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Text: Bettelheim,F.A.; Brown, W.H.; March, J., Introduction to General, Organic & Biochemistry, 7 th edition. Thomson Brooks/Cole: Belmont , CA , 2004 .

Companion Web Site for textbook: follow the links from http://brookscole.com or http://www.brookscole.com/cgi-wadsworth/course_products_wp.pl?fid=M20b&discipline _number=12&product_isbn_issn=0534401767

Outcomes: This course will introduce the student to the basic concepts of chemical behavior. Problem solving is strongly emphasized. Upon successful completion of this course, a student should be able to:

•  Identify the functional groups of an organic compound
•  Convert between names and structures of organic compounds
•  Classify an organic compound according to its structure
•  Understand the relationship between structure and function of a molecule
•  Understand the relationship of a functional group to the properties of a compound
•  Understand the chemical make-up of the biological molecules: proteins, lipids, amino acids, sugars, carbohydrates, DNA, RNA
•  Understand the properties of biological molecules as a function of their chemical structures

Assignments:

The student should read the relevant chapters of the text as given in the course outline. You are expected to come to class prepared to answer questions on the assigned readings and previous work. There will be a brief quiz at least once every week.

Each chapter in the text has practice exercises within the chapter for students to solve. There are Additional Problems at the end of each chapter which should be worked out. The answers to odd numbered problems are given in the appendix. Tests and quizzes will depend heavily on these types of questions.

Homework will NOT be collected or graded. It is up to YOU to do the study questions and keep up to date on the problems. It is extremely important that you do not fall behind in working out problems.

For a list of recommended homework problems, click here.

Grading:

There will be 3 hourly exams and daily quizzes which, when averaged together, will count as one exam. The lowest exam grade or the quiz average will be dropped at the end of the semester. A missed quiz will result in a grade of zero unless an instructor-approved written excuse is given, or by prior arrangement with the instructor. You can make up an exam under extreme, documented circumstances, at the discretion of the instructor. In lieu of this, any missed exam will count as the dropped grade. The final examination is comprehensive and mandatory.

Attendance is mandatory and will be taken. Excessive absence can be cause for loss of a grade or failure, at the discretion of the instructor. Laboratory attendance is mandatory: all absences must be made up at the convenience of the instructor. It is the responsibility of the student to make arrangements for remediating a missed lab. The instructor reserves the right to fail any student who does not complete all laboratory activities.

HELP!!!!!!!!

My office hours are listed at the top of this page. If these are inconvenient for you, please make an appointment with me for another time. You can come with specific questions or just to go over problems.

Don't let yourself fall behind before you seek help!! You can also leave me questions at the e-mail address given at the top of the page. I check my mail every day so I will be sure to get your message and reply as soon as possible. You can also use my e-mail to set up times to meet, ask questions, etc. Other avenues: speak with your advisor about tutorial help or you can get help at the college skills center at 569-3177.

Tentative Schedule:

Final Exam as scheduled by the Registrar.

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