problem sets, Mastering Chem, Aleks, etc

[robert zellmer]

I don't know if I mentioned the following in class.  However, I've
still received a couple of questions about whether there
will be "problem sets" in 1220 or online homework exercises.
I do not use Mastering Chemistry, Aleks or collect problems
for a grade or extra credit. I know some instructors do.

My belief is,  if you do ALL the assigned homework problems
(and then a few extra) AND understand what you are doing AND
understand the concepts in the book AND do things the proper
way (read the "How to Study" link) AND seek help when you
need it, you should be fine.   The problem is most people do NOT
do the proper things. I will treat you as adults and it's up to you to
be responsible enough to do homework and come for help.  I will
provide as much help as possible but it ultimately comes down to
you being responsible enough to do the proper things.

I've made Mastering Chemistry available for you to use.  You will
find the instructions and course ID at my "Helpful Tidbits" link.
For each chapter I will have a section of tutorials and a section which
is all the homework exercises from the end of the chapter.  Doing the
end-of-chapter (EOC) problems on line using MC really won't be any
different than you doing them on a piece of paper, which however won't
require all the bother of trying to input things correctly.  Thus, my 
suggestion
is to skip MC for the EOC exercises. The tutorial problems on MC could
be more helpful, especially if you are having trouble understanding the 
material.

You can find the "assigned" homework on the class web page,


      _*Chemistry 1220 - Su14*_
      <http://chemistry.osu.edu/%7Erzellmer/chem1220/chem1220.htm>

Once there you will see links for "Homework".  Click on the
appropriate link for the edition of the textbook you're using.
What you will find are the end-of-chapter problems you should do.
For chapter 11 I've listed the EOC problems as 2, 4, 6, etc.  This
means 11.2, 11.4, 11.6 in the EOC exercises.

Just looking at the solutions (mine or the publishers) is NOT the
same as YOU doing the homework problems.  YOU must
be able to do them on your own in a reasonable period
of time.  Chem 1220 involves lots of concepts and
equations.  You need to understand these concepts and
truly understand the equations (when and how to use them,
what the eqns tell you about the relationships between the
variables in the eqns, etc.).  If you attempt the homework
problems I've assigned but can't do them on your own or don't
understand the concepts and eqns. you should seek help
from me and/or the TAs and then work some more problems.
If you don't do this you won't do well in the class.

You MUST keep up with what we are doing in class.  If
you are behind, even by one lectures worth of material,
you will find it will be difficult to catch up and understand
things.  This is not a course you can put off for another
day.  You will need to spend 5-6 hours EVERY DAY in
order to do well.  You should be spending about 30 hours
per week (sometimes less, sometimes more) on the lecture
material and 3-4 hours on lab to prepare for one lab and write
the report and since there's two labs per week that's 6-8 hours
per week for lab.  Students often tell me (after failing the first
midterm) they spend a lot of time every week studying.  When I
ask for specifics I'm often told "a lot" is 6 or fewer hours
a week.  That won't work.  Always skim 1/2 a chapter ahead
in the book before class so that lecture will make a little more
sense.  You should then finish the sections in  the textbook and
associated homework for sections covered in one lecture before
the next.  I generally follow the order of the sections in the book.
This way you are keeping up and the next lecture will make more
sense. You should be done with Friday lecture material by Saturday.
You should be done with ALL the assigned sections and homework
for the week by Saturday or Sunday.  Read about how to study for
this class at the following link,

*Studying Methods - 1210, 1220* 
<http://chemistry.osu.edu/%7Erzellmer/studying/studying_1210.txt>

This class is quite a bit tougher than most, mainly because most
of you have not seen most of this material in high school and even
if you have probably not at the level of understanding we expect.
We cover a lot of conceptual things and that is often something
most students did not see in high school or in other classes.

You will be busy with this course.  It takes a lot of hard work
and effort.  It will be mostly up to you how much you learn.
Probably 90% of what you learn will be on your own with about
10% coming from me, both in  class and by you asking me
questions.  I'm always very willing to help and will help as much
as I can. You can always come by my office or e-mail me questions.
You will likely get a lot of e-mails from me throughout the semester.
When someone asks me a good question I usually send my answer
to the whole class (usually when there's one person with a question
there's probably several more with the  same question).  I will also
send answers to questions  I've received in previous years.  As a
matter of fact, the answers to some of those can be found at the
"Helpful Tidbits" link on the 1220 class web page (not Carmen).
Check this page and my other links for answers to your questions
before e-mailing me.  However, if you still don't understand something
do not be afraid to seek me out in my office or send an e-mail.

Dr. Zellmer
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