CHEM 390 (GWAR)
Contemporary Chemistry and Biochemistry Research
San Francisco State University
Schedule: Lecture, 2 units, activity, 1 unit. All sections will meet on Fridays 12:10-1:50, to attend
the Department’s weekly seminar presentation and complete in-class writing assignments.
Additionally, each section will have two 50-minute or one 100-minute lecture periods per week.
Instructor: Ray Trautman
Office: TH 823
Office Hours: TBA
Phone: 415 338 2379; E-mail: trautman@sfsu.edu
COURSE DESCRIPTION: This course is designed to improve skills in written and oral
communication, with an emphasis on the communication skills expected of chemists and
biochemists in their professional activities. Instructional methods include traditional lectures, inclass writing assignments, oral presentations by students, research presentations by guest lecturers,
and peer reviews of written assignments.
PREREQUISITES: Junior-level standing; ENG 214 or 310 and CHEM 321 or 335, both with C
or better grade. Note: CHEM 390 is not a written English composition class, but rather a chemistry
class in technical communication. Students are expected to be proficient in written English
communication before enrolling in CHEM 390. Supplemental instruction is available: ENG 418,
Grammar for Writers, or ENG 410, Elements of Writing-Multilingual, may be taken concurrently
with CHEM 390.
COURSE MATERIALS:
Handouts provided, including detailed assignment sheets, via ilearn.sfsu.edu.
Required text:
Write Like a Chemist, Robinson, M., Stoller, F. , Costanza-Robinson, M., and Jones, J.;
Oxford Univ. Press: New York, 2008 (ISBN13: 9780195305074).
Supplementary texts:
The Chemist's English with “Say It in English, Please!”, 3rd, revised edition, Schoenfeld, R.;
Wiley: New York, 1991.
The ACS Style Guide: Effective Communication of Scientific Information, Coghill, A. M. and
Garson, L. R. Ed.; American Chemical Society: Washington, DC, 2006.
The ACS Style Guide. A Manual for Authors and Editors; Dodd, J. S., Ed.; American
Chemical Society: Washington, DC, 1997 (or 1986).
COURSE REQUIREMENTS AND GRADING: The following is a summary of assignments and
their corresponding percentage of the total course points:
1) Short Oral Presentation
10%
2) Data Presentation
15%
3) Review Paper
30%
4) Twelve in-class assignments
30%
CHEM 390
page 1
5) Research Proposal (Background and Proposed Studies)
10%
6) Other in-class assignments (including, but not limited to: Plagiarism Quiz, Ethics
in Science, Peer-Editor Corrections, Table and Figure Legends)
5%
Every assignment is graded on a 100-point scale. The relationship between numerical scores and
letter-grades is shown in the table below.
Points
>80
65~79
55~64
50~54
40~49
<40
Grade
A/A-
B+/B/B-
C+/C
C-
D
F
The total course points is the sum of the points earned for each assignment multiplied by that
assignment’s percentage of the total course points. If a student has earned at least 50 points on the
short oral presentation, the poster presentation, the review paper, and the research proposal, the
course grade is determined by the total course points, as shown in the table below. If a student has
not earned at least 50 points on the short oral presentation, the poster presentation, the review
paper, and the research proposal, the course grade will be NC, regardless of the total course points.
Total
Course
Points
Grade
Analysis
If less than 50 points are earned on the short oral presentation, the poster presentation,
the review paper, or the research proposal:
n/a
NC
“Performance of the student has been such that course
requirements have not been met.”
If at least 50 points are earned on the short oral presentation, the poster presentation,
the review paper, and the research proposal:
>84
A
80~84
A-
75~79
B+
70~74
B
65~69
B-
60~64
C+
55~59
C
<55
NC
“Performance of the student has been of the highest level,
showing sustained excellence in meeting course
responsibilities.”
“Performance of the student has been good, though not of the
highest level.”
“Performance of the student has been adequate, satisfactorily
meeting the course requirements.”
“Performance of the student has been such that course
requirements have not been met.”
Plagiarism and other forms of cheating are unacceptable, leading to a minimum penalty of an F for
the particular assignment. An F grade for the short oral presentation, poster presentation, review
paper, or research proposal will result in NC as the course grade.
SYNOPSIS of ASSIGNMENTS
CHEM 390
page 2
1) Short Oral Presentation: A ten-minute presentation, supported with PowerPoint or Keynote slides,
of the major findings of one peer-reviewed research article. An article to be used in the review
paper can be utilized as the basis for the oral presentation.
2) Data Presentation: A presentation of data as it would be prepared for inclusion in a standard poster
presentation at a professional meeting. The data should be prepared with Word, Igor Pro, Marvin
Sketch, or equivalent software.
3) Review Paper: A ~10 page review of the recent scientific literature covering a particular area of
molecular science, chosen by the student from a list of topics provided by the instructor. Students
first select 20 primary peer-reviewed articles on their topic, from a much larger number provided
by a literature search, to begin their research. From those 20 they choose five papers, with the
approval of the course instructor, for in-class writing assignments. The review paper should
contain (in order): title page, table of contents, abstract, introduction, selected sub-topics,
conclusion, references, figure legends and figures (and any tables with annotations). (Note: If you
are enrolled in CHEM 470 or CHEM 699, the review article topic cannot be specifically related to
your research project.) The paper should be prepared with Word or equivalent software. The first
draft of the review is due The final copy must be submitted through iLearn.sfsu.edu; the
submission process includes a review by Turnitin.
4) Twelve in-class assignments: Students will write abstracts of five research papers selected for
their review paper, and summaries of seven Chemistry and Biochemistry department seminars.
