Great Basin College, Pahrump Valley Campus, 551 East Calvada Blvd, Pahrump,
Nevada – 89048 – Phone: (775) 727-2000 -Fax: (775) 727-2014
Course Syllabus for CHEM 100 – Molecules and life in the modern world – Spring 2014
Instructor: Dr. Rita Bagwe
Office: 101B
Email: rita.bagwe@gbcnv.edu
Phone: 775-727-2005
Office Hours: Monday thru Thursday 7:30 a.m. - 9:30 a.m.; Friday – 8:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. or
by appointment.
Teaching Assistants:
Ms. Holly Brice - tahollyb@gmail.com; Mon & Tue: 9:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.
Ms. Jani Johnston – janijohnston196@gmail.com; Wed & Thur: 4:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Teaching assistants will meet strictly by scheduled appointment only. Sign-up sheet for
scheduling appointment is kept in the Academic Success Center.
Course title: Molecules and life in the modern world.
Course number/ section numbers: CHEM 100/1002
Number of credits:3 Credits
Meeting dates / time/ place: Tuesday & Thursday 9:30 a.m. – 10:45 a.m. / Room number 116
Dates when classes will not be held: Classes will not be held on holidays listed in the school
academic calendar.
Prerequisite:Must have completed MATH 96 or Higher or attained satisfactory score for
placement into MATH 120 or ACT, SAT or placement tests.
Course description:Introduction to chemistry in its many forms and applications, physical and
organic, with consideration of environment and social issues. Includes laboratory activities.
Texts:Lecture – Required text -Basic Chemistry;
Publishers - Pearson
Authors - Karen C. Timberlake & William Timberlake
4th Edition
ISBN- 13; 978-0-321-80928-5
Lab Manual: No lab manual is required for the lab. All the forthcoming labs will be posted on
the Web Campus module.
Learning Outcomes and Measurements
Objectives
1. Communication Skills
Expected Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of the course the
student will be able to:
Outcome Measurements
The expected outcomes will be measured
by:
Students will have several
opportunities to exercise written and
oral communication skills
throughout this course. They will
complete laboratory reports and
written assignments accessing
scientific information as well as
written exams. Oral communication
skills will also be utilized during
discussions involved in completing
laboratory assignments.
Lecture Exams: Students will be able to
read and answer exam questions in written
form.
Lab Practical Exams: Students will read
and answer exam questions in written form.
Written Lab Report: Students will clearly
communicate scientific information in
written form.(See “lab reports” below for
grading rubric)
Class Discussions: Students will be able to
communicate scientific ideas orally.
(Ungraded)
2. Critical Thinking
Quantitative Ability: Students will
use mathematical principles and
quantitative methods to complete the
laboratory assignments. They will
also learn how to quantitatively
measure molecular-biological and
cellular characteristics.
Reasoning and Individual
Thought: Students will use
reasoning and independent thought
to complete laboratory experiments
and answer exam questions.
Scientific Understanding- Students
will comprehend molecularbiological and cellular systems and
the process by which the scientific
knowledge is discovered. They will
develop the ability to understand
molecular-biological and cellular
information and how it relates to
them.
Lab Exams (written and practical)
Lab Notebook
Quizzes
Lecture Exams
3. Personal and Cultural
Awareness
Sense of the Individual in SocietyStudents will gain an understanding
of Chemical and biochemical
molecules and how this affects them
and society.
Lecture Exams: Students will be able to
answer exam questions on the importance
and place of chemistry in society, on the
history of chemical research, and how their
actions affect them and their environment.
Sense of the Past- Students will gain
an understanding of how chemical
compounds were discovered and
how this knowledge has changed
society and their lives.
Lab Practical Exams: Students will be able
to answer lab practical exam questions on the
importance and place of chemistry in society,
on the history of chemical research, and how
their actions affect them and their
environment.
Sense of Accountability- Students
will comprehend the consequences
of human discoveries in chemistry
and their implications.
Appreciation of Fine ArtsStudents will develop an
understanding of the value of
chemical diversity and individual
curiosity and creative thought.
4. Personal Wellness
Objective
5. Technological
Understanding
Class Discussions: Students will be able to
discuss the importance and place of
chemistry in society and how their actions
affect them and their environment- ungraded
Written Lab Report:Students will calculate
and present quantitative results clearly in the
lab reports.
Students will develop skills in
determining the consequences of
their actions in relation to the
environment and their personal
health. They will gain knowledge
needed to make important decisions
involving personal health.
Lecture Exams and Lab Practical Exams:
Students will be able to answer lab practical
exam questions on the chemistry of human
health.
