Lecture: TR 8:00-9:20 AM
Laboratory: M 2:00-4:50 PM
Upon completion of this course, students will be able to:
Requirements are as follow:
Since this course has a laboratory component, the lecture and laboratory grades are calculated separately. The lecture and the laboratory weigh 50% each. If a student fails the laboratory, he/she fails the course.
The final grade is based on the following scale:
90-100 A
80-89 B
70-79 C
60-69 D
< 60 F
Lecture
Tests: There will be a total of three tests including the final examination. The average of the three tests weighs 40% of your lecture grade.
Test Calendar
Test 1 February 21
Test 2 April 18
Test 3 May 9, 8:00-10:00 AM. Seniors are not exempt from taking the final exam unless they are graduating with honors.
Assignments and participation weigh 60% of the lecture grade.
Laboratory
Quizzes, 20%. They are scheduled for almost all lab periods. There will be questions, regarding the previous and the current lab exercises. I cannot stress strong enough the importance of reading your lab exercise before coming to the lab session. PLEASE DO! No make up quizzes.
Reports and laboratory assignments, 60%. Most lab reports are due a week after each laboratory except for those laboratory exercises that have multiple lab sessions. The instructor will announce the deadlines accordingly.
Lab reports must be typed in 12-point font (Times New Roman), in 1.5-line spacing and must not exceed four pages. All margins must be 1”. I recommend keeping the lab reports in a three-ring binder after being graded. Your lab notes (modification of procedures, observations, results, calculations, etc.) must be kept in a notebook.
The reports must contain:
1) Your name
2) Name of the lab exercise
3) Date (when the laboratory exercise is conducted)
4) Introduction & objectives
5) Materials and Methods -brief description of procedures
6) Results
7) Discussion: significance of the results, answers to questions, your conclusions, etc.
8) Literature Cited
Unless otherwise indicated, all assignments must be typed and followed the format below:
Line spacing: 1.5
Margins: 1" all around
Font: Times New Roman
Font size: not smaller than 10 point and not larger than 12
Proper English usage is required.
No late assignments will be accepted unless the student has a compelling reason such as an injury, illness, or family emergency and informs the instructor of the situation in a timely manner (not later than 24 hours).
1. Students must attend lectures and labs and must be punctual.
2. A student with excessive absences will be dropped from the course (2012-2014 Student Handbook, p.39-40).
1. No make-up exams or quizzes will be given except in cases of authorized absences (2012-2013 Student Handbook, p.43-44), injury, illness, or family emergency. If the reason of your absence is a non-life threatening injury or illness or a family emergency, you must contact me without delay. If the reason of your absence is a university activity (athletic, art, music, etc.), you must furnish a letter from the instructor indicating the reason for the absence. If you must be absent from class for a long period of time because of injury, illness, or family emergency, please contact Dean of Students.
2. Unexcused absences from tests, laboratory quizzes, and assignments will be recorded as zero
3. Three absences (excused or unexcused) in the laboratory are grounds for failure of the laboratory. Therefore, a student who accumulates three absences in the laboratory will receive an F in the course.
4. If you have questions and want to discuss course material or problems, please come to see me during my office hours.
5. Students must follow the lecture outline and read the material before coming to class.
6. Students must follow the university standards of conduct (2011-2012 Student Handbook, p. 70-80).
7. Students must turn off cellular phones and other electronoc devices entering the classroom and laboratory.
8. Electronic devices are not allowed during quizzes and tests.
9. Eating, drinking, and smoking are not allowed in the classroom and laboratory.
10. Napping is not allowed during lectures and labs.
CELL PHONE ETIQUETTE
I personally consider answering a cell phone and text messaging in class or leaving the classroom to answer a call very impolite. Students who answer their cell phone and engage in text messaging will be asked to leave the classroom and will be considered absent. If a student needs to have a cell phone on because an extraordinary circumstance (e.g., having a family member sick at home or in the hospital), he/she must let me know about it before class.
ACADEMIC HONESTY
MSU students demand of themselves the highest level of academic honesty as stated in their honor creed “As an MSU Student, I pledge not to lie, cheat, steal, or help anyone else do so” (2012-2013 Student Handbook, p. 4). In this course you will be asked to work together in groups on assignments and laboratory exercises and then show your understanding of the topic by writing a summary, answering questions, writing lab reports, etc. I want to be absolutely clear on this subject, while I strongly encourage students to discuss assignment materials and laboratory results among themselves, it is absolutely unacceptable to copy each other. Academic honesty involves the submission of work that is wholly the student’s own work. It also involves giving credit or authorship by following the proper citation rules.
STUDENTS WITH DISABILITY
In accordance with the law, MSU provides students with documented disabilities academic accommodations. If you are a student with a disability, please contact me and Disability Support Services, Clark Student Center, room 168, phone: 397-4140.
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY
By enrolling in this course, the student expressly grants MSU a "limited right" in all intellectual property created by the student for the purpose of this course. The "limited right" shall include but shall not be limited to the right to reproduce the student's work product in order to verify originality and authenticity, and for educational purposes.