INSTRUCTOR:
Professor Bruce B. Jarvis
Lecture: Tu, Th 12:30 - 1:45
Discussion: Various
OFFICE HOURS: M/F 2-4, but feel free to drop by anytime: Rm 2129
Phone: 405-1843
Email: bj6@umail.umd.edu

TEXT:
John McMurry, ORGANIC CHEMISTRY, 6th Edition, Brooks/Cole
Susan McMurry, "Study Guide & Student Solutions Manual," 6th Ed., Brooks/Cole
J. Zubrick, "The Organic Chem Lab Survival Manual," Wiley
S. Everett, "Organic Chemistry I, Laboratory Manual,Chem 233," Hayden McNeil
"Laboratory Research Notebook," Hayden-McNeil Special Products
Molecular Model Kit (optional) available from Chemistry fraternity

GRADING: SEE SYLLABUS

NOTES:
    1.  There may be some homework problem sets, in-class quizzes or other activities that could alter this recipe.
    2.  Exam and lab make-ups are available only for absences in accord with published University policies; lab make-ups will take the form of quizzes given on Friday afternoons at 4 PM.
    3.  If you miss an exam for a valid reason you must inform the instructor no later than 24 hrs after the exam time, by phone, e-mail or paper mail.  Appropriate written documentation/justification is required.
    4.  If 4 or more labs are missed or left uncompleted, the course grade is F.

EXAM SCHEDULE: SEE SYLLABUS

EXAMS:
Your grade will include three lecture exams. Makeups for individual exams will be decided on a case-by-case basis and only will be given in the event of a University approved and sanctioned absence.

REGRADES:
Requests for regrades on exams must be in writing on the front of the exam and handed in to me by the second lecture after exams are returned. (Ex. - if exam is returned on Tuesday, requests for regrades are due on the following Tuesday). No discussions about regrades will be conducted. Just write a very short note for the question you wish regraded. I reserve the option to regrade the entire exam.

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY:
Violations of the Code of Academic Integrity will not be tolerated. Suspected cases will be reported immediately to the appropriate authorities. All work submitted for grading (quizzes, exams, lab reports) must be the original work of the student whose name appears on the work. Group or pair projects, approved by the professor, must have all participants names on the work with the indication that students were instructed to work in pairs or groups. The same work cannot be submitted for credit in two different courses or from semester to semester in the same course (e.g., repeated lab exercises) without the written permission of all instructors involved. Falsification of excuses for missed work will be treated as cases of academic dishonesty. The standard penalty for violations of the Code of Academic Integrity is a grade of "XF".

LECTURE:
This is the first semester course in organic chemistry. Topics to be covered include organic structure and bonding, reaction mechanisms, stereochemistry, spectroscopy, and reactions of alkenes, arenes, alkanes, alcohols, alkyl halides, etc. This is an intensive course and little time is available for reviewing previously covered material during the lecture. For that reason, it is important that you read the chapter before the corresponding lecture so that you familiarize yourself with terms and topics, and do the problems in the book immediately following the lecture. It is absolutely essential that you do ALL of the problems in the Chapter texts and the assigned problems. Nearly all of the problems in and at the end of each chapter are highly relevant. For your own sake do as many of these problems as possible. You will very likely see some of these problems on quizzes and exams. Exam questions will include those pertinent to what is covered in lecture that may or may not follow the text; so it is strongly recommended that you attend lecture. A list of suggested problems for each chapter is included in this handout.

PERSONAL NOTE:
Over the years (too many to count here) I have developed a lecture style that relies on students asking questions. Often I will ask students questions in class. I do this for a simple reason - it is an effective teaching tool. It allows me to sense what and how much the class understands. It also gives me the opportunity to explain a concept one more time in a different manner. What works for one does not work for all. As effective as this style might be it requires that we all cooperate and go by some simple ground rules.
    1.  There is no such thing as a stupid question.
    2.  Do not be intimidated by my questions. There is no intent to embarrass you and I will not do so.
    3.  Treat others in the class who ask questions or respond to questions in ANY manner with respect.
    4.  If I make a mistake at the board I will be delighted if you correct me. It will mean that YOU understand and that I am being successful.
    5.  I would be delighted if everyone in this class earned an A. We all know that won't happen but if it did it would mark an extraordinary success on my part by helping you all to success. How well you do in mastering the course material is the only valid measure of how successful we are in teaching organic chemistry.

THE WEB PAGE:
There is a web page for this class : http://www.chem.umd.edu/courses/jarvis/chem233.html . It contains notes for each chapter, practice exams and on line exercises. You are responsible for everything that appears on the web page and you are expected to log on at least twice a week, check the message center and do the on line exercises.

Most students who do poorly in this class simply have failed to keep up with the material. You will not do well if you try to "cram" one or two nights before an exam. Much of the material covered in the first few chapters has been covered in general chemistry. Do not be lulled into a false sense of security. The course work is cumulative and will become increasingly challenging as the semester progresses. KEEP UP WITH THE WORK.

There are class notes on the Web page in PDF format. My advice is that you download and print out these notes. You can then take them to class and simply annotate them during lecture rather than struggling to keep up with the lecture and taking notes at the same time.

ATTENDENCE:
I assume that all the students in this class are mature adults who want to succeed. Your success will largely depend on how much effort you put in and how diligent you are. I will do my best to help you succeed. Role will not be taken in lecture, but I guarantee that those students who skip lecture will not do well in the course. Emphasis of topics will be clear from the lectures - not necessarily from the text. Keep up with the work. You will never do well in Organic Chemistry by cramming just before exams. Try to read the material once before it is covered in lecture. Then take notes in class. Your attendance in lab and discussion classes may reflect in your TA's evaluation of your effort in the course.

HOMEWORK:
There is no surer way to learn organic chemistry than by working problems. Nearly all of the problems in and at the end of each chapter are highly relevant. A list of suggested problems is on the back of this page. I would suggest that you do at least all of these problems and certainly try others not listed here. I repeat: you will very likely see some of these same problems on quizzes and exams.

Much of the material in the first three chapters is a rehash of freshman chemistry and many of you may get the idea that organic chemistry offers little new to challenge your minds. Don't believe it. These first five chapters will be covered fairly rapidly because it is review and because it will become necessary to cover the material in the following chapters at a slower pace, since the subject matter is more difficult. ALWAYS READ AHEAD OF THE LECTURES AND DO THE PROBLEMS.

LABORATORY:
Most of the lab experiments cover basic techniques in organic chemistry. Toward the end of the semester, you will conduct some preparative experiments. The lab is worth 25% of the course. Please note that if you fail to complete more than three labs you will fail the course. A complete lab syllabus and notes for lab policies will be distributed separately.

CHEM 233 M Students:
It is your assigned job to see the secretary in undergraduate office to check your eligibility for this class. You must have taken CHEM 233 at this institution (UMCP) within the past 12 calendar months and earned 80% in the lab. If you do not meet these requirements you will automatically fail the course regardless of who advised you to register for CHEM 233 M.

PROBLEM ASSIGNMENTS - SEE SYLLABUS
(All problems within the assigned chapter text should be done)  

 

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