Students will gain knowledge of how
advancing technology in the field of
chemistry will affect their lives and
their personal health.
Lecture Exams: Students will be able to
answer exam questions on technology in
chemistry, and human health.
Class Discussions:Students will discuss the
role of macromolecules in human health,
ungraded.
Lab Practical Exams: Students will
demonstrate the ability to use technological
lab equipment used in chemistry and relate
the use of this equipment to understanding of
chemistry.
Written Lab Report: Students will present,
in written form, the use of technology to
discover knowledge in the area of chemistry–
the “procedures” section of their lab reports.
Summary of the Assessment of Objectives: Learning and general education objectives will be
assessed with three distinct tools. Lecture exams will consist of multiple choice questions that
will test three types of knowledge: recall of factual information; definitions of terminology; and
conceptual and integrative thinking. Laboratory practical will emphasize recall of the various
manipulative and study objects used in the exercises, as well as testing that the students
understand the concepts and principles that were generated with these devices. The written
laboratory report will assess their written communication skills, as well as their conceptual
understanding of a critical lab experiment. This last experiment has been chosen for its mix of
conceptual, numeric, and technical skills.
Method of instruction:Each week there will be two lecture classes. Two mandatory laboratory
dates will take place on February 28th and April 4th.
Use of computers in this course:WebCampus: This course will make use of WebCampus. To
log in, go to webcampus.gbcnv.edu. Your WebCampus ID is your Great Basin College email
address ID. If you don't have a GBC email address or don't remember your address go to
swami.scsr.nevada.edu or the Technology Help Desk helpdesk@gwmail.gbcnv.edu, or 775-7532167. Passwords will be sent by mail to students who register for their course(s) 5 days before
the semester begins. If you register after this time or did not receive a letter by mail, contact the
Help Desk as soon as possible.
Grading system:The grade for this course will be based on two components: performance in
lecture and laboratory. The total score for the course is 600.
400 Points- Lecture Grade based on 4 one hour exams (100 points each)
100 Points- 10 Lecture or Lab quizzes worth 10 points each
50 Points- 10 Homework assignments worth 5 points each
40 Points- 2 Lab reports worth 20 points each
10 Points- Lab notebook
Lab Reports:All the labswill be written up as a lab report. The use of color pencils is mandatory
for all students. All the experiments should have an aim, materials used, procedure, principal,
results, conclusion and graphs, figures, tables, flow charts wherever necessary. The grading scale
is as follows:
The report must be typed, single spaced, 12 point font, times new roman. It is due the next lab
class period (1 week). The report should follow the following outline:
Aim: Title of the experiment
Introduction: Give the background to the topic. Why is it important? Briefly tell what you are
going to do in the experiment.
Procedures: Explain what chemicals, materials and methods were used in the experiments. How
did you do it?
Results: Present the results. Point out key or unexpected results.
Conclusion: What was the significance of your results? Explain the importance of the
experiment, and whether or not your outcome was consistent or inconsistent with what was
expected.
Reference: Citing material used in writing of lab report.
Diagram/Figure/Tables/Calculations/Graphs: Wherever necessary. Clear, legible and labeled.
Grading criteria for the report are identical to those used by the English department:
1. Focuses and develops ideas effectively, showing creativity and insight.
2. Organizes ideas in a purposeful and logical manner, moving the reader (listener)
smoothly through the text (subject).
3. Uses sentence structure and word choice effectively with a sense of control.
4. Commits few, if any, errors in grammar/usage and mechanics.
Lab Notebook:A lab notebook has to be maintained by everyone and it will be graded at the end
of the semester. A plain notebook should be used for the lab notebook and should include a
certificate page and index page. All lab exercise questions should be answered and written
legibly. The use of neat, well labeled graphs/diagrams should be included when necessary. All
students will utilize color pencils when making diagrams and charts. Attendance is mandatory,
there will be no make-up labs.
Technical Evaluation:Each student will be graded on my technical evaluation of your
proficiency in the laboratory. Use and care of equipment(s), station cleanliness, and overall
participation in labs are some of the factors that will be judged. Excessive tardiness/absences
and careless behavior will also be factored into the technical evaluation.
Homework Assignments:Will be posted on the WebCampus. Homework assignments will be
given by Friday evening and must be turned in by the following Thursday evening by 5:15 p.m.
The grading scale is as follows: Homework must be handwritten on a plain piece of paper and
submitted without any reminders on the due date. Late homework assignments will not be
accepted at all.
