UNIVERSITY OF GUAM

COURSE OUTLINE

COURSE NUMBER: CH 491 COLLEGE(OR SPONSORING UNIT): CAS/NATURAL SCIENCES

COURSE TITLE: CHEMISTRY SEMINAR CREDIT HOURS: 1

DATE OF FINAL APPROVAL: SEMESTER OFFERED: FALL/SPRING

Course counts as General Education Requirement

X Part of Chemistry major program

Elective

1 CATALOG DESCRIPTION

This is a course designed to familiarize the student with research or reviews and surveys of chemical literature. It may be taken more than once for credit with consent of program. Prerequisite: Upper division status and consent of program.

2. COURSE CONTENT

Students will be taught the various techniques employed to search the chemical literature. Students will be given orientation to the UOG’s chemistry acquisitions and journal collections. Students will be instructed on the techniques for making effective oral presentations.

3. RATIONALE FOR THE COURSE

To teach an important skill in the art of oral presentation that is vital to the functions of a chemistry professional.

4. SKILLS AND BACKGROUND REQUIRED OR EXPECTED

Upper division status in chemistry and the ability to communicate concepts and techniques of chemistry as required.

5. TEACHING METHODOLOGIES AND ANTICIPATED CLASS SIZE

Techniques for making effective oral presentations will be discussed. A tour of the UOG library and chemistry journals will be given to the seminar students. Techniques for locating primary journal articles will be taught. The class size will be about six students.

6. ADDITIONAL COURSE DESCRIPTORS

None

[The instructor expects the students to provide a dry run of the seminar’s constructive criticism of the student’s presentation will be given to the student.]

7 LEARNING OBJECTIVES FOR STUDENTS

1. To learn practical skills in the techniques for making effective oral presentations.

2. To write up a complete report based on students’ research.

3. To effectively communicate the techniques and concepts utilized by professional chemists.

8. METHODS OF EVALUATION

Effectiveness of final oral presentation = 70%

Submission of progress reports and a final report = 30%

9. REQUIRED AND RECOMMENDED TEXTS AND/OR STUDY GUIDES

Although no single textbook is required students will be introduced to various monographs such as the American chemical Society’s STYLE GUIDE, Second Edition (Ed: Janet Dodd, Washington, D. C., 1997). This manual has a useful and informative chapter on making effective oral chemistry presentations.

10 SUBSEQUENT COURSES

This is a terminal course in chemistry for undergraduate chemistry majors and minors.

THE CALENDAR OF ASSIGNMENTS, ATTENDANCE AND GRADING POLICIES ARE TO BE INCLUDED IN THE COURSE SYLLABUS.