COURSE IN FORMATI ON

Course Title:

Survey of Chemistry

Course Number: CHEM A103 (3 credits)

Prerequisites: MATH A105 or permission of the instructor
Course Description: This course introduces a survey of topics including: matter, energy, units of
measurement, the periodic table, atomic and molecular structure, chemical bonding, radioactivity,
oxidation-reduction reactions, and solutions (involving acids, bases, and buffers).
Special Note: This is an introductory course designed for health science majors and assumes prior
knowledge of college preparatory high school chemistry and algebra. If you need the lab for this course
it is a separate registration.
CLASS ATTENDANCE AND PARTICIPATION POLICY:
Class attendance and participation is crucial for meeting the course objectives and success in this
course. Those receiving high grades in class will most likely be those who:
Are prepared for class and watch every VoiceThread.
Complete all assignments neatly, accurately and on-time.
Follow up with the instructor if they do not understand a concept.
Speak up when working with their peers about what you both understand and dont understand.
Meeting Times: 8/29 -12/17 There are no official synchronous meeting times. All of the material is
covered asynchronously via Blackboard and VoiceThread. We will cover roughly 1 chapter from the
book each week. This will require more than 6 hours of your time each week to be successful in this
course.
REQUIRED TEXTS AND MATERIALS:
You can purchase either the 7th, 8th or 9th edition of the textbook. I will be working from the 8th and it is
your responsibility to figure out page numbers if you choose to work from a different edition. Since
most students who take CHEM A103 are interested in the health sciences, I choose a textbook that
includes the information for CHEM A104. In addition, this is the same textbook required by the KPC
chemistry courses.
GENERAL, ORGANIC, AND BIOCHEMISTRY BY DENNISTON ET AL. YOU MAY
USE THE 7 TH , 8 TH , OR 9TH EDITION (REFERENCE ISBN 978-0-07-340276-5)
OPTIONS FOR PURCHASING YOUR TEXTBOOK

1. The online Kodiak College Bookstore Ranges from $170 - $250

2. Rent your textbook from a service like Chegg.com Ranges from $35-40
3. You can purchase an electronic book from a service like CourseSmart or Kindle.
INSTRUCTIONAL G OALS AND STUDEN T OUTCOMES:
By the end of the semester, students will
1.
2.
3.
4.

define the vocabulary associated with general chemistry,

apply their chemical knowledge to novel situations,
interpret scientific graphs and tables and draw conclusions from the data,
convey an understanding of science as a dynamic process used to find answers and solve
problems,
5. evaluate scientific evidence encountered in their day to day lives
SPECIFIC STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES
Upon completion of this course the student will be able to:
1. convert between units, solve problems with dimensional analysis
2. describe the structure of the periodic table and use the table to gather information about novel
elements
3. identify the characteristics of a chemical reaction and identify the information given by a
chemical equation
4. predict molecular structure of different elements and molecules
5. describe the differences in types of bonds and represent bonding using Lewis and VSEPR models
6. identify examples of oxidation-reduction reactions in everyday life
7. define the characteristics of a buffered solution and determine if a solution is acidic or basic
8. describe the difference between inorganic of organic chemistry.
INSTRUCTOR INFOR MATION
Instructor:

Dr. Cindy Trussell

Office Location:
Google Hangouts

109 Vocational Technology Building on the Kodiak College Campus and via

Office hours:
Tuesdays 5pm 7pm (if an appointment is made by 5pm on that day)
Wednesdays 10 - noon
Please be assured that I am always available by appointment at a time that fits both of our schedules. I
will post my calendar in Blackboard so that you will know at what times I am available.

COMMUNICATION AND EMAIL POLICIES

Phone: 603-259-1533
This is a Google voice number and will simultaneously ring my office and home phone numbers (so that
you dont have to call multiple locations), if I am not available it will go to my voice mail. Most distance
students tend to communicate with me via email and text. If you'd rather send a text message, please
do, I am not charged for any texts with this number. Please be sure to indicate who you are in your text
message, after you have texted once I will add your name to your number. If you do not want to be
texted back, please make sure I know this.
E-mail: citrussell@alaska.edu
(note: if you use your google apps account and we are both signed in you would be able to use google
chat and will know that I am online). Please note that no assignments will be accepted via email. You
may send an email with the assignment to confirm that it is completed, but it will not be graded unless it
is turned in via Blackboard using the assignment feature.
RESPONSE TIMES:
Aside from during office hours, I will respond to email communications within 48 hours. If you do not
hear back from me within this time period, please assume that I did not receive your email or text and
you should resend it.
SUBJECT LINE IN YOUR EMAILS:
Put the course ID (CHEM A103), and your topic in the subject line. For example: CHEM A103, Chapter