Score Letter Grade
97 – 100
A
94- 96.99
A
90-93.99
A87-89.99
B+
84-86.99
B
80-83.99
B77-79.99
C+
74-76.99
C
70-73.99
C67-69.99
D+
64-67.99
D
60-63.99
D00-59.99
F
Your “up to the minute” grade for the lecture portion of the course will be posted on
WebCampus in an anonymous spreadsheet. Log on to the WebCampus course and follow the
instructions (filed permanently in the announcement area) to view your grade.
Instructions for dropping the course:If you do not complete the course and do not formally
withdraw by the drop deadline, your instructor will automatically assign you a grade of "F". And,
of course, it would be lovely for you to include the drop deadline for each of your courses. For
the spring 2014 semester the drop deadline is Monday, March 24, 2014. Support staff and
Admissions & Records staff can give you the specific drop date for any of your courses; just ask.
Congruent with this policy, "Incomplete” grades assigned for Fall 2013 courses and beyond, will
no longer automatically become W's when the March 15, deadline hits. Instead, if you have not
submitted an alternate grade before March 15 (or Oct 15 for spring courses), the "I" will become
and "F".
Attendance policy:Attendance in lecture is mandatory. Attendance will be taken in lecture and
Labs. Students remaining absent for more than three lecture or lab classes will be given a letter
grade down. Even if you come to class late or leave early it will count as half attendance. That
means if you do it twice it will be counted as one complete absence. Regular attendance is the
single most important thing you can do to get and maintain a good grade. Do not forget to sign
attendance sheet for every class and lab separately. Six unexcused absences will automatically
result in being expelled from the class.
Student support information:The Student Support and Retention office provides individualized
coaching to students who are struggling in college, either academically or personally. The office
houses both professional staff and peer mentors to help students navigate obstacles in their
college experience and reach their academic goals. For more information visit
http://www.gbcnv.edu/retention/ or call the Retention Coordinator at 775-753-2255.
Lecture exam makeup policy:All the students have to take the exams at the given timed
schedule. I am not going to give the exam at any other time according to your convenience.
Make sure that you do not schedule anything during the lecture and lab time for the semester. In
order to be fair to students taking the exams on the assigned days I am extremely restrictive with
makeups. You will only be allowed to take a makeup if you present a written approved excuse
before the next time the class meets. You must take the makeup exam before the exam is passed
back to the rest of the class, which is usually the next class meeting. These options are only
available for approved written excuses at my discretion. If you have missed an exam or know
that you are going to miss one see me ASAP.
Schedule:This is a preliminary schedule. I reserve the right to change any part of it. Exam
dates will likely not change, but if they do, I will attempt to announce the change one week
ahead of time in class.
Chapter
1
2
3
4
02/27/2014
Topics
Chemistry in our lives / Key Math Skills
Measurements
Matter and Energy
Atoms and Elements
Exam – 1 (100 points)
5
6
7
03/20/2014
8
9
10
11
04/24/2014
12
14
18
05/13/2014
Electronics Structure and Periodic Trends
Ionic and Molecular Compounds
Chemical Quantities
Exam – 2 (100 points)
Chemical Reactions
Chemical Quantities in Reactions
Properties of Solids and Liquids
Gases
Exam – 3 (100 points)
Solutions
Acids and Bases
Biochemistry
Exam – 4 (100 points)
Laboratory schedule
Dates
Time
2/28
8:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m.
Content
Lab experiments will be posted on the module before the labs.
4/4
Lab experiments will be posted on the module before the labs.
8:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m.
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Statement:Great Basin College is committed to
providing equal educational opportunities to qualified students with disabilities in accordance
with state and federal laws and regulations, including the Americans with Disabilities Act of
1990 and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. A qualified student must furnish current
verification of disability. The Director of Services for Students with Disabilities (Julie G.
Byrnes) will assist qualified students with disabilities in securing the appropriate and reasonable
accommodations, auxiliary aids and services. For more information or further assistance, please
call 775-753-2271.
Student Conduct Statement: Academic dishonesty will not be tolerated and may result in a
failing grade and/or reporting to GBC Administration. The students conduct policy in the current
GBC catalog will be enforced. This syllabus is not a contract and is subject to change, without
warning or notification, at any time.
Cell Phone Policies:Cell phones must be switched OFF during lecture and lab classes and left
off for the duration of the class. Neither phoning nor texting is permitted at any time. Anyone
found using it will lead to confiscation of their mobile. No electronic gadgets are allowed in the
class during exams.
This syllabus does not in any way represent a contract. It is a reflection of the intent of the
instructor, but do recognize that it is an organic construct that may change as the semester
progresses. Any changes will be announced in class.