Chemistry 481 - Chemistry Seminar

CHEMISTRY 471-2 CHEMISTRY SEMINAR Fall, 2015 and Spring, 2016

Course Description and Objectives:

Chemistry 471-2 is a two-credit course (one credit each of two semesters) required of all chemistry majors. This course is designed to meet the following objectives: (1) to acquaint students with current research in chemistry, (2) to give students practice in writing and presenting the results of research studies (literature or original), (3) to inform students of opportunities in chemistry beyond the baccalaureate degree, and (4) to allow students to participate in chemistry-oriented service activities.

Place: Rm 329 of Porter Hall Time: 2 PM Friday, unless otherwise noted. Instructor: Renee Beeton, Room 303, Porter Hall Office Hours: MWF 10-11, MW 2-3, others by arrangement Telephone: 719-587-7383 e-mail: [email protected]

Course Requirements and Grading Policy:

1. Attendance: Attendance at all class meetings is required. If you must miss a session (with a valid excuse), see the instructor in advance. 2. Magic Show: Each Fall the Chemistry Department presents a well-received magic show, with hands-on chemistry activities following it. For the past several years, the magic show and associated activities have been presented by our students (primarily from the seminar class). You are required to participate in this public service activity, and in its preparation. This year, the Magic Show will be held on Friday, October 16, 2015. Practice sessions and planning will take place during the week prior to the show. 3. San Luis Valley Science Fair: Each spring, the Chemistry Department participates in the annual SLV Regional Science Fair. Faculty generally serve as judging team leaders, and students serve as judges for this Fair. You are required to participate in this public service activity. 4. Critiquing Scientific Talks: One of the best ways to learn how to give a professional presentation is to observe others giving scientific talks. There are many opportunities to go to science speakers on or around campus, such as Lunchtime Talks, the Faculty Lecture Series, Colorado Field Institute faculty job interview talks, and other special speakers. Throughout the semester you must attend three talks and critique them using the forms attached. Two of these talks must be closely related to chemistry/physical science, the other can be from another field. If you have a question about whether a talk is appropriate or not, please talk to a chemistry faculty member. 5. Presentation of Research Project: A primary focus of this class is to give you an opportunity to hone your skills in oral and written communication of research projects. This will be accomplished by giving three oral presentations to the class and writing summaries and a fairly detailed outline. Each of these is discussed in more detail below. For each presentation, you should plan to use PowerPoint slides. We request that you NOT use notecards or printed copies of the slides during your presentations – that way, the presentations will be more professional. The first presentation will be given in the first semester. You will select an article from Chemical & Engineering News and prepare a brief presentation (10-15 minutes) in which you will present the main points of the paper to the class. The level of this talk should be aimed at a general science audience (like the Lunchtime Talks in Science and Math). So, assume the audience is science-literate, but not chemistry majors. The second presentation will also be given in the first semester. You will select a research paper from a group of papers chosen by the faculty and prepare a brief presentation (10-15 minutes) which will communicate the main points of the paper to the class. The level of this talk should be appropriate for senior chemistry majors. You can assume they have taken most courses in chemistry. The presentation will be critiqued by seminar attendees, using the rubric attached to this syllabus, and the paper will be critiqued by the instructor. We plan to film this fall presentation, strictly for your own use to improve the spring presentation. We promise not to make the video available to any other person. You will meet with the instructor within a couple of weeks following your presentation to discuss the critiques of both the presentation and the paper and to obtain a copy of the video. The third presentation will be more extensive and will be given during the second semester. However, much of the preparation for this talk will take place during the first semester. You are responsible for the choice of topic for this second presentation. You may elect to present the results of your own (original) or another scientist’s (literature) research. Steps that must be completed for this second presentation include: (a) selecting a topic, (b) conducting the necessary library and/or original research, (c) writing a short progress report near the end of the first semester, (d) writing a 2-page summary of your research, and (e) giving a 30 minute (you will be docked points for going more than 5 minutes over or under that time) presentation of your research. Typically, the first three activities are completed in the first semester, with the last two conducted in the second semester.

(a) Selection of topic. As you think about a topic, you may wish to consult with one or more of the faculty regarding suitable topics. We encourage you to consider conducting your own short research project, if time, materials, and equipment permit. Definitely check with the faculty if you wish to pursue and original project. In general, the topic must be chemical or biochemical in nature. By OCTOBER 30, you must turn in a one-paragraph description of your topic. (Of course, you are always welcome to turn in the description early ) The entire chemistry faculty must approve the topic for the seminar. You will be notified in the following week or two if your topic is approved or if you need to modify or select a new topic. If a new or modified topic is requested, you will be given a brief extension to select a new topic, or modify the current one.

(b) Throughout the first semester and the early part of the second semester, conduct the appropriate research on your topic. Check with the chemistry faculty periodically to see whether your progress is appropriate and timely. Keep in mind that many journal articles may need to be obtained via interlibrary loan, so plan accordingly.

(c) A formal written progress report is due on or before December 11. This report should include a detailed outline of the proposed talk and photocopies of at least two lead papers that you will be using as references. Please note that you are welcome to use the Internet to find material for your seminar, but you must have at least three traditional references (journal articles, or chapters in monographs – not textbooks) for the summary and final presentation.

