Chemistry 350 Laboratory - Grading

Grading of Experiments. The grade for each experiment is a composite of the lab notebook (20%) (pre-lab plan = 10%, in-lab journal = 10%), the report (50%), the quality of your lab work (10%), and your understanding of the experiment as determined by a lab quiz (20%).  The grade in the laboratory counts 25% toward your overall grade for the course. A passing grade must be obtained in the laboratory in order to pass the course.

Grading of Molecular Modeling Exercises. The "Learning from Molecular Modeling" worksheets are be completed during lab working with your lab team. The worksheets will be assigned a grade out of 100 points and averaged in with the lab experiments at a weighting value of 50%. (The Molecular Modeling Exercises involve carrying out the procedures and filling out the worksheets only. No prelab or in-lab notes or formal reports are expected for these.)

Grading of Laboratory Notebooks. (20%) Lab notebooks are graded on the degree of adherence to the format described in the guidelines and on the completeness and quality of each section.  Omissions will lead to significant deductions so make sure your notebook is complete. 

Grading of Lab Reports. (50%) Lab reports are graded primarily on the completeness and quality of each section as delineated in the guidelines. The results and discussion section and results tables section are probably the most important parts and receive the greatest emphasis in grading. The overall writing quality (including neatness, organization, and writing quality) will also be factored into the grade for each report.

Quality of Lab Work. (10%) Lab grades also factor in the quality of your lab work. Low yields, impure products, or otherwise poor results and excessive amounts of glassware breakage will adversely effect your grade in this area. The products from each experiment are always submitted for grading prior to proper disposal.

Lab Quizzes. (20%) After the due date for each experiment a lab quiz will be given (either at the start of a lecture or as part of a midterm exam). The lab quizzes can be on any aspect of the experiment, from spectra interpretation to reaction mechanism to pruificaton procedures, etc.

Due Dates. Due dates for the reports are one week after completion of the experiment (unless otherwise instructed) and late lab reports will be penalized at least 5%. (Under certain circumstances you may be granted an extension of a report deadline. Ask the instructor if you feel you need an extension. ) The pre-lab is due at the start of the lab period the lab is to be performed. Late pre-labs do not receive credit and you will not be allowed to work on any experiment without handing in a complete pre-lab. The in-lab journal is always due the same day it was written and is turned in before leaving the lab.

Lab Teams. You will work in instructor-assigned teams of three for the labs in this course. You may want to delegate assignments both during the actual laboratory periods as well as outside of lab when writing prelabs and reports. However, just as it would not be permissible for only one team member to carry out the experimental procedures during the lab, it is equally not permissible for only one team member to be involved in the preparation of a prelab or a lab report. It is expected that all three team members work together on the prelab and the report for each experiment. To ensure fairness of lab grading, all lab teams will be switched around after experiment 4. 

Team Contribution Surveys (TCS). When turning in the lab report for each experiment each team member must also submit a team contribution survey. The TCS are available electronically at the course D2L site. Each TCS will ask you to rate (on a scale of 1 to 5) yourself and your teammates five areas for each experiment; writing of the prelab plan, the in-lab work, writing the report, team meetings, and member inclusiveness.

You will be penalized 5 points for every rating of 3 or less in any of the individual phases of the experiment. In other words, if you don't help with a prelab and at least one of your teamates is honest about it and rates you a 3 or less on the prelab, then you lose 5 points. (Ratings of 1 or 2 will cost even more points). Same thing goes for the other four rating areas.

These penalties will be applied at the end of the semester, not as we go along. In other words, you will not find out about any penalties that were assessed until the end of the semester. I am doing this so that people can feel more free about rating the other people on their team honestly, without fear of any kind of reprisal.

If you do rank one of your teammates at 3 or less for any of the phases of an experiment, then you should follow up with an email to the instructor that explains your rationale for doing so. This should ensure that poor ratings are not arbitrary, malicious or without good reasons to back them up.

Not submitting a TCS for any experiment incurs a five point penalty.

Attendance. Your attendance at all scheduled labs is required. If you have a legitimate excuse then it is your responsibility to contact the instructor prior to the lab in order to work out arrangements to make up the lab if possible. One absence may be acceptable as determined by the instructor considering the circumstances. Additional absences will receive a zero grade for the experiment.