Laboratory Grading and Lab TeamsThe 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 Experiments. The grade for each experiment is determined by the following:
Grading
of Molecular Modeling Exercises.
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 affect your grade in this area. The products from each experiment are always submitted for grading prior to proper disposal. Lab Quizzes. (20%) Lab quizzes will be given periodically throughout the semester. Some of the lab quizzes will be given at the start of lab before carrying out the experiment (pre-lab quizzes) others will be given after the report is turned in (post-lab quizzes). The lab quizzes can be on any aspect of the experiment, from spectra interpretation to reaction mechanism to purification procedures to calculation of the theoretical yield, etc. Due Dates.
Lab Teams.
You will work
in rotating teams of three as determined by a draw of a
playing card during the first lab period. For the first lab you are
teamed with the two students who draw the same numerical
card, i.e. the 3 aces, 3 tens, 3 deuces, etc and
assigned to a fume hood which will be labeled with the
corresponding card (in spades). Then the method of
rotation is as follows: students who draw heart cards do
not rotate, they stay in the same fume hood throughout
the semester. Diamonds rotate each experiment to the
hood immediately to their right, i.e. clockwise around
the perimeter of the lab. Clubs rotate to the hood
on their left or counterclockwise. One student is designated as the note-taker for the in-lab journal for each experiment according to the following schedule. Expts 1 and 4 = Hearts, Expts 2 and 5 = Diamonds, Expts 3 and 6 = Clubs. You may want to
delegate assignments both during the laboratory period
as well as for the writing of the lab reports.
However, it is expected that all three team members
contribute in good faith to both the in-lab work and
the writing of the report for each experiment. 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 in the two main areas for each experiment; the in-lab work and writing the report.
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. |