Chem 336 - Spring 2000
Organic Chemistry III

Dr. Carl C. Wamser


Class Syllabus and Schedule

Course Ref. No. 60396
MWF 9:00 - 10:05 am, Hoffmann Hall

Dr. Wamser's Office: Science Bldg 1, Room 327A
Office Hours: every day 10:30 - 11:30 am


Textbook (required): Organic Chemistry, 2nd ed., by William H. Brown and C. S. Foote, including a Study Guide. Recommended - a supplemental book on Pushing Electrons, a molecular model kit, and a CD called ChemTV, all available as a package in the PSU Bookstore.

Class Schedule: During the spring term, we will cover Chapters 19 - 28 from the text, following the schedule on the back. You should read the chapter in the text before it is covered in lecture. There will be homework assignments for each chapter but they will not be collected. By doing the homework in advance, you will be prepared for the in-class exercises, quizzes, and exams.

Online Resources: Most of the elements of this course are accessible through the home page at http://chem.pdx.edu/~wamserc/C336S00/ . Internet connections are available from many places, e.g., the Chemistry Commons (SB1-221), which is also staffed with chemistry graduate students who serve as tutors. We have a class discussion list ( OCHEM-L@lists.pdx.edu ), which will be used like open office hours and general communications. See the class home page for instructions on signing up. I can also be reached through my personal e-mail address ( WamserC@pdx.edu ). This course is part of a research project to determine the effectiveness of technology and other new methods in teaching and learning organic chemistry.

Quizzes: For each chapter, there will be two quizzes. The first will be a brief (5 point) pre-quiz done from the class web page (WebCT) within a specific time frame. Pre-quizzes are designed to alert you to the main points in the chapter and to encourage your reading the chapter before the lecture coverage. The chapter quiz will be a 10-minute (10 point) quiz given at the beginning of a class, with some time allowed for going over any questions before the quiz. Quiz and pre-quiz points are on the same scale as exam points. The lowest scores of the ten quizzes and the ten pre-quizzes will be dropped. There will be no make-up quizzes or pre-quizzes.

Exams: There will be three midterm exams, worth 100 points each, and a final exam, worth 200 points, given in class as indicated on the schedule. Missing an exam will require a written medical excuse, in which case an appropriate fraction of the final exam score will replace the missed exam. There will be no make-up exams.

Extra Credit - E-Mail Molecules: Students may investigate up to nine interesting organic compounds, assigned on the course web page. Each molecule returned correctly will be worth 2 points extra credit, up to 18 points total. Instructions are on the class web page.

Grading: The final course grade will be determined by total points accumulated. The maximum is 635, based on the sum of exams (500) plus quizzes (135), as outlined above. Extra credit adds to your total. Over the years, I have found that letter grades nearly always fall into the following distributions: A/B borderline (80%), B/C (65%), C/D (50%), to pass the course (over 40%).

Laboratories: The corresponding organic chemistry laboratory course is CH 338M (or CH 339 if you are a chem or biochem major). Concurrent enrollment in the lab is strongly recommended but not required. The lab home page is available at http://chem.pdx.edu/~yanm/ .

Workshops: Organic chemistry workshops (CH 399) are optional student-led problem-solving sessions, offered for one credit pass/no pass. Problems are designed to complement the material presented in the course. http://chem.pdx.edu/~wamserc/ChemWorkshops/ochemS.htm

Miscellaneous: University policy will be strictly followed with respect to course withdrawal, academic honesty, and related subjects. Please ask the instructor or consult the latest PSU Bulletin if you have any questions.


Class Schedule

Date Classwork
Mon, 3/27 Intro, Chap 19 overview
Wed, 3/29 Pre-Quiz 19 due, Chap 19 practice
Fri, 3/31 Chap 19 practice
Mon, 4/3 Pre-Quiz 20 due, Chap 20 overview
Wed, 4/5 Quiz 19, Chap 20 practice
Fri, 4/7 Chap 20 practice
Mon, 4/10 Pre-Quiz 21 due, Chap 21 overview
Wed, 4/12 Quiz 20, Chap 21 practice
Fri, 4/14 Chap 21 practice
Mon, 4/17 Quiz 21, Chap 22 overview
Wed, 4/19 Exam 1, Chapters 19 - 21
Fri, 4/21 Pre-Quiz 22 due, Chap 22 practice
Mon, 4/24 Pre-Quiz 23 due, Chap 23 overview
Wed, 4/26 Quiz 22, Chap 23 practice
Fri, 4/28 Pre-Quiz 24 due, Chap 24 overview
Mon, 5/1 Quiz 23, Chap 24 practice
Wed, 5/3 Chap 24 practice
Fri, 5/5 Pre-Quiz 25 due, Chap 25 overview
Mon, 5/8 Quiz 24, Chap 25 practice
Wed, 5/10 Quiz 25, Chap 26 practice
Fri, 5/12 Exam 2, Chapters 22 - 25
Mon, 5/15 Pre-Quiz 26 due, Chap 26 practice
Wed, 5/17 Pre-Quiz 27 due, Chap 27 overview
Fri, 5/19 Quiz 26, Chap 27 practice
Mon, 5/22 Pre-Quiz 28 due, Chap 28 overview
Wed, 5/24 Quiz 27, Chap 28 practice
Fri, 5/26 Chap 28 practice
Mon, 5/29 Holiday
Wed, 5/31 Quiz 28, review
Fri, 6/2 Exam 3, Chapters 26 - 28

FINAL EXAM: Comprehensive standardized final exam

Monday, June 5, 8:00 - 9:50 am