CHEM 432 Fall 2005

Required Materials

The ACS Style Guide, 3^rd Ed. A.M. Coghill, L.R. Garson, Eds. 2006

Write Like a Chemist: A Resource Guide for Chemistry Majors, M. S. Robinson, F. L Stoller, J. K. Jones, M. S. Costanza-Robinson, 2005-2006 Pilot Draft, NAU (NSF 0230913)

Course Goals: Effective communication skills are almost as important as scientific prowess. As scientists, we need to communicate in a clear, concise, and coherent fashion. The primary modes of communication are written (journals articles, research proposals) and oral (research presentations, personal communication). During this semester we will work to improve both skill sets.

Graded Assignments: Each student will present chemical information in the three common presentation formats: papers, oral presentations, and poster presentations. The topic for all three will be the same and must be chosen within the first two weeks of the semester. This means the topic you pick now will be with you all semester, so choose wisely. The topic will, preferably, be related to the student’s current undergraduate research.

Papers: The paper will be submitted three times during the semester, with each draft reviewed by 2 fellow students and the instructor. See the tentative course schedule for dates.

Oral Presentations: Each student must give two oral presentations during the semester. The first will be a five minute summary of the work. The second will be a 20 minute overview.

Posters: Students may elect to give a poster at CCSU URCAD (April 4), ACS National Meeting (April 6-10, New Orleans), or ACS Local Meeting (April 26, Smith College). Students presenting at one of these forums must submit their poster for instructor review a minimum of 5 days before the event. Students meeting this requirement will receive full points. Any student not presenting at a meeting must submit their poster electronically by 4PM April 25. These posters will be graded for content and style

Peer Review: Each student will be required to perform anonymous peer review of classmates papers. This will begin with the “second draft” of papers. Each student will review two papers.

Course Policies:

Attendance is required and tardiness is not accepted; therefore, if you cannot make it by 1:00 PM for lecture do not come at all. Students will have ½% deducted from their final grade for each unexercised absence. If you have a valid reason for missing class, you must notify me as soon as possible (preferably by e-mail) as to your reason. Traffic is not an excuse for tardiness.

Academic Dishonesty: I strictly enforce the University Academic Misconduct Policy. Any form of misconduct will result in an F for the assignment and/ or the course, and I will refer you through appropriate university channels.

Make-Up Assignments and Late Work: Deadlines are sacred. If an assignment is late, it is a zero.

Contact information is given at the header of this syllabus. I strongly recommend using e-mail to contact me. I do not return student phone calls, but I do respond to e-mails quickly during regular university hours. I do not respond to e-mail during evenings, weekends, or state holidays.

ACS Meeting: The week of April 6 is the ACS Meeting in New Orleans. I will make special accommodations for students who attend the meeting.

Inclement Weather: The University may cancel classes due to inclement weather. Call the University Snow Phone: 832-3333, check the website, or listen to WTIC-AM, 1080 kHz.

Special Needs: If you require course adaptations or accommodations because of a disability, please notify me of your situation ASAP.

Point Distribution
Paper-draft 1	50
Paper-draft 2	100
Paper-final draft	200
Presentation 1	50
Presentation 2	200
Poster	200
Peer Reviews (4 @ 50)	200
Total	1000

Grading Scale
900	A
875	A-
850	B+
775	B
750	B-
725	C+
650	C
600	C-
550	D
0	F

Tentative Course Schedule¹

Week of	M	F	Reading²
01.22	No class	Syllabus	ACS-1
01.28	Journal Articles	Writing Styles	WLC-I,II ACS-2
02.04	Methods	Results	WLC-III,IV
02.11	Discussion	No Class	WLC-V
02.18	No class	Abstract Introduction	WLC-VI, VII
02.25	Presentations	Presentations	ACS 14-16; WLC XV-XVII
03.03	Presentations	Peer review Paper Draft 1	ACS-6
03.10	Editorial Process	Drafts	ACS-3; WLC- XVII
03.17	Spring Break
03.24	Posters	Posters
03.31	PowerPoint Paper Draft 2	URCAD
04.07	ACS Meeting	Preparations Peer 1
04.14	Presentations	Presentations
04.21	Presentations	Presentations
04.28	Presentations	Presentations Paper Final
05.05	Presentations	Peer Final
05.12	Finals Week, No Final Exam

¹Any changes to the above schedule will be announced in class.

²WLC = Writing Like a Chemist; ACS = ACS Style Guide

ACS meeting dates

Dr. Barry L. Westcott	westcottb@ccsu.edu
NC 414	860.832.2677
http://www.chemistry.ccsu.edu/westcott