Chemical Literature – Chem 89
Fall 2015
Draft – 4/20/15
Instructor Information
Instructor: Valerie Burke
Office: Brousseau 334
Phone: 631-4918
Email: vab1@stmarys-ca.edu
Office Hours: TBA
or by appointment
Science Librarian: Linda Wobbe
Office: 3rd floor, M-11, St. Albert Hall Library
Phone: 631-4232
Email: lwobbe@stmarys-ca.edu
Reference Desk Hours:
TBA
or by appointment
Course Meetings
TBA (2 hours/week)
Course Materials
ACS Style Guide (recommended – on reserve)
Write Like a Chemist (recommended – on reserve)
Writing Research Papers Across the Curriculum (required)
Course Description
The primary, secondary, and tertiary literature commonly used by chemists and biochemists will be
surveyed. Students will learn to use various sources and search strategies in general, and applied to the
preparation of a research project due at the end of the semester. The research project will include a
written report and a presentation. Students will keep a notebook/journal to record various assignments
as they find information for the research project. Various homework exercises will also be assigned
throughout the semester.
Course Goals
By the end of this course, students will be able to:
Identify a wide range of information sources (IERP 1)
Know the structure of research articles, communications, and reviews
Extract useful information from research articles, communications, reviews, and other sources
Use appropriate search methods to find specific or general information (IERP 1)
Critically evaluate information and sources (IERP 2)
Communicate information orally and in writing, and cite sources appropriately (IERP 3, WOC 1,2)
Consider important ethical responsibilities of scientists related to publishing (IERP 4)
More specifically, this course is designed to fulfill part of the Core Curriculum learning goals for
Writing in the Discipline. By achieving the course goals listed above, students will also meet the
Writing in the Discipline learning goals related to Information Evaluation and Research Practices,
and gain experience in Written and Oral Communication, especially related to oral communication.
Accommodations for students with disabilities
Student Disability Services extends reasonable and appropriate accommodations that take into account
the context of the course and its essential elements for individuals with qualifying disabilities. Students
with disabilities are encouraged to contact the Student Disability Services Office at (925) 631-4358 or
sds@stmarys-ca.edu to arrange a confidential appointment to discuss accommodation guidelines and
available services. Additional information regarding the services available may be found at the
following address on the Saint Mary’s website: http://www.stmarys-ca.edu/sds
Tentative Class Schedule
Date
1
September 1
2
September 8
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13 TG
14
Finals
Topic
Introduction to Chemical Literature; overview; 3° literature
3° literature; project information
September 14
*Project – submit topic
September 15
September 22
September 29
October 6
2° literature; citations and paraphrasing
1° lit: theses, application notes, conferences, articles
1° lit: articles – structure, extracting info, databases
1° lit: articles – searching databases
October 12
*Project – submit draft outline
October 13
October 20
1° lit: articles – using SciFinder (Guest speaker – trainer)
1° lit: patents (Guest speaker – Tamara Kale)
October 26
*Project – submit updated outline, draft slides
October 27
November 3
November 10
Guest speaker? Or ChemDraw/ethics
Working session
Guest speaker? Or ChemDraw/ethics
November 16
*Project – submit updated outline, updated slides, draft report
November 17
November 24
Snapshots!
Working session
November 30
*Project – submit final slides, final report
December 1 and 3* Student presentations
December 8 and 10 Student presentations
Class participation
75 pts (30%)
The tentative letter A = 90-100%
Assignments
75 pts (30%)
grade assignments B = 80-90%
Research project
100 pts (40%)
are: C = 70-80%
D = 60-70%
Total
250 pts
Class Participation – Students are expected to attend and be active participants in all classes.
Assignments – There will be a variety of in-class exercises and homework assignments applying topics
discussed in class.
Research project – Students will submit a written report summarizing their research on their topic of
interest. During the last weeks of class, each student will give a 15 minute oral presentation on this
topic. There will also be a preview session in which students will give a 3-4 slide “snapshot” of
their talk. Throughout the semester, there are assignments aimed at finding information for the
research project. Students will keep a research journal on Moodle, with one entry for each source
used (each research article, each review article, each encyclopedia, etc.). Research journal entries
will include the bibliographic information for the resource, the database and search terms used to
find the resource, and a brief summary of the information in the resource. Drafts of the report and
presentation will be collected throughout the semester. More information on the research project
will be provided separately.
Grading
Policies
Class Attendance – Regular class attendance is expected. A significant portion of the final grade is
based on class participation, which obviously requires class attendance!
Expectations for Academic Honesty – I expect that all of your work for credit will be conducted with
academic honesty. I intend to abide by the Academic Honor Code, and any violations will be
treated in accordance with the policies of the Academic Honor Council. Additional information is
available at: http://www.stmarys-ca.edu/academics/academic-integrity
Use of Moodle – I will use Moodle regularly (http://GaelLearn.stmarys-ca.edu). Homework,
resources, and links to useful information will be available through Moodle. In addition, if I need
to contact you, I will use the email address available through Moodle. For minor problems with
utilizing the website, please contact me. If you cannot access the site, or need significant assistance
learning how to utilize the website, check the information on the Moodle welcome page, including
instructions for students and an online request form for additional help.
Free Writing Advising at the Center for Writing Across the Curriculum:
Students of all levels and disciplines are welcome to drop in or make appointments for one-on-one
sessions with CWAC Writing Advisers. Students may request weekly or biweekly sessions with the
same peer student Adviser.
The Center, in Dante 202, is open 4-8 p.m. Sunday; 12-6 p.m. Monday; and 12-8 p.m. Tuesday
through Thursday. The phone number is 925.631.4684. The web site is www.stmarys-ca.edu/centerfor-writing-across-the-curriculum
Through collaborative engagement, Advisers guide their peers toward expressing ideas clearly and
revising their own papers with an eye toward audience and purpose. Writers should bring their
assignments, texts, and related material.
Writers visit the Center to brainstorm ideas, revise drafts, or work on specific aspects of writing,
such as grammar, citation, thesis development, organization, critical reading, or research methods.
Discussions may involve any type of writing, including poetry, science lab reports, argument-driven
research, or professional application letters.
Ask a librarian! Need library sources but don't know where to start? Searching for a book,
article, or data to support your argument? Not sure how to cite a source in your bibliography? Ask a
librarian!
Research help is available in person at the Reference Desk, by phone at 925-631-4624, and during
reference hours you can even text a librarian at 925-235-4762 or chat with us live via the Library's
website. Check the Library’s Ask Us page for details. (http://www.stmarys-ca.edu/library/ask-us)
Extended assistance by appointment is also available with Linda Wobbe, science librarian.