Introductory Chemistry
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. Why should I take your course?
A. You may have enrolled in this course because it is a requirement for your academic program. I hope that over time you will be convinced that it has great value for you, both because of the relevance it should have to your life, and also because chemistry is just a fascinating subject.
I happen to believe that many people are put off of chemistry because they don't see the relevance of it to their lives. Somehow many of us learn to live in a world full of chemical products (synthetic fabrics, polymers used to make shoes and sports equipment and to package our food, and pharmaceuticals just to name a few) without really knowing much at all about what they are. How can we NOT be curious about this stuff? Perhaps because at some point many of us have internalized the message that understanding these materials is difficult, is not for amateurs, and does not lead to a richer or improved life. But consider this:
Knowing chemistry can help you make smart choices as a consumer. Which is better--paper or plastic bags? cotton or synthetic fabric? an aluminum bike or a steel frame? Batteries or using gasoline to power a car? Ethanol or biodiesel?
Understanding chemistry allows you to link the properties of substances to their makeup. You can learn the structural reasons why oil and water don't mix, or why some substances smell strongly while others do not. It is fun to understand these things and will make you look at the world a little differently!
Biochemistry, a branch of chemistry, is the link between physiology and chemistry. Knowing some biochemistry will allow you to gain a deeper understanding of how our bodies function, how drugs work, why we eat what we do and the etiology of disease. If you are interested in health, your understandings are limited if you never venture into this field.
Some knowledge of chemistry will make you a better citizen. Many political and social issues involve impacts on environmental and biological systems. Many of these issues involve the production of chemicals or their handling and disposal into the environment. Even if you do not study a particular issue during class, having some background in the broader subject will help you know how science informs decision-making. For instance, what substances are sprayed on roads to de-ice them in the winter? Do these substances have potential impacts on the environment? What are the alternatives?
Chemistry can also simply be fun. Really. If you have ever enjoyed anything purely because the puzzle-solving aspects of it appeal to you, then I hope you will also become fond of the subject because it works for you on that level.
Q. What is your teaching style?
A. I like interaction. I like dialog, I like questions. I also like to explain things, especially if my explanation “turns the lights on” for a student. I do have a set of concepts that I expect we will deal with through the term, but my hope is that we wrestle with the material at a pace and difficulty level that feels challenging but not impossible to you.
If you get to feeling like the course is not going this way, please speak up and I will do what I can to help.
Q. I am trying to get into a really competitive program. How do I earn an “A?”
A. Of course any student who is strongly motivated to earn a good grade should be diligent about doing their work, reading what is assigned, and working hard to do well on their written work. That much is pretty obvious. I am convinced that my truly exceptional students do some other things, though, too. As a group, they:
interact frequently and meaningfully with their peers about the material, offering help when they can but also asking questions and pursuing a deeper understanding.
make extensive connections between different ideas in the course, so that the material comes together for them as a whole body of knowledge rather than a huge set of separate facts.
seek ways to apply what they know outside the classroom, so that concepts they learn are reinforced by their outside experiences.
maintain a focus on learning the material rather than earning points or impressing anyone (the instructor or their peers) in the class.
If we can build a strong sense of community in the course, where we are all interested in the progress of the entire group, we will on average learn more, suffer less, and have more fun. Welcome to the group!