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. (30%) 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. (5%) 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. (15%) 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. |