1 Question
UA EMAI L:
All students on all campuses at the University of Alaska have a yourname@alaska.edu email account.
The University will use this e-mail to communicate with all students on many important matters
(financial aid, student account, emergency alerts). You are responsible for knowing and, when
appropriate, acting on the contents of all university communications sent to your official UA e-mail
accounts. Many students either forward their other email account into this Google-based account or
they forward their university email into their personal email account.
A primary mode of communication in this course (outside of class time) will be email. It is your
responsibility to check your email regularly for messages. At the beginning of the semester, check to be
sure UAA Blackboard emails are not collecting in your junk email folder. If this does happen, open the
email and select the option to mark as an approved/safe sender.
OBSERVATION OF "NETIQUETTE"

What you put into an online course reflects on your level of professionalism. All your online
communications need to be composed with fairness, honesty and tact. Posting of personal contact
information is discouraged (e.g. telephone numbers, address, personal website address). Online
threaded discussions are public messages, and all writings in these areas will be viewable by the entire
class or assigned group members.

It is expected that each student will participate in a mature and respectful fashion and conduct
yourself as if you were in a classroom.
Use proper structure, spelling and grammar. Do not use acronyms. Avoid strong or offensive
language.
Assume the best of others in the class and expect the best from them.
Value the diversity of the class. Recognize and value the experiences, abilities, and knowledge
that each person brings to class.

CLASS STRUCTURE:
I have created pre-recorded the lectures using a system called VoiceThread.
You are responsible for being an active member of our course in the VoiceThread Lecture Workshops.
To demonstrate this, I expect that you will engage in the questions posed in the course. If you know the
answer to a fellow student's question, please answer it. I also expect that you will ask questions
whenever something is unclear. Lecture workshop points will be awarded based on the following rubric.

Please understand that you cannot earn the points if you do not attend the VoiceThread Lecture
Workshop. However, if you must miss a class during a particular week you will be allowed to watching
up to 1 week late for a 20% reduction in lecture workshop points.
Learning chemistry is not simply the acquisition of correct information. Learning requires integrating
new information with your own knowledge and experiences, and delivery of information by itself
doesnt help you develop your own understanding of the material. What this means is that I cannot
simply transmit knowledge to you you will have to take an active role in the learning process.

One unsatisfying alternative to building a solid understanding is rote memorization and recall, which
invariably leads to boredom and frustration and which has little, if any, lasting value. I dont want you to
worry about having to remember lots of information in this course you are free to consult your
notes or book during all work for the course, including all group quizzes. The only time you will not
have access to your notes and book will be for the final exam. You will always have a periodic table
available.
BLACKBOARD & VOICETHREAD:
This course will utilize Blackboard (blackboard.uaa.alaska.edu) as our course platform.
You log in to Blackboard with your UA username and password
If you are having trouble logging in or any other Blackboard (Bb) related issues, the UAA Call Center
toll-free (877) 633-3888 absolutely can help you.
Assistance with Blackboard can be found by using the Student Help section on the left-hand navigation
bar and/or by calling the UAA call center at 877-633-3888. Dont hesitate to call the call center if you
are having trouble getting access or with other aspects of Blackboard. They can also assist you with
VoiceThread and basic computer related tasks.
GRADING:
I will make every attempt to return graded work in a timely fashion (7 working days) from the assigned
due date. Grades will be based upon the percentage of points earned out of the total points possible
during the semester.