5) Research Proposal: A ~5 page proposal that describes future studies (that have not been
performed by any research group) which would extend knowledge in the area covered in the
review paper. This proposal must include appropriate background information, a list of tasks to be
completed, experimental methods and/or calculations, and timeline. The proposal should be
prepared with Word or equivalent software. The final copy must be submitted through
iLearn.sfsu.edu; the submission process includes a review by Turnitin.
6) Other in-class assignments: Plagiarism Quiz, Peer-Editor Corrections (research proposal, review
paper), Table and Figure Legends Workshop.
STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES
1) Be able to use electronic databases (e.g., PubMed, SciFinder, Web of Science) to search the
literature for primary references in an area of molecular science research.
2) Be able to use Word, Igor Pro, Marvin Sketch, or equivalent software, to communicate research
data in the format used for a poster presentation at a professional meeting.
3) Be able to use PowerPoint, Keynote, or equivalent software to create slides that effectively
support an oral presentation of research data.
4) Be able to make an oral presentation of research data.
5) Be able to write a concise abstract of the major findings of a peer-reviewed research article.
6) Be able to write a comprehensive review of one contemporary area of molecular science research.
7) Become familiar with a variety of contemporary areas of molecular science research.
8) Be able to propose future research that would extend knowledge in an area of molecular science
CHEM 390
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research.
CHEM 390
page 4
ALIGNMENT BETWEEN STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES and PROGRAM
LEARNING OUTCOMES
Learning outcomes common to the B.A.
Chemistry, B.S. Chemistry, and B.S.
Biochemistry degree programs
Outcome #5: Critically evaluate and
communicate the results of scientific
experiments in oral reports, technical graphics,
and written reports.
Outcome #6: Demonstrate the retention and
synthesis of prior learning in advanced classes.
Outcome #7: Search the chemical literature for
published work relevant to a project of interest,
read and understand technical literature related
to the discipline.
Outcome #8: Use technical literature to
articulate, in written form, an understanding of
the relationship between Chemistry and related
disciplines such as biological science,
materials science, and environmental science.
CHEM 390
Learning outcomes of CHEM 390
Outcome #2: Be able to use Word, Igor Pro,
Marvin Sketch, or equivalent software, to
communicate research data in the format used
for a poster presentation at a professional
meeting.
Outcome #3: Be able to use PowerPoint,
Keynote, or equivalent software to create
slides that effectively support an oral
presentation of research data.
Outcome #4: Be able to make an oral
presentation of research data.
Outcome #5: Be able to write a concise
abstract of the major findings of a peerreviewed research article.
Outcome #6: Be able to write a comprehensive
review of one contemporary area of molecular
science research.
Outcome #1: Be able to use electronic
databases (e.g., PubMed, SciFinder, Web of
Science) to search the literature for primary
references in an area of molecular science
research.
Outcome #5: Be able to write a concise
abstract of the major findings of a peerreviewed research article.
Outcome #6: Be able to write a comprehensive
review of one contemporary area of molecular
science research.
page 5
TENTATIVE SCHEDULE, FALL 2011
Date
Aug 24
Aug 26
Aug 29
Aug 31
Sept 02
Sept 05
Sept 07
Sept 09
Sept 12
Sept 14
Topic
Course intro
Lecture: Research vs. review papers
Writing workshop for seminar
summaries
Special Lecture: Databases
Department Seminar
Labor Day – no classes
Lecture: Figures and Tables
Department Seminar
Sept 16
Writing workshop for plagiarism
Writing workshop for figures and
tables
Department Seminar
Sept 19
Sept 21
Sept 23
(Student data presentation)
(Student data presentation)
Department Seminar
Sept 26
Sept 28
Sept 30
Data Presentation feedback
Lecture: Research Proposals
Department Seminar
Oct 03
Oct 05
Oct 07
Lecture: Oral Presentations
Lecture: Research Proposals
Department Seminar
Oct 10
Oct 12
Oct 14
Lecture: Research Proposals
(Student oral presentations)
Department Seminar
Oct 17
Oct 19
Oct 21
(Student oral presentations)
(Student oral presentations)
Department Seminar
Oct 24
Oct 26
Oct 28
(Student oral presentations)
(Student oral presentations)
Department Seminar
Oct 31
Oral Presentation Feedback
Nov 02
Oral Presentation Feedback
CHEM 390
Assignment(s)
seminar summary
seminar summary or abstract of
research article
plagiarism quiz
seminar summary or abstract of
research article
Data presentation
Data presentation
seminar summary or abstract of
research article
seminar summary or abstract of
research article
seminar summary or abstract of
research article
Oral presentation
seminar summary or abstract of
research article
Oral presentation
Oral presentation
seminar summary or abstract of
research article
Oral presentation
Oral presentation
seminar summary or abstract of
research article
First draft of Research Proposal
due
Peer review of Research Proposal
due
page 6
Nov 04
Dept Seminar
Nov 07
Nov 09
Nov 11
Nov 14
Nov 16
Nov 18
Research Proposal Consultation
Lecture: Poster Presentations
Veterans Day – no classes
Lecture: Poster Presentations
Review Paper Consultation
Department Seminar
Nov 21 – Nov
25
Nov 28
Fall Recess – no classes
Nov 30
Dec 02
Poster Presentation
Department Seminar
Dec 05
Dec 07
Dec 09
Poster Presentation Feedback
Review Paper Consultation
Department Seminar
Dec 12
Dec 20
Review Paper Consultation
Final Exam Period – Course Review
CHEM 390
Poster Presentation Practice
seminar summary or abstract of
research article
Research Proposal due
First draft of Review Paper due
Peer review of Review Paper due
seminar summary or abstract of
research article
Peer review of Poster Presentation
due
seminar summary or abstract of
research article
Second draft of Review Paper due
Peer review of Review Paper due
seminar summary or abstract of
research article
Review Paper due
page 7