Instructor:	Dr. C.D. Schaeffer
Office:	Musser Hall, Room M-208
Telephone:	Ext. 1128 (office) or 1126 (chemistry secretary)
E-mail:	schaeffercd@etown.edu
Office Hours:	MTuWThF, 7:00-8:00 a.m.; and by appointment
Class:	F, 11:00 a.m. -12:15 p.m.

Course Prerequisites:   None

Required Textbooks and Materials

"The ACS Style Guide: A Manual for Authors and Editors," 3rd ed., A.M. Coghill and L.R. Garson, Eds., American Chemical Society, Washington, DC, 2006.
W. Strunk, Jr., and E.B. White, "The Elements of Style," Macmillan, NY, 1979.
H.B. Bond, T. Seymour, and J.L. Stewart, "Sources: Their Use and Acknowledgement," Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH, 1962.

Reference Books and Collateral Reading

Additional reading, much of which will form the basis for classroom discussions, is listed below. All journals are in the chemistry department library, Musser Hall, room 104. Occasionally, further assignments will be given in class.

F.P. Woodford, "Sounder Thinking Through Clearer Writing," Science, 156, 743 (1967).
D.P. Weeks, "Successful Student Seminars," J. Chem. Educ., 44, 290 (1967).
K.J. Laidler, "The Graduate Student Seminar," J. Chem. Educ., 48, 671 (1971).
S.S. Zimmerman, "Writing for Chemistry," J. Chem. Educ., 55, 727 (1978).
C. Potera, "The Basic Elements of Writing a Scientific Paper: The Art of Scientific Style," J. Chem. Educ., 61, 246 (1984).
J. Olmsted III, "Teaching Varied Technical Writing Styles in the Upper Division Laboratory," J. Chem. Educ., 61, 798 (1984).
M. Stock, "A Practical Guide to Graduate Research," McGraw-Hill, NY, 1985.

Documentation Standards

Proper procedures for the preparation of papers and seminars will be discussed throughout the entire course sequence, both during class and on an individual basis.  Information on research documentation standards can be found in any of the sources listed above. It is particularly important that all students review the Dartmouth College publication dealing with the definition and ramifications of plagiarism. The Dartmouth publication is a required purchase of all Elizabethtown College freshmen, and it is required reading in this course sequence.

Objectives

Clear communication of well-formulated ideas, through both the written and spoken word, is an essential skill for all scientists. This ability rarely arises naturally, and it must be developed through proper guidance and constant practice. In this four-course sequence for junior and senior chemistry majors, we will explore a variety of activities which will sharpen the skills involved in the presentation of technical papers and seminars. Particular emphasis will be paid to: 1) the systematic gathering and critical evaluation of information as a prelude to a technical paper or seminar; 2) the marshalling of information into an outline and rough draft to narrow the focus of the presentation; 3) the choice and preparation of graphics and visual aids to support and enhance the clear communication of ideas; 4) proper use of mathematics; 5) proper referencing and acknowledgement of literature; and 6) the ability to defend the final report with clear responses to questions posed by an audience of students and faculty.

Course Coverage

The spring semester of the four-course sequence will be devoted to the  preparation of an oral seminar based on the paper of the previous semester. Frequent consultation with the appropriate faculty member is a required activity in the preparation of this seminar.

Attendance

Regular attendance at the weekly meetings of this course is required of all students, and will be a factor in determining the final course grade. Attendance at departmental seminars given by visiting speakers is also expected.

Grading Policy

The final grade for the spring semester, an A-F letter evaluation, will be based upon the grade assigned for the fall semester presentation (including penalties), activities during the spring semester, and a contribution for attendance during both semesters. All participants who successfully complete the spring semester will receive a letter grade and one credit. Letter equivalents to the final numerical totals are as follows:
 

0 - 59% = F	70 - 72% = C-	83 - 86% = B
60 - 62% = D-	73 - 76% = C	87 - 89% = B+
63 - 66% = D	77 - 79% = C+	90 - 92% = A-
67 - 69% = D+	80 - 82% = B-	93 - 100% = A

Academic Integrity

Students are expected to be familiar with the policy regarding academic dishonesty and plagiarism as outlined in the College’s Student Handbook, and in the most recent edition of the pamphlet, "Academic Integrity at Elizabethtown College." These activities will not be tolerated, and will be penalized severely.

Disability Statement
If you have a documented disability and need reasonable accommodations to fully participate in course activities or meet course requirements, you must:  (1) contact the Director of Disability Services, Shirley Deichert, in the Center of Student Success, BSC 288, 717-361-1227, deichesa@etown.edu;  and (2) meet with me, the course instructor, with two weeks of receiving a copy of the accommodation letter from Disability Services to discuss your accommodation needs and their implementation.