Three-dimensional structure is a very important component of introductory organic chemistry, and you need to master its intricacies!

Why Should I Bother With Discussion Section?

Organic Chemistry Web Site Link List

Looking for a tutor?

Some thoughts to consider:

Known Typographical Errors List...and a reward for finding new errors!

Online Tutorials

For the current quarter, links activated when exam key is posted

Course numbers, topics, and sequence have changed over time. Old exams may not be indicative of current course content or conceptual expectations.

Want to do better next time?

• Chemistry Study Tips
• Tips for Taking Organic Chemistry Exams

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Learning Manager

• Dr. Steven A. Hardinger
• Office: Young Hall 3077C
  
• Phone: (310) 825-4009
• Send E-mail to Dr. Hardinger     Please send all chemistry questions to the course discussion board, or ask in person during discussion section or office hours.
• Office Hours (summer 2009):
• Monday and Wednesday 10:00-11:30 AM
  
• Or just drop by my office. Outside of normal office hours, there is a very good chance I will be able to answer your questions. If the door is closed, please feel free to knock!

Instructional Associate		Office Hours	Discussion Sections
Damien Allen dallen@chem.ucla.edu		Tuesday 10 AM - noon Young 3077F	Tuesday 8:00 - 9:50 AM Young 4216
Oscar Villalta villalta@chem.ucla.edu		Thursday 10 AM - noon Young 3077F	Thursday 8:00 - 9:50 AM Young 4216

Discussion Section Activities: OWLS Sessions Weekly discussion sessions will feature OWLS (Organic Workshop for Learning Success) problem sets, written by the instructor. These are intended to develop your mastery of organic chemistry concepts