Chemistry 3250
Spring 2013
General Topics in Contemporary Chemistry
Paul Hazendonk
Office 852
Phone 329 2657
Email: paul.hazendonk@uleth.ca
Office hours: Open Door Policy
Website: http://classes.uleth.ca/201301/chem3250a/
Text Book
No text is required. Any learning materials will be made available as class hand-outs or
posted on the website.
Overview
The objective of this course is to develop the student's research, writing and presentation
skills, so that they can participate in regular scientific discourse. Weekly seminars are
given on a vast array of topics in chemistry to introduce the student to current research
active subjects. The subject of these seminars will be discussed in the following class.
The students are expected to present papers of interest to them to the class on a regular
basis. They will also be expected to prepare papers on several current subjects of
research and give formal presentations to the class on each.
Course Theme: Food Security
Prerequisites
Chemistry 2410, and 2740, and Math 2560. Third year standing is required, which means
you must have completed a minimum of 60 credit hours of courses.
Assessment
Class Participation/Attendance
Critical Analysis
Formal Presentations
Paper
30%
15%
35%
20%
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Attendance is mandatory. One excused absence (in case a illness a doctor’s note will
be required) will be permitted. Any absences beyond that forfeits 10 from the 30
class participation marks.
Class participation is essential in seminar based course, so you will be assessed on
your participation in class discussions following seminars and presentations. Your
mark will be based in degree of participation, quality of discussion, and level of
preparation (all articles on which the presentation are prepared will be made available
on course website), in each class on a per class basis. Also, adherence to deadlines
will be a considered.
Informal group presentations will be given on a general choice were the student is
expected to analyze the articles according to specified criteria.
The class will be given a paper on which they are expected to prepare a written
critical analysis (minimum 1500 words). See website for instructions.
Each student is expected to give two short (20 minute) original presentations on
topics related to the general course theme, and those have not been or will be
presented in any other course. They will be expected to explain the theoretical and
practical basis of the study and discuss its relevance. Student discussion will be
encouraged after each presentation. All topics to be presented have to be approved by
the instructor at least one week before hand. Instructions will be posted on the
website. The slides for each presentation must be turned in for assessment. Failure
to submit the slides will result in a penalty of 5 % to be taken from your class
participation mark will be assessed
Upon successful completion of the final presentation the student will prepare a formal
paper (minimum 1500 words) on topic presented. Instructions will be posted on the
website. All papers are due within one week of the presentation, unless arranged
otherwise. Late submission will be subject to a penalty of 10% per day from your
class participation mark. No paper can be submitted without the presentation
being completed beforehand. *All three papers must be submitted in electronic form
and be completed for final assessment; otherwise an average over all three papers will
be assessed in the final grade.
Seminar Schedule and Presentation Schedule
See the course website at http://classes.uleth.ca/201301/chem3250a/ for updated
information/
Cheating:
IF YOU ARE CAUGHT CHEATING YOU WILL BE ASSIGNED A GRADE OF F
INSTANTLY AND A LETTER DESCRIBING YOUR OFFENSE WILL BE PLACED
IN YOUR STUDENT FILE. TWO SUCH LETTERS IS GROUNDS FOR EXPULSION
FROM THE UNIVERSITY. STUDENTS WHO CHEAT, CHEAT THEIR FELLOW
STUDENTS.
It is important that you understand what constitutes plagiarism. Plagiarism is defined as
the taking of someone else’s thoughts, writings or inventions and using them as one’s
own. When you are writing a paper on some topic, you must read up on the topic, get the
necessary information and then present it IN YOUR OWNWORDS. If you use a
sequence of text verbatim (i.e. exactly) from someone else’s work, THAT IS A QUOTE
and must be cited (to give proper credit to the author) in a particular way. If you use an
idea or data from someone else’s work, then that work must be cited specifically as a
reference, and/or in your paper’s bibliography. Beware of information that is found on
the web -- it is rarely primary source information. IF, IN THE COURSE OF WRITING
A PAPER, YOU EXECUTE A CUT AND PASTE FROM A
WEBSITE OR OTHER SOURCE without any citation, YOU HAVE COMMITTED
PLAGIARISM.
There is a difference between working together with a friend and plagiarism. If, after
conferring with others, what you write down is based on your understanding of the
topic and is in your own words, then that is acceptable. If, however, you look at a friends
answer to a question, and then simply write (essentially) the same thing on your
assignment, then you have committed plagiarism. PLAGIARISM IS CHEATING and is
subject to discipline as described in the university calendar. If you are unclear about this
issue, then speak to your instructor.
Reusing materials submitted for grades in a previous class constitutes a form of
plagiarism and will the treated accordingly.