Chem 170 introduces the basic stoichiometric calculations of importance to chemists and biochemists. Among the content-specific content that we will cover are how to...
In addition to these content-specific goals, we also have two growth-oriented goals that are important to your development as a student in STEM; these are to...
Whatever your background in chemistry and biochemistry, specifically, and in STEM disciplines, more generally, in addition to your usual academic commitments—attending class and lab, completing assignments, and preparing for exams, to name a few items—commit yourself to...
All course materials are available from the archive page. You will need access to a calculator that can handle scientific notation.
Chem 170 uses a “personalized system of instruction,” or PSI. In a traditional course, class time consists of lectures and discussions with everyone progressing through the material at the same pace. A PSI course, however, consists of a series of modules that you complete at a pace that, within limits, best meets your needs. You may complete this course in as few as five or six weeks, or you may choose to spread the work across the entire semester; the choice is yours.
Another key feature of a PSI course is a focus on mastering a small number of well-defined objectives. To this end, each module consists of the following:
To demonstrate mastery in a PSI course you must pass an exam at the end of each module. There is no penalty for failing a module exam other than the need for additional study of the module’s material before you retake the exam. You must pass a module’s exam before you can begin work on the next module.
The term “mastery” in a PSI course deserves additional elaboration. In a traditional course, mastery of the course’s basic content usually equates to a grade of a C+ or a B-. Extending your understanding of the course’s basic content by applying it to new areas or to new problems generally leads to a higher grade. In a PSI course, however, the emphasis is on mastering a limited number of essential concepts that you are expected to solve routinely, correctly, and with ease. Questions on Chem 170 exams never ask you to apply your knowledge to a completely new situation. If you truly master these concepts, therefore, you should expect to receive a grade of A on the midterm and final exams.
The material in Chem 170 is divided into the following eight modules, copies of which are available on the archive page:
Begin with Module 1 and carefully read the written material, paying particular attention to the module’s objectives. Study the worked examples with the goal of understanding each step in the provided solutions. Next, work through the practice problems, checking your answers with those provided at the end of the module. When you feel confident in your mastery of the module’s objectives, come by and take the module’s exam (see details below).
Each module exam has eight questions that test your understanding of the module’s objectives. You have 60 minutes to complete a module exam, although you should need significantly less time.
To demonstrate mastery you must answer correctly all problems on the exam. Correct use of significant figures is checked on every problem. Your exam usually is graded immediately upon completion and the result reviewed with you. If you pass the exam, then you are free to move to the next module. You will need to wait at least 24 hours before you can retake any module exam that did not pass successfully. For reasons of confidentiality, module exams cannot be returned.
No one likes to fail an exam. It is normal, however, in a PSI course to fail one or more module exams. Because the goal of is to master the material, such that solving stoichiometry problems is routine, there is no penalty for failing a module exam. The number of module exams you fail does not affect your final grade. You should not look at module exams in the same way as exams in other. Instead, think of a module exam as as a way to test your understanding of the material. Take advantage of these exams, for if you do well on them the midterm and final should go smoothly. You may take module exams during our class meetings or at any of the times listed in the office hours. You will be allowed one hour for each exam, so be sure you have enough time to complete your exam.
The midterm exam consists of 16 questions and covers modules 1 – 4. After you complete the fourth module, schedule an appointment for the exam, reserving two hours (although you should need less time). If you do not take the midterm exam by the deadline (see Schedule), you will receive a zero for the midterm. Your grade on the midterm exam is 33% of your final grade. For reasons of confidentiality, midterm exams cannot be returned.
The final exam has 16 problems; it covers all eight modules but is weighted toward modules 5 – 8. After you complete the eighth module, schedule an appointment to take the final exam by its deadline (see Schedule), reserving two hours to complete the exam (again, you should not need the full time). Your grade on the final exam is 67% of your final grade. For reasons of confidentiality, final exams cannot be returned.
Your final grade is determined as follows:
Letter grades are assigned using the following scale:
| A (≥93.0) | A- (90.0-92.9) | |
| B+ (87.0-89.9) | B (83.0-86.9) | B- (80.0-82.9) |
| C+ (77.0-79.9) | C (73.0-76.9) | C- (70.0-72.9) |
| D+ (67.0-69.9) | D (63.0-66.9) | D- (60.0-62.9) |
| F (<60.0) |
Final averages are not rounded; to earn a grade of B instead of a grade of B-, for example, you need a final average of ≥83.0.
Feel free to stop by my office (Julian 364) without an appointment at any of these times:
Office hours on Thursday are by appointment only. If you wish to schedule an appointment at another time, please catch me after class or lab, send me an email, or drop by my office.
You are encouraged to take advantage of our class meetings as time and place to work on problems, individually or, even better, in groups, to ask questions, and to take module exams. As long as you are making appropriate progress (see Schedule for suggested pace), you may choose to skip class meetings; attendance is expected whenever you fall behind the suggested pace.
Although you may make frequent use of external resources when completing an assignment, it is important that the work you submit represents your understanding of the assignment. A failure to do so is unethical and a serious breach of academic integrity. Be sure to review DePauw's guidelines for academic integrity, which are included in the Student Handbook; in particular, review the examples of plagiarism. Although often unintentional, plagiarism nevertheless is a serious violation and may result in a significant reduction in your grade for an assignment or for the course. Be sure to consult with me if you are unsure about any issue concerning academic integrity.
It is the policy and practice of DePauw University to provide reasonable accommodations for students with properly documented disabilities. Written notification from Student Accessibility Services is required. If you are eligible to receive an accommodation and would like to request it for this course, please contact Student Accessibility Services. Allow one week advance notice to ensure enough time for reasonable accommodations to be made. Otherwise, it is not guaranteed that the accommodation can be provided on a timely basis. Accommodations are not retroactive. Students who have questions about Student Accessibility Services or who have, or think they may have, a disability (psychiatric, attentional, learning, vision, hearing, physical, medical, etc.) are invited to contact Student Accessibility Services for a confidential discussion. Student Accessibility Services is located in Union Building Suite 208 and can be reached by phone at 765-658-6267. Please feel free to reach out to me privately and confidentially if you have questions about the nature of our course assignments.
DePauw accommodates students who are adherents of a religious tradition and wish to fulfill obligations of that religious tradition on holy days. Students are expected to notify their instructors of their intent to fulfill the obligations of their religious tradition well in advance of these days. For the sake of this policy, “holy days” are defined as periods of time in which either activities required by normal class participation are prohibited by a religious tradition, or a special worship obligation is required by a religious tradition.