CH105-02A: Chemistry and Society
(for Dietetic and Nutrition Majors)

SPRING 2008

COURSE SYLLABUS

INSTRUCTOR: Dr. Henry Jakubowski

Last update on 02/25/2008

TIME/PLACE: CH105_02A - 9:40 AM-10:50 AM; Days 2-4-6, ASC 142.

LAB: Some day 4s, 8:00 - 9:30 AM; ASC 202 (announced in class)

LAB TAs:  Shaina C, Ben Murry

OFFICE: ASC 245

OFFICE HOURS:  1:00-4:00 PM Days 1, 4-6 by appointment, or anytime you can find me when I'm free

COURSE OBJECTIVES

SCIENTIFIC CONTENT:  In this course, you will develop a basic understanding of the

  1. roles of experimentation, induction, deduction, correlation, causation, and falsifiability, and creativity in the scientific process
  2. following chemical and biological (biochemical) concepts
    • elements, atoms, and molecules
    • bonding
    • intermolecular forces and solutions
    • chemical reactions
    • stoichiometry
    • organic functional groups
    • biochemical Structures
    • central dogma biology
    • innate and adaptive immunity
    • signal transduction
  3. risk analysis
  4. biochemistry of alcohol and psychotropic drug effects
  5. biochemistry of influenza virus infection and treatments
  6. (if time permits) biochemistry of obesity and diabetes   

NATURAL SCIENCE CORE CONTENT:  In this course, you will

  1. demonstrate the interactive relationship between society and science.

  2. develop my capacity for scientific literacy (reading scientific reviews for nonscientists written in science magazines/journals).

  3. develop my capacity for exercising responsible citizenship in a scientific and technological society.

  4. emphasize the fundamental role of observation and experimentation in science.

  5. show the role of abstract thinking (working with things that cannot be seen) in science.

  6. show the role of critical analysis (an appraisal based on careful evaluation of results and concepts/ideas) in science.

  7. illustrate the application of scientific concepts to everyday life and their usefulness in understanding common experiences.

This course should contribute to your critical thinking skills and build your scientific literacy.

TENTATIVE SCHEDULE:  Here is a link to a tentative schedule for the class.

LABORATORY

At least 7 labs will be scheduled. Prompt arrival at the lab, and advanced preparation for the lab is required. Only with adequate preparation for the labs can some of them be completed in the allotted time. You will be given details on lab safety and on each laboratory exercise. Failure to complete a lab or labs, without a valid reason (medical emergency, for example), will have the following consequences on the FINAL COURSE GRADE (departmental policy):

1 unexcused absence - not eligible for S/U grading in the course. Each additional unexcused absence will result in a final course grade reduction equivalent to half a grade, e.g., from AB to B. (NOTE: An unexcused lab will result in an F (0 points) grade for that lab. This grade will be averaged in with the student's other lab grades for the semester when calculating the final laboratory grade. The lab grade will contribute 15% toward the final course grade. It is this final course grade which will then be lowered by unexcused absences.) To complete a lab, you must BOTH attend the lab and complete the report.  

PLAGIARISM

Plagiarism is considered an act of academic dishonesty. One act of such dishonesty is committed by students who submit laboratory reports for experiments which they did not do. The Department's policy for handling such acts is as follows:

  1. The grade which the student would have received for the course will be lowered one grade unit (e.g. from BC to CD)
  2. The student will be prohibited from receiving an S/U grade for the course, even though the student may have requested such grading prior to committing plagiarism.
  3. The student will be required to speak with the Dean of his/her respective institution about the offense.

READINGS

There are two sources of readings for this class:

GROUP WORK

We will be doing some group activity each day. Hence attendance each day is important. Most of the group work will result in identical grades for each member of the group. Group grades will often be assigned by grading work from one member of the group, chosen randomly. Nonattendance in class will result in lower grades, or, at my discretion, being asked to withdraw from the class.

COMPUTER USE 

Class reading materials:  These are available on the Chemistry and Society main course web page for the course and on Moodle.  To access Moodle from the CSB/SJU homepage, click the links to "Current Students", then "Web-Based Courses." In the large gold box, click the link to access Moodle.  You can access Moodle directly by going to https://moodle.csbsju.edu/login/index.php

Login with your regular campus network ID and password.  On the list of available courses, click the title of the course you want to access.  

When you log into the Moodle page for the course (named Chemistry and Society - Jakubowski), you will find links for Readings and Quizzes.   The readings are listed in order of the following topics:  Science, Ethanol, Influenza, Obesity/Diabetes, Lab, and In Conclusion.  For the second class, log onto Moodle, and following the appropriate links, print Lab 1, The Blue Bottle.

The quizzes are listed after the readings.  The quizzes will be ungraded but will contribute to your class participation grade.  If you go to readings in the Chemistry and Society main course web page (such as on Bonding for example) you will be prompted at some point in the text to take a Moodle quiz.  For example, the following icon would appear in the text to prompt you to take a quiz on Salt Structure.

moodlelogoMoodle Quiz: Select Salt Structure 1

 

Go to Moodle, select the Quizzes icon, and select the appropriate quiz..
 

Web Interactive Molecular Modeling:  You will find many interactive molecular modeling links in the main course web page readings, which will help you understand the molecules that we will be studying.  These are highlighted in the reading materials with the following icons:

  angifdna.gif (35913 bytes)molecule name | Jmol

EVALUATION

I will use the following evaluation methods for the class:

S/U GRADING OPTION

EXAMS

The 3 test and final exam during the semester may be a combination of multiple choice, essay, and may include group components. The times for the test will be announced in class. Tests will cover both content and process issues.

QUIZZES, HOMEWORK, GROUP WORK

Quizzes will be held periodically to ensure that you are prepared for class and have read the assigned materials.  Homework may include writing a short summary paper and participation in web-based discussion forums.  In class group work may also be submitted.

FINAL EXAM

Details on the final will be available closer to the exam date.

WAY AROUND A BAD DAY

Four tests are scheduled for this class (three regular tests and one final exam). I will replace your lowest regular test score with the final exam score if the final exam score is higher than your lowest regular test score. In that case, your final will count twice, once as a regular exam and once as the final. This policy is designed to help you if you had a bad day on one exam and to give you motivation to study hard for the final exam.

PARTICIPATION

Participation in the course is extremely important.  Evidence of participation includes responding to and initiating discussion in class, asking questions (in or out of class), thoughtfulness of responses, seeking help when you don't understand a concept, etc.  A high level of participation could raise your grade from an AB to an A, for example, if you are close to the cutoff for the higher grade.  

CHANGES IN COURSE/SYLLABUS

I reserve the right to change the course and syllabus during the semester to accommodate changes in the course that I deem necessary to improve it.