90% and above = A which means that your work is superior, far exceeds average understanding
as evidenced in course work and goes significantly beyond the basics. More than 855 points
and take final exam
80% and above = B which means that you work is far above average, fully meets average
understanding as evidenced in course work and fully understands the basics and can deal with
concepts somewhat beyond that level. More than 760 points
70% and above = C which means that your work is average and meets the minimum
expectations and satisfies course requirements. More than 665 points
60% and above = D which means that your work is below average, though it still meets many
minimum expectations and satisfies all or most course requirements. More than 570 points
Below 60% = F

Please note a grade of A will not be awarded if the final exam is not taken**

The predicted though not final breakdown of available points is given below (please note that this is
subject to change slightly depending on how quickly we work):
Assessment Type

Number and Points

Start Here Course Orientation Points

Total to be earned
30

Pre-class Reading Quizzes

14 @ 10

140

Problem Sets

9 @ 20

180

Group Quizzes

5 @ 50

250

Lecture Workshops

15 @ 10

150

Final Exam Cumulative

1 @200

200

Total Points

950

Points to Percentage
3%
21%

Start Here Course

Orientation Points

15%

Pre-class Reading Quizzes

19%

16%

Problem Sets
Group Quizzes

26%

Lecture Workshops
Final Exam

You are capable of

more than you know.
Choose a goal that
seems right for you
and strive to be the
best, however hard
the path. Aim high.
Behave honorably.
Prepare to be alone at
times, and to endure
failure. Persist! The
world needs all you
can give. Edward O.
Wilson

EXPLANATION OF G RADED COMPONEN TS OF TH E COURSE

PRE-CLASS READING QUIZZES
You are responsible for taking one pre-class quiz on Blackboard each week. These quizzes will
exclusively be true/false or multiple choice. They will self-grade. You will be allowed to take each quiz
2 times. These quizzes will focus on what you are expected to read for that week. You should use your

book to help you answer the questions. The quizzes will be due on Wednesday nights at 11:59pm each
week.
PROBLEM SETS
Problem sets are designed to have students work with the material that they have learned through
lecture attendance and reading the textbook. Students are encouraged to work together on these
problem sets, but should provide their answers in their own words. It is not acceptable to copy anothers
answers or to allow your answers to be copied. Problem sets will be due on Wednesday nights at
11:59pm each week.
GROUP QUIZZES
Group quizzes take the place of mid-term exams in my course. Students take these quizzes with one
other student, in other words in groups of 2. This format allows you the opportunity to discuss your
answers to the questions and come to consensus on the answer you both believe to be correct. The
types of questions on the summary quizzes are short answer and calculation questions that also ask that
you describe why an answer is what it is.
As this is an asynchronous course, we will use a platform that will allow you to work together, but not
have to be at the computer at the same time. The platform is called VoiceThread. The basic procedure
for these milestones in the course is as follows:

Step 1: Each student answers their own questions (one student will have evens and the other
student odds). Due by Wednesday@ 11:59pm of the week it is assigned.
Step 2: Students go back into the VoiceThread and comment on each of the questions their
partner answered. These comments should indicate if they concur and why or why not. Due by
Saturday @ 11:59pm of the week it is assigned.
Step 3: Students return one final time to review the comments of their partner and agree upon a
final answer. Due by Wednesday@ 11:59pm of the week it is assigned.

Grading for group quizzes will be based on the following rubric:

This structure requires that you take your parts of the quizzes seriously. We will only have 5 or 6 of
these in the semester so it will not be each week that you will need to be on top of the deadlines.
FINAL EXAM
The final exam in this course will be cumulative and also review. Each and every question on the exam
will have previously shown up on your group quizzes. To prepare for this exam, please review all of the
group quizzes. This exam will be taken during the finals week of class. No make up exams will be
granted without prior approval from me. The exam must be taken between the 12th and 16h of
December. Most importantly, you must take your final exam in a test proctor center. There is a proctor
form that you need to fill out with UAAs eLearning services.
COMMITMENT TO SAFE AND MEANINGFUL EXCHANGE OF IDEAS
Each of us brings to the classroom different ideas, attitudes, experiences, and beliefs. All are valuable,
and each new idea or thought gives us the opportunity to learn something new. To make it possible for
all to share, it is important that we treat one another with mutual respect. We should all seek to make
the classroom a safe, fun, and interactive place to learn. Questions and comments in class should be
relevant to the topic at hand.
Any continued form of disruption from a student will result in an instructor-initiated withdrawal. At the
first instance, I will let you know that the behavior isnt appropriate for class. At the second instance, I
will ask that you leave class for that day. On the third instance you will be withdrawn from the course.
Please note that this involves losing the cost of the course and potentially financial aid for the semester.
Your rights and responsibilities are spelled out in the UAA student code of conduct. Please see the UAA
student code of conduct. http://www.uaa.alaska.edu/studentaffairs/fact-finder.cfm
University of Alaska Board of Regents have clearly stated in BOR Policy that discrimination, harassment
and violence will not be tolerated on any campus of the University of Alaska. If you believe you are
experiencing discrimination or any form of harassment including sexual harassment/misconduct/assault,
you are encouraged to report that behavior. If you disclose sexual harassment or sexual violence to a
faculty member or any university employee, they must notify the UAA Title IX Coordinator about the
basic facts of the incident. Your choices for disclosure include:

