Dr. McCord's CH302H
Principles of Chemistry II - Honors

Instructor:
Dr. Paul McCord
Office:
WEL 5.239
Hours:
MW 11-12n
Tu 10-11a
email:
mccord302@cm.utexas.edu
website:
http://mccord.cm.utexas.edu/courses/spring2013/ch302h

Spring 2013

Unique: 51580

class time TTh 11-12:30pm

class room WEL 2.312

Teaching Assistant

TA:
Josh Lara
Hours:
10-11am
Location:
WEL 2.306 B
email:
joshjeromelara@gmail.com

Conference Course CH108

Unique: 52035

time MW 5-6:30pm

place GAR 1.126

Overall Scoring for the Course

Your overall score will be determined from your Exam average, Final exam, and your Homework & Quiz Average (Quest). The weights for each category is shown below:

Grading for Course

  • 10% Homeworka
  • 60% Exam Averageb
  • 30% Final Examc

Note a: expect from 10 to 14 homeworks on Quest (around 2-3 per exam, drop 2 lowest for your average, Quest will do this for you)
Note b: average your best 3 out of 4 exams (1 dropped exam)
Note c: ALL students will take the final exam - no drops, no exemptions.

Exams

Four examinations will be given during the semester. These will be given about once a month on Tuesday evenings at 7PM. Each exam will have an objective part (multiple choice, true/false, matching, etc...), and a written part (show your work or explain) - all of which will be hand graded. All scores on exams will be available on Quest after the grading is done plus we will hand back your exam on the next class day (Thursday). You will drop your lowest exam and count the 3 highest for your average.

Final Exam

The final exam WILL be comprehensive. This means that all the material covered during the course will be on the exam. The final exam will be counted as 30% of your overall grade.

Grade Breaks

Our cut-offs will MATCH the same cut-offs used for our "regular" sections of CH302 which are determined according to the following scale:

A ≥90.00
A-≥87.00
B+≥83.00
B≥80.00
B-≥77.00
C+≥73.00
C≥70.00
C-≥67.00
D+≥63.00
D≥60.00
D-≥57.00
F<57.00

Your score is calculated to the nearest 1/100th - that's 2 places PAST the decimal. So the only digit that is rounded "up" is the 1/1000th's digit.

Exam Schedule

The four class regular exams will be held in WEL 1.316 on the designated Tuesday evenings. All students will report there by 7pm on exam day and go to their assigned seats where they will find their exam copy, a bubblesheet, and scratch paper. Seat assignments will be announced through Quest AND will be located on the door to WEL 1.316.

  • Exam 1 Tue 2/5
  • Exam 2 Tue 3/5
  • Exam 3 Tue 4/9
  • Exam 4 Tue 4/30

Final Exam

  • #51580 (TTh 11am class)
  • Fri 5/10 9-12n
  • in CLA 0.130

The final exam schedule is set by the Registrars office and cannot be changed. Room assignment could be different - they announce rooms 2 weeks before Finals.

 

If you have an Exam Conflict...

Only UT-related conflicts are excepted reasons to reschedule an exam. Here are most of the accepted conflicts:

  • a UT laboratory course (like physics, chemistry, or biology lab)
  • a UT Band member where rehearsal is at the same time as the exam
  • any student with a letter from the SSD Office needing extra time or other conditions
  • any official UT course with a conflicting time (we'll need the unique number of the course)
  • UT athletes who must travel to go to a game or tournament
  • affiliated students to the above reason - like trainers, team managers, and traveling band members

Only UT-related conflicts are accepted reasons to reschedule an exam for another day.

  1. You are away from UT as part of a University-sponsored activity. For such instances, you will provide written documentation on UT Letterhead explaining the reason for your absence.
  2. The exam is in conflict with a religious holiday. For this you will provide written notice of the conflict at least 14 days in advance.

Reschedule your Exam(s) at WEL 2.212

The Undergraduate Chemistry Office is where you need to go to reschedule the exam conflict. You will need to schedule an earlier time to take the exam. They will tell you what your options are when you go there. You will need to print, and fill out the form given below and attach any requested documentation about the conflict. If you can't take the exam from 4-6PM (the default alternative time), you will have to ALSO get Dr. McCord's signature for approval on the form. Reschedule for ALL exams with a conflict for the whole semester. Final exam rescheduling will start 2 weeks before final exams.

Alternate Exam Time FORM (fill out and turn in to WEL 2.212)

Cheating

If you get caught cheating in any way, whatsoever, you will have to discuss the situation with us. We will arrive at a penalty and write up a formal report. The minimum penalty for cheating is receiving a 0 on the assignment on which you cheated. In this class, in addition to all the traditional types of cheating (looking at someone else’s answer, utilizing “cheat sheets” of any form or fashion – paper or digitized, getting an advance copy of an exam or quiz), we also consider allowing someone else to use your iClicker cheating. For example, if you send your iClicker to class with another class mate or an individual who is not you and you are caught, you and your accomplice will be penalized. If you deny the allegation, we will proceed by filing a formal report to the Judicial Services in the Dean of Students Office as is policy. Judicial Services would decide the final penalty after a hearing on the matter. For more information, read in the General Information Catalog about scholastic dishonesty (i.e. cheating).

Students with Disabilities

Please notify me of any modification/adaptation you may require to accommodate a disability-related need. You will be requested to provide documentation to the Dean of Students' Office, in order that the most appropriate accommodations can be determined. Specialized services are available on campus through Services for Students with Disabilities. The official wording is this: The University of Austin provides upon request appropriate academic accommodations for qualified students with disabilities. For more information, contact the Office of the Dean of Students at 471-6259, 471-6441 TTY.

Drop Date

The last day to drop the course for academic reasons is April 1, 2013. This will require you to go to your college and get a drop form. You then must bring the form to me and get my approval and signature. After this deadline, students must go to the Dean's office, WCH 2.112, to begin the appeal for substantiated non-academic reasons.

Observance of Religious Holidays

Religious holy days sometimes conflict with class and examination schedules. It is the policy of The University of Texas at Austin that the student must notify each instructor at least fourteen days prior to the classes scheduled on dates he or she will be absent to observe a religious holy day. For religious holidays that fall within the first two weeks of the semester, the notice should be given on the first day of the semester. The student may not be penalized for these excused absences but the instructor may appropriately respond if the student fails to complete satisfactorily the missed assignment or examination within a reasonable time after the excused absence.

How can I be prepared for an emergency?

Occupants of buildings on The University of Texas at Austin campus are required to evacuate buildings when a fire alarm is activated. Alarm activation or announcement requires exiting and assembling outside. Familiarize yourself with all exit doors of each classroom and building you may occupy. Remember that the nearest exit door may not be the one you used when entering the building. Students requiring assistance in evacuation shall inform their instructor in writing during the first week of class. In the event of an evacuation, follow the instruction of faculty or class instructors.

Do not re-enter a building unless given instructions by the following: Austin Fire Department, The University of Texas at Austin Police Department, or Fire Prevention Services office. Behavior Concerns Advice Line (BCAL): 512-232-5050

Does this course carry a FLAG?

You betcha... Quantitative Reasoning

This course carries the Quantitative Reasoning flag. Quantitative Reasoning courses are designed to equip you with skills that are necessary for understanding the types of quantitative arguments you will regularly encounter in your adult and professional life. You should therefore expect a substantial portion of your grade to come from your use of quantitative skills to analyze real- world problems.