Chem 336 - Spring 2000
Organic Chemistry III
Dr. Carl C. Wamser

Extra Credit Textbook Reviewing

The organic faculty are considering selecting a different textbook for this class next year. We have narrowed the possibilities to five, and we would like to have your opinions regarding their strengths and weaknesses from a student user's point of view. Four important chapters have been selected for direct comparisons. Note that two of those chapters are under study in the class right now; you should consider this an opportunity to read about current material from a variety of viewpoints. The other two chapters are fundamental topics that will be useful to review for the comprehensive final exam. For each review you write, we would like you to select one prior topic (A or B) and one current topic (C or D). A review will consist of an analysis of the strengths and weaknesses of the two topics from one of the new texts, specifically compared to your current text (Brown & Foote). For full credit (2 points extra credit), submit well-reasoned answers to the questions below by e-mail to Dr. Wamser (WamserC@pdx.edu). You may do as many reviews as you like, but no more than five reviews will be accepted for credit (10 points maximum). Two copies of each text (excepting Brown & Foote) have been placed on reserve in the library. Your thoughtful approaches to this project will be of great service to the faculty and to future students. Thank you.

In order to get a balanced distribution of reviews, please use the last digit of your student number to identify the text that you should review. For subsequent reviews, then go to the next digit of your student number.
For example, student X (545-62-8733) should first compare two chapters (e.g., A and C) from Ege with Brown & Foote, then two more chapters from Ege (B and D), then two chapters from Solomons (e.g., A and D), then two chapters from Wade (e.g., B and C), etc.

Using a standard grading scale (A to F), please rate both the new text and Brown & Foote on the following criteria:
1) layout of the text (e.g., graphics, ease of use)
2) clarity of the presentation
3) logical organization of the material
4) overall usefulness as a text for this course

Also include open-ended commentary about:
a) Things you like
b) Things you don't like

Your Number	Textbook	A Subst./Elim.	B Carboxyl Deriv.	C Arom. Subst.	D Amines
	Brown & Foote	Ch 8	Ch 17	Ch 20	Ch 21
0 or 1	Carey	Ch 5, p 185-end & Ch 8	Ch 20	Ch 12	Ch 22
2 or 3	Ege	Ch 7	Ch 14 & 15	Ch 20, p 769-end	Ch 22
4 or 5	Jones	Ch 6	Ch 19, up to p 967	Ch 13	Ch 20
6 or 7	Solomons	Ch 6	Ch 18	Ch 15	Ch 20
8 or 9	Wade	Ch 6	Ch 21	Ch 17	Ch 19