(d) After completing your research (probably early in the second semester) you will write and submit a research summary of two or so pages. This report is due one week before you are scheduled to give your oral presentation. Copies of the summary will be prepared and distributed to classmates and faculty

(e) You will give a 25-30 minute oral presentation of your research to your classmates and the chemistry faulty. You must practice the presentation with one of the faculty members prior to your scheduled time. As in the previous semester, you should use PowerPoint in this presentation.

6. Exit Interview: The chemistry program is always trying to improve by assessing strengths and weaknesses. In order to collect qualitative data for the program, you will be participating in a short, individual, exit interview with the faculty member assigned to you. Times will be arranged between you and your interviewer; however, they should take place in April. These interviews will be confidential; any information shared within the program will be anonymous. 7. Senior Assessment: College policy requires that graduating seniors take an assessment examination in their major discipline(s) in the semester prior to their graduation. Times will be arranged during the latter part of each semester for students to take the chemistry assessment examination. 8. Grading Policy: This course is graded on a letter grade basis: A is excellent, B good, C satisfactory, D poor and F failing. We will use the +/- grading system for this class. Your grade will be based primarily on the quality of the progress report and the brief oral presentations. Your grade will be reduced if you do not fulfill the course requirements according to the table on the next page:

Action Grade Reduction Unexcused absence 1/3 (i.e., B+ to B) Nonparticipation in Magic Show 1 (i.e., A to B) Late turning in progress report or research summary 1/3 Not turning in progress report or research summary 1 Not turning in critique of talks 1/3 each Not giving a talk 2 each

9. Withdrawals and Incompletes: The last day to withdraw from this course and receive a grade of W is Friday, October 30, 2015. After that date, a W may be given only for written medical reasons or extenuating circumstances, either of which must be determined by the Assistant Provost for Student Affairs. Poor performance in class does not constitute an extenuating circumstance. A grade of incomplete is given only for documented medical reasons or extenuating circumstances, to be determined by the instructor. Poor performance in class is not an acceptable reason for an incomplete. 10. Special Consideration: Adams State University complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act. Adams State University is committed to achieving equal educational opportunities, providing students with documented disabilities access to all university programs, services and activities. In order for this course to be equally accessible to all students, different accommodations or adjustments may need to be implemented. The Office of Accessibility Services (OAS) is located in Richardson Hall 3-100, or available at [email protected], and 719-587-7746. They are your primary resource on campus to discuss the qualifying disability, help you develop an accessibility plan, and achieve success in your courses this semester. They may provide you with letters of accommodation, which can be delivered in two ways. You may give them to me in person, or have the Office of Accessibility Services email them. Please make an appointment with their office as early as possible this semester so that we can discuss how potential accommodations can be provided and carried out for this course. If you have already received letters of accommodation for this course from OAS, please provide me with that information privately so that we can review your accommodations together and discuss how best to help you achieve equal access in this course this semester. 11. Emergency Evacuation: In the event of an emergency, the entire class will exit out either the north or south stairwell from the third floor of Porter Hall (depending on the location of the emergency) and meet by the sign for the Music Building east of Porter Hall.

Fall 2015 Schedule

NOTE: This schedule will be changed as student speakers are added. I will hand out another list to you in the next couple of weeks when the schedule is more finalized. 8/28 Dr. Renee Beeton Organizational meeting 9/4 Dr. Alexey Leonyev and Dr. Graduate School Opportunities Christopher Adams 9/11 Sean Rossillon Seminar 9/18 Dr. Christy Miller Professional School Opportunities 9/25 Dr. Renee Beeton Good Talk, Bad Talk 10/2 Students and Faculty Chemistry Magic Show preparations 10/9 No Class Fall Break 10/16 Students and Faculty Chemistry Magic Show 10/23 Dr. Christopher Adams Giving Talks for the Appropriate Audience 10/30 Chemistry Faculty Job Search Basics: Resumes and CVs Topic for spring talk is due 11/6 2 student talks – talk #1 11/13 2 student talk – talk #1 11/20 Dr. Alexey Leontyev “Development of a Stereochemistry Concept Inventory” 11/27 No Class Thanksgiving Break 12/4 2 student talks – talk #2 12/11 2 student talks – talk #2 Detailed outline of the spring talk is due Rubric for Evaluation of Oral Presentations in Chemistry 471

Speaker______Date______

Title of Presentation______

Directions: Evaluate the presentation in the categories listed below with Excellent, Good, Fair, or Poor. In the spaces provided, write pertinent specific comments, and overall strengths/weaknesses. Thanks for your participation.

 Speaker's knowledge/understanding of topic: Ex G F P (Did s/he seem to know what s/he was talking about? Could s/he answer pertinent questions?)

 Speaker's ability to present and organize material clearly: Ex G F P (Were you able to understand the majority of the information presented? Use of appropriate language, speed, eye contact?)

 Appropriateness of topic for audience: Ex G F P (Was the topic suitable for junior/senior chemistry/biochemistry majors?)

 Speaker's use of appropriate visual aids: Ex G F P (Quality of PowerPoint/overhead slides, models, demos, etc. Did these enhance or distract from the presentation?)

 Overall evaluation of presentation: Ex G F P Number of ratings Avg rating:

Strengths: Weaknesses:

Rubric for Evaluation of Oral Presentations in Chemistry 471