WINTHROP UNIVERSITY Department of Chemistry, Physics, & Geology Course Syllabus

PHYS 250 – Matter and Energy (3 credit hours)

Fall 2009

Instructor:	T.J.  Lipinski
Link to Schedule	Class Schedule phys 250-001 & -002  (2pm class)   Class Schedule phys 250-003 & -004 (3:30pm class)
Office:	Sims 115
Email:	lipinskit@winthrop.edu
Telephone:	803 323-4954
Office Hours:	Mon & Wed 1:00-1:50 pm  and Tues 1:00-1:50 pm or by appointment.
Lectures:	MW, 2:00-3:15 pm., Sims 209 (250-001 and 002) MW, 3:30 – 4:45 p.m., Sims 209 (250-003 and 004)
Textbook:	Physical Science, Tillery, Bill W.  Eighth Edition, McGraw-Hill, 2009.  ISBN 978-0-07-340452-3

 

Course Goals:

• Establish an understanding of the basic vocabulary, principles, and intellectual methods in physics and chemistry.
• Understand some of the great discoveries in science.
• Develop an understanding of the scientific basis of some contemporary societal issues.
• Develop problem-solving and critical thinking skills.

 

Course Outline:  The following chapters will be covered:

 

Student Preparation: 

 

It is valuable and important to do some personal study between the lecture sessions.  This should include reading the chapters in the textbook, reviewing the lecture notes, doing any suggested homework problems, and asking the instructor questions about topics that are unclear. Bring a scientific calculator to each class! 

 

Writing Component: The General Education Writing Component will be incorporated into this course by 
requiring the following graded writing assignments. This will amount to 5% of the total grade. This is calculated by the following method: 5 times your total writing component points divided by 250.

1. Writing summaries of main topics and concepts for each test and final. 
   Due on the test/final day.    {50 points total: 10 per test, and 10 for final}
2. Two Essays {200 points total: 100 each essay} from scientific articles appearing in PEER REVIEWED publications on two topics TBA on Class Schedule.  At least 500 words. Source must be listed on a third page labeled WORK CITED (MLA format) turned into the website Turnitin.com.

Homework: Homework will be assigned as the semester progresses.  Each homework assignment will be updated on the class schedule and on the website Turnitin.com.  All homework must be turned in electronically to Turnitin.com in the proper folder, e.g. hw5 turned into the hw5 folder on Turnitin.  Generally each question or problem assigned will be worth 2 points.  The point total for each assignment and due date and due time will be on Turnitin.  You are encouraged to work together on hw, HOWEVER, you should note that Turnitin will give me (and you) a percent similarity with other students work.  I do not expect that number to be zero since some of you are working together.  But, if your hw has an extremely high percentage of similarity with another student's hw (past or present), students involved will receive a zero for that hw assignment and a warning that if this happens again I will turn the matter over to the Dean for academic dishonesty.  Your homework grade is worth 10% of your total grade.  This is calculated by the following method: 10 times your personal total hw points divided by the total possible hw points.

Class Attendance and late work policy: Attendance will be taken.  Good attendance & participation efforts are expected. Late/missed homework will be accepted, it must be turned in (to Turnitin.com) BEFORE the beginning of the next class period attended by the student, and late work will receive a maximum grade of 50% of its regular grade.  I understand that exceptional circumstances can arise in anyone's life at any time, if this should happen to you please discuss it with me (before the due date, if possible).  The attendance policy found in the Undergraduate Catalog (see: Academic Regulations: Class Attendance Policies) will be followed, if absences exceed 25%, student will receive a grade of N if withdrawn before the withdrawal deadline, and an F or a U if afterwards, unless warranted by documented extenuating circumstances. 

Missing a test date:  As a general rule, there are no makeup test given, unless a student has a DOCUMENTED excusable absence which has been verified.   

Verifying excused absences:  Normally the Dean of Students (Dean Bethany M. Marlowe: marloweb@winthrop.edu  212 Dinkins Student Center, (803)323-4503) will verify your DOCUMENTED excused absences. Absences that do NOT need to be verified by the Dean include any school sanctioned functions, including student athletics, model U.N., Music recitals or Art exhibitions, etc.  I must receive an email from a current staff or faculty member of Winthrop University or written documentation from a current staff or faculty member of Winthrop University regarding the upcoming event (reason for the absence).  Verified absences do NOT count toward the 25% maximum absences as described in the attendance policy found in the Undergraduate Catalog (see: Academic Regulations: Class Attendance Policies).

Course Requirements: (Tests) Four tests, (Writing component) Two Essays and five Written Summaries, (Homework) and (Final Exam).

 

Tests/Final	Date	%Grade
Test #1 (Chs. 1,2)	9/23	15%
Test #2 (Chs. 3, 4)	10/14	15%
Test #3  (Chs. 6, 7)	11/9	15%
Test #4  (Chs. 8, 9, 13)	12/2	15%
Homework	See course schedule	10%
Writing Component	See course schedule	5%
Final Exam (cumulative)	Phys250-001&002: Mon. 12/14/08@11:30am Phys250-003&004: Tues. 12/15/08@3:00pm	25%
TOTAL		100%

Grading System: Your individual point total will be used to assign a letter grade using the following scale (normal rules of rounding apply):
 

A (100% -92%)      A- (91%-90%)  

B+ (89% -87%)      B(86%-82%)        B- (81%-80%)

C+ (79% -77%)       C(76%-70%)       

D (69%-60%)

F: below 60%