Chemistry 108 Organic and Biochemistry, 5 Credits - Lake Area ...

Instructor:
Dr. Janet A. Bjordahl, Phone: (605) 688-4256 – work
Janet.Bjordahl@sdstate.edu
Text: “General, Organic and Biochemistry, Structures of Life” Platinum Edition, by Karen C. Timberlake
Laboratory Manual: “106L Chemistry/Chemistry Survey Lab” by Deb Pravecek
Course Website: http://eres.sdstate.edu Click on “Electronic Reserves and Course Materials”, and locate Chem 106
materials under “Chemistry” (department) or “Bjordahl, Janet” (instructor). This is where announcements and grades
will be posted. Password is LATI.
Text website: www.chemplace.com/college Click General, Organic, and Biological Chemistry, Platinum Edition.
Username and password for those who do not have the Platinum Edition: chem106846.
Course Description: This course is an introductory course designed to give the student a positive understanding and
appreciation of the chemistry in their lives. Basic inorganic topics such as the study of atoms and molecules,
chemical reactions, chemical equilibrium, states of matter and nuclear processes will be covered. The course will
cover those chemical concepts necessary for the continued study of organic and biochemistry in Chemistry 108. This
is a survey course and is not intended for those needing an extensive chemistry background.
Course Learning Goals and Objectives: This course addresses the student learning outcomes as set forth in System
General Education (SGE) Goal #6 by the South Dakota Board of Regents: “Students will understand the fundamental
principles of the natural sciences and apply scientific methods of inquiry to investigate the natural world.”
Student Learning Outcomes: As a result of successfully completing Chemistry 106, students will:
1. Demonstrate the scientific method in a laboratory experience;
2. Gather and critically evaluate data using the scientific method;
3. Identify and explain the basic concepts, terminology, and theories of organic and biochemistry;
4. Apply selected organic and biological chemistry concepts and theories to contemporary issues.
Student Learning Outcomes will be assessed through lecture and laboratory quizzes and exams and laboratory
written reports.
Instructional Methods: Class lectures, Power Point presentations, the text website, laboratory activities, and
selected video presentations.
Student Attendance: Attendance is required for all examinations and laboratories and is strongly recommended for
all lectures. All course material and information handed out or discussed at lectures are “fair game” as test
content. We will be doing group activities nearly everyday, which will count as part of your grade. I will take the best
8 out of 12 group scores for your grade. Any day you are absent you will receive a zero for the activities that day and
the points can not be made up, although you are highly encouraged to complete the exercises on your own. Nearly
every day there is not an hour exam scheduled, I will give a quiz during the first 5-10 minutes of class, covering
activities from the previous lecture period. I will take the best 7 out of 10 quiz scores for your grade. Any day you are
absent or late and there is a quiz, you will be given a zero. Quizzes will not be made up. If you need to miss several
days of class due to illness, child’s illness, etc., please come talk to me, call me and we will discuss things on a caseby-case
basis.
Homework: It is recommended that students read each assigned chapter before lecture and work through the
problems in and at the end of each assigned chapter. Any of these questions or questions similar to them is likely to
be on quizzes and/or tests. Chapter quizzes and tutorials are available on the text website. The format and due dates
for two written papers will be described in a future handout. These papers will be worth 25 points each. No late
papers will be accepted.
Exams: Exams may be a combination of multiple choice, true or false, short answer, and matching formats. The four
one hour-exams are noted on the attached schedule. All exams must be taken as scheduled, except for absences due
to a doctor-verified illness. The student must notify Dr. Bjordahl within 24 hours of a missed exam, preferably by 3-
mail. Quizzes and tests that are not made up before the next class meeting will be taken the last week of class and
will of course be over the same material but will not be the same test that was previously given to the class.

CHEM 106 – Page 2
Assessment of Student Learning: The final lecture grade will be computed as follows:
Three lecture exams @ 100 points each ........................... 300 points
Final comprehensive exam (Chapters 3/5, 30%) .............. 150 points
Group exercises @ 20 points each (best 7 of 10) .............. 140 points
In-class quizzes @ 20 points each (best 8 of 10) ............... 160 points
Two written assignments @ 25 points each ...................... 50 points
Total Point for lecture grade = 800
Letter grades will be assigned based on these minimum requirements:
A = 90% (720 – 800 points)
B = 80 % (640 - 719 points
C= 65% (520 – 639 points)
D = 60% (480 – 519 points)
F = below 60% (↓ 480 pts.)
Teaching Philosophy: Acquisition of scientific knowledge requires the development of higher cognitive skills such as
analysis, synthesis, comprehension, application and evaluation. It is my hope to succeed in teaching these problemsolving
skills, which once acquired and practiced in the courses I teach, will serve students in situations they
encounter throughout their lifetimes.
Academic Honesty/Dishonesty Policy: All work submitted in lecture is to be the effort of the individual, unless
assigned as a group project. No aids or notes may be used during examinations unless approved by the instructor.
Anyone participating in an act of dishonesty will receive a grade of zero on the exam. A repeat act of dishonesty will
result in the student (or students) involved referred to appropriate Institute policies and committee(s) for further
disciplinary action.
Disability: If you are a person with a disability and anticipate needing any type of accommodations in order to
participate in this class, please inform me and make appropriate arrangements with the Office of Disability Services.
Mandatory equipment for lab and lecture will be a calculator (expensive graphing calculators are not
necessary.) For laboratories, every student must wear approved safety goggles at all times when chemicals are
being used in the laboratory. The laboratory (CHEM 107) will be graded as a separate 1-credit course and the
syllabus will be handed out at the first lab meeting.
Revised: 6/10