Chemistry 410 Syllabus -- Pacific Lutheran University

Professor: Dr. Sheri Tonn
Office Hours: MTW 8, or by appointment. E-mail or call x7504 (Ginger) to schedule
Office: Library 100
Phone: 535-7505
Email Address: tonnsj@plu.edu
Meeting Time: Thursdays, 8-9:45 am
Location: Rieke #210

Introduction
Topics Include
Texts
Course Policies
Course Assignments & Procedures
Grading

INTRODUCTION

This course will give you an introduction to becoming a professional chemist, biochemist, or scientist in a related discipline and to initiating work on a new subject. You will gain additional laboratory expertise and integrate much that you have learned in other courses and work experiences. We`ll discuss searching the chemical literature, hypothesis development, experiment design, chemistry faculty research interests, lab safety, special techniques used by chemists, and other practical aspects of doing lab work. This course is somewhat open-ended, and students may help shape the direction it takes. You will chose a research advisor and select and carry out a research project through this course.

TOPICS INCLUDE

Chemical literature: scope, examples, use
Searching chemical literature
Computerized data bases Project selection and initiation - presentations by Chemistry faculty
Project design
Proposal writing
Record keeping: practical and legal considerations
Intellectual property including patents and copyrights
Technical writing
Laboratory safety
Ethics and fraud in science
The lives of eminent chemists
Summer research opportunities
Graduate and professional school
What can I do with a bachelor's degree?
Chemistry careers

TEXTS

Stock, M., A Practical Guide to Graduate Research, (1985) McGraw Hill, New York.

American Chemical Society, Safety in the Academic Chemical Laboratories, (1985) 5th Ed., American Chemical Society, Washington, D.C.

On reserve: Kanare, H. M., Writing the Laboratory Notebook, (1985) American Chemical Society, Washington, D.C.

U.S. Patent Office publications
Chemistry and Engineering News articles

web resources

COURSE
POLICIES

Class attendance is expected. If you are not able to attend class because of illness or a serious emergency, please notify me via email or voicemail as soon as possible and always before class.

Academic honesty is expected in this class. Please review the Student Handbook if you have any questions about it (pp. 33-38). Academic dishonesty will earn you a failing grade.

If you need course adaptations or accommodations because of disability, if you have emergency medical information to share with me, or you need other special arrangements, please make an appointment with me as soon as possible. If you have questions concerning the services available for special needs at PLU please call Christine Benton at x8786 or Alene Klein at x7602.

You need a PLU e-mail account for this course. If you don't already have one, or have not gotten an account and password on Sage, please do so as soon as possible. We will communicate via email and threaded discussion group between classes. If you are uneasy about using email, I can help you.

COURSE ASSIGNMENTS
& PROCEDURES

Due Date	Item
2/11	Library assignment
2/25	Completion of exercises on the use of chemical literature.
4/8	Selection and definition of a research topic. This brief written statement that is first reviewed and approved by your project supervisor.
4/22	Complete on-line literature search on a research topic, keeping systematic records. (Turn in a copy of your search strategy along with the search.)
4/24??	ACS Undergraduate Research Symposium - each student should plan to attend
Weekly	Attend at least two Chemistry seminars presented by PLU seniors, or two presentations at the Natural Sciences Academic Festival
End of term	Complete research contract signed by research supervisor, student, and Ch 410 instructor on research goals, strategy and time-line Turn in a proposal designed to obtain, or as if to obtain, funding for the conduct of your project. Write a research report covering your literature and laboratory findings. (Use the format of a specific, identified scientific journal appropriate for your topic. Turn in separate copies to your instructor and project supervisor.)

You must complete your research report by the beginning of the semester in which you intend to graduate. It is your responsibility to inform the Ch 410 instructor of your plans to graduate. An IP ("in progress") grade will be assigned at the end of the semester. awarded until all requirements have been met. It is expected that the research report will be the final item turned in, sometime after the end of the semester. If a student is engaged in summer research, either at PLU or elsewhere, the report is the same as the final report for that position.

GRADING

Assignments and quiz    20%
Research contract            5
Class participation           15
Research proposal           30
Research report                30

Criteria
C - satisfactory completion of assignments, quiz, contract, proposal, 100 hours of research, and final report. Satisfactory review from research advisor.

B - completion of all work required for a C, but quality is generally good to excellent. Reports may have some errors or inconsistencies but are generally well written, carefully referenced and professionally prepared. Good review from research advisor.

A - completion of all work required for a C, but quality is uniformly excellent. Scientific content, writing style and format are very high quality. Outstanding review from research advisor.

Grading criteria will include the quality of thought given to the planning, performing, and reporting of your research; the quantity but primarily the quality of the effort expended on its conduct; and, last and least, the nature of the outcome. Most research is hard, and often results are not as expected. There will be one in class quiz on safety. Repeated absence from class will lower the course grade.