each  (6 x 100)
100 points = Cumulative Final Exam
701 possible points

A   =   100 - 90.0%,  

B+ = < 90.0 - 85.0%

B   = < 85.0 - 80.0%

C+ = < 80.0 - 75.0%

C  = < 75.0 - 65.0%

D  = < 65.0 - 50.0%

F   = < 50.0% 

Your final exam score can also replace your lowest progress test if the final exam score is higher. A missed progress test, for any reason, will be your lowest (replaced) score. Emergencies are precisely the purpose of the replacement policy. No make-up tests are offered so please do not ask. If you miss a test, it is assumed that you had a good reason. No documentation is wanted or needed so please do not submit any written excuses. It is your responsibility to insure in advance that you have stable internet access for online testing and assignments. For conflicts known in advance or university approved events arrangements can be usually be made to take a test a day or so early but not late.

Letter grades for the course may be curved if necessary according to class performance. A through F are the only grades assignable by the instructor. No other letter grades have been authorized for this course. The NC option applies only to a few pre-approved UCF courses and CHM 2210 is not among them. No I grades are anticipated. That designation is used only when circumstances beyond a student's control prevent participation and completion of the course. The requirement to complete the assignments and 5 of our 6 progress tests plus the final exam before the due dates is reasonable. Medical withdrawals are handled at the university level. The instructor does not decide those cases so please do not ask. 

Withdrawal deadline:

The last opportunity to withdraw from the course without grade penalty is Friday 11:59 pm, 30 October 2020. Grades of W are available until then and are given by the Registrar. If you attempt to withdraw after the deadline the instructor is required to report whether you were passing or failing at the time of the request and grades of WP or WF will be assigned by the Registrar accordingly. WP has no effect on the GPA while WF counts the same as F.

Test dates: (Tentative. Any changes will be announced in advance.)

                          Date             Coverage (chapters)

Test 1             Wed 9/9                      1, 2, 3

Test 2             Fri 9/25                         4, 5

Test 3             Mon 10/12                 6, 7

Test 4             Wed 10/28                 8, 9

Test 5             Mon 11/16                10, 11

Test 6             Fri 12/4                       12, 13

Final exam set by UCF: https://calendar.ucf.edu/2020/fall

Friday 12/11/2020, 1:00-3:50pm (Note early start time) 

Reading and problem assignments:

Please read each chapter before viewing the associated lectures or attempting the graded problem assignments. Assigned graded problems are listed under “Assignments” here in Webcourses. These are normally due by 3:30pm the day before each test but please don't wait until the last day and then ask for more time.  Start early. A little each day is easier to absorb and will likely benefit you more.

There are also many practice problems within and at the end of each chapter of the book. They are not collected or graded but for maximum benefit, it is recommended that you work through them as early as possible for understanding rather than memorization. These are intended to prepare you for the tests. Test problems are frequently similar or identical. Solutions to those problems are available in WileyPLUS

Lecture notes: 

Downloadable PowerPoint files of the lecture notes with voiceover narration are available via Webcourses under "Modules." These are intended for your benefit and designed to approximate what we would have done in a face-to-face lecture setting. They can be viewed asynchronously, paused, and reviewed as needed.

Study checklists:

Before each test a detailed list of topics and skills for that test will be supplied for you to monitor your preparation. There should be no surprises on test day. Generally each test is cumulative, i.e., assumes knowledge of General Chemistry and anything from earlier in the course but the major emphasis will be the most recent material.

Academic honesty and unauthorized use of technology for graded work: 

UCF and the Chemistry department take cheating seriously. Complete academic honesty is expected on all aspects of the course. Any unethical conduct will be fully prosecuted according to Florida law and UCF regulations. Please consult the current UCF Rules of Conduct for definitions and policies.https://regulations.ucf.edu/chapter5/documents/5.008RulesofConductfinalJune2020.pdf All online submissions of assignments or tests should result only from your own work.

If you were in a classroom taking a test, would you ask the student sitting next to you for an answer to a question or glance over at their paper and copy their response? The answer should be “no.” This also applies to online graded assignments, and tests.