1. You may confidentially disclose and access confidential counseling by contacting the UAA
Student Health & Counseling Center at 786-4040 or the Kodiak Women's Resource and Crisis
Center at 486-6171.
2. You may access support and file a Title IX report by contacting the UAA Title IX Coordinator at
Kodiak College contact the Director's Office at 486-1220 for more information.
You may file a criminal complaint by contacting the Kodiak Police Department at 486-8000
COURSE AND UN IVERSITY POLICI ES THAT APPLY TO THIS COURSE

LATE ASSIGNMENTS:
All assignments must be received by 11:59pm, Alaska Time, on the day they are due to qualify for full
credit.
Other Assignments submitted past the due date, but within one week, will be accepted but with a grade
reduction of 20%. Assignments may not be submitted more than one week late unless you have
extenuating circumstances and have obtained prior permission.
Group Quiz postings will be grading according to the rubric; late posts detract from the collaboration
with your peers and therefore no late postings will be accepted and you will immediately earn a zero for
that group quiz.
STUDENTS WHO REQUIRE ACCOMMODATIONS:
If you believe you require special academic accommodation to complete the requirements and
expectations of this course, then please make your needs known to me.
Many students may experience learning or physical disabilities. The provision of equal opportunities for
students who experience disabilities is a campus-wide responsibility and commitment. Disability
Support Services (DSS) is the designated UAA department responsible for coordinating academic
support services for individuals who experience disabilities. If you need disability-related
accommodations, please notify DSS at UAA (907-786-4530). Our local point of contact for DSS is our
Kodiak College academic counselor Barbara Brown 486-1211.
DROPS, WITHDRAWAL, INCOMPLETE, AND AUDIT POLICIES:
Last day to drop the course and receive a full refund is September 9th at 5pm.
As a faculty member, I may initiate a drop or withdrawal for students who fail to meet the course
participation and assignment requirements through November 4th. Students who also find that their work
is not meeting their own performance expectations may also choose to withdraw before November 4th.
This will designate a W on the student transcript and will not be calculated in the grade point average.
Students should be aware that a W can impact financial aid.
An I (Incomplete) is a temporary grade. It is used to indicate that a student has made satisfactory
progress in the majority (>50%) of the work in a course, but for unavoidable absences or other
conditions beyond the control of the student, has not been able to complete the course.
Deadline to switch to audit is September 9th. Auditors are students who enroll for informational
instruction only. No credit is received for audited courses. The faculty member and student agree upon
terms for auditing the course. Submission of papers for correction and grading and participation in
laboratory experiences are at the discretion of the instructor. Faculty may withdraw students if they fail
to comply with the agreedupon terms.

TECHNOLOGY REQ UIREMENT S FOR THIS COURSE:

Over the course of the semester, you will become comfortable learning using Blackboard and
VoiceThread. To start the course, you must have access to a reliable computer and high-speed internet
access. As an eLearner you must be willing to troubleshoot and attempt to resolve any technical
problems that may arise. You should never hesitate to get technical assistance from the UAA IT Services
Call Center at 877-633-3888 for assistance. In addition, each campus has a computer lab and tutoring
center that can also help you learn computer based skills.
TO SUCCEED IN THIS COURSE, THE FOLLOWING SKILLS WILL BE REQUIRED:
1. Using a Web browser (Firefox, Google Chrome, or Safari). Note that these popular browsers
perform differently. It is recommended that you be able to switch between browsers because
occasionally there is a need to use more than one browser in order to work effectively on the
Web.
2. Using a standard word processor (for example, Microsoft Word, OpenOffice, Pages, or
GoogleDocs). It is imperative that you know how to save in multiple file formats including .doc
and .pdf
3. Reading, composing, and sending email, including sending email with attachments.
Understanding and respecting netiquette and email etiquette.
4. Managing computer files. You will need to save and locate files that you have downloaded from
the Internet.
5. Downloading software and installing software on your computer and keeping all software
updated. Allowing your computer access to your microphone and video for use with
VoiceThread.
6. Finding information on the Web by using search engines and bookmarking useful web sites.
7. Taking a screenshot of your computer screen and saving it to a file.
Lack of technical knowledge can greatly interfere with your success in learning online. If you do not
have the above skills, consider taking a computer literacy course and/or working in the computer lab on
your local campus.
BACK-UP COMPUTER PLAN:
It is a fact of life that hardware and software breaks down when you least desire or expect it. Successful
online students are individuals who recognize this inevitability and plan for it. Make sure you have a
plan to access a back-up computer. A broken computer is not sufficient reason for you to not complete
the class requirements. Most UA campuses have computers for students to use, you should familiarize
yourself with the location and hours of these facilities.
Lets face it: technology breaks. Servers go down, file transfers time out, files become corrupt. The list
goes on and on. These are not considered emergencies. They are part of the normal production process.
An issue you may have with technology is no excuse for late work. You need to protect yourself by