The completion of graded work in an online course should be considered a formal process: Just because you are not in a formal classroom setting being proctored while taking a test does not mean that the completion of graded work in an online course should not be treated with integrity. You are not permitted to use GroupMe, WhatsApp, or any other form of technology to exchange course material associated with a graded assignment or test, when opened on Webcourses.

The following are some examples of academic misconduct. These show how the use of technology can be considered academic misconduct and could result in the same penalties as cheating in a face-to-face class:

• Taking a screen shot of an online quiz or test question, posting it to GroupMe or WhatsApp, and asking for assistance.
• Answering an online test question posted to GroupMe or WhatsApp.
• The use of outside assistance from another person or by searching the internet, Googling for answers, use of websites such as Quizlet, Course Hero, Chegg Study, etc.
• Gathering to take an online quiz or test with others and sharing answers in the process.

A student found to be exchanging material associated with a graded assignment or test through any form of technology (GroupMe, WhatsApp, etc.), or use outside assistance (Googling answers, use of websites such as Quizlet, Course Hero, Chegg Study, etc.), could receive anywhere from a zero score on the exercise to an “F” in the course. In some cases suspension or expulsion from UCF may result and/or a permanent designation of “Z” on the transcript indicating academic misconduct.

Testing procedures

Our tests will likely be taken with time limits on each question and  using security software and hardware that prevent online communication. There will likely also be video surveillance of you that will be proctored in real time and/or recorded. Questions may also be revealed one at a time without an opportunity to go back a change a response after moving on to the next question.

Supplemental instruction: 

Our Supplemental Instruction leader is Sophie B. Online sessions are offered several times per week starting Monday 8/31/20.  https://sarc.sdes.ucf.edu/si/

Day	Times	Links
Monday	4:30-5:20	LINK
Tuesday	1:00-1:50	LINK
Wednesday	4:30-5:20	LINK
Friday	2:30-3:20	LINK

To access these sessions, click on the links above. These times and links are also posted on her WordPress site: ucfsi.wordpress.com.  She will sometimes post session recordings there.

Tutoring: 

An assigned team of Graduate Teaching Assistants (GTAs) have set up a zoom tutoring schedule:

M 9:30-3:30 Konstantin

T 9:30-3:30 AJ

W 9:30-3:30 Ankai

R 9:30-3:30 Nick

Please take advantage of this valuable resource.  The Zoom information is: 

https://ucf.zoom.us/j/91235879378?pwd=QUZnS0NTUFRCaHdWVXE5aDlsazNmZz09

Meeting ID: 912 3587 9378                       Passcode: 159412

This has been moved to the webcourse Online Help for Organic Chemistry I and II

Additionally, free online tutoring is available via the Student Academic Resource Center (SARC). Phone 407-823-5130. No appointment is needed. All peer tutoring sessions are held online over Zoom. The Zoom links can be accessed via the tutoring schedule on their website: https://ucfsarc.wordpress.com/ (Links to an external site.).

Monday, 10-12 pm (Brandon)

Monday, 1-3 pm (TJ) 

Tuesday, 10-12pm (Matt)

Tuesday 1-3 pm  (Matt)

Friday, 11-1 pm (Brandon)

Friday, 1-3 pm (TJ)

Lessie F. has also agreed to tutor our class via Zoom. Sessions are scheduled for one hour but if she is working hard with a student she can extend the time if needed. She is graciously volunteering so please be polite and patient while taking advantage of this free resource.  Here's the link. https://ucf.zoom.us/s/3953555304

Wed 10:00-11:00am and

Wed 6:30-7:30pm. (Evening for students who can't make it to GTAs' sessions.)

Online learning:

 Online learning is not for everyone; While some students thrive others may not be able to manage a course that has no attendance requirement and does not meet face to face. Online learning requires planning and self-pacing in order to be successful. The material for this course is not difficult but there is a lot of it and we will be covering it all in 15 weeks, It is recommend that you treat this course like a regular lecture course, and stay current with lectures and assignments. Please do not skip a week of coursework and expect to catch up.

Conclusion

Here's wishing you an enjoyable and enlightening semester.