managing your time and backing up your work. No work will be accepted via e-mail and computer
problems are not an excuse for late work.
CHEATING, PLAGIARISM, OR OTHER FORMS OF ACADEMIC DISHONESTY:
All academic classes rest on a foundation of honesty thus; you will be expected to adhere to strict rules
against cheating or self-misrepresentation. When you type/speak into one of the boxes in Blackboard
or in VoiceThread, all of the thoughts and work presented is your own and in your own words.
The following examples constitute forms of academic dishonesty prohibited by the Student Code of
Conduct and are not intended to define prohibited conduct in exhaustive terms, but rather to set forth
examples to serve as guidelines for acceptable and unacceptable behavior:
a. presenting as their own the ideas or works of others without proper citation of sources;
b. utilizing devices not authorized by the faculty member;
c. using sources (including but not limited to text, images, computer code, and audio/video files)
not authorized by the faculty member;
d. providing assistance without the faculty members permission to another student, or receiving
assistance not authorized by the faculty member from anyone (with or without their knowledge);
e. submitting work done for academic credit in previous classes, without the knowledge and
advance permission of the current faculty member;
f. acting as a substitute or utilizing a substitute;
g. deceiving faculty members or other representatives of the university to affect a grade or to gain
admission to a program or course;
h. fabricating or misrepresenting data;
i. possessing, buying, selling, obtaining, or using a copy of any material intended to be used as an
instrument of assessment in advance of its administration;
j. altering grade records of their own or another students work;
k. offering a monetary payment or other remuneration in exchange for a grade; or
l. violating the ethical guidelines or professional standards of a given program.
Of particular concern in this course is the lifting of information from the Internet or your textbook and
typing it into the text box in Blackboard.
. presenting as their own the ideas or works of another person without proper acknowledgment of
sources;.
You will take group quizzes at home with all of your resources available to you. It might be tempting to
search for an answer to the question, copy the text from the Internet or your textbook and then paste the
text. You may even decide to change a few words --- this is still a violation of the academic integrity

policy.
The internet is a powerful resource, that I encourage you to use to increase your understand of all
aspects of the course, but this does not mean that it is ever acceptable to copy and paste anything from
the internet and present it as your answer to a question.

The purpose of any assignment that you complete in your college classes is for you to showcase what
you have learned and how your thoughts and words reflect the concepts that are being presented. On
these group quizzes, I want to know how you personally understand the concepts and I want to hear
your own words. The assessment in this course is not interested in how effective you are at searching the
Internet.
It is usually quite clear when a student has borrowed their answer from the internet. A lower grade is
much preferred to a zero or even an academic sanction. If you do not have time to complete the work
on a particular assignment, complete what you can in your own words, and accept the lower grade.
PENALTIES FOR VIOLATING THE ACADEMIC INTEGRITY POLICY IN MY COURSES:
For a 1st offense on all assignments other than exams: A zero on that assignment.
For the 2nd offense on all assignments other than exams: A zero in the course.
For the 1st offense on an exam: A zero in the course.
All suspected offenses will be brought to the Dean of Students for evaluation by the Judicial Review
Board. Disciplinary action may be initiated by the university and disciplinary sanctions imposed against
any student found responsible for committing, attempting to commit, or intentionally assisting in the
commission of academic dishonesty. Academic dishonesty applies to examinations, assignments,
laboratory reports, fieldwork, practicums, creative projects, or other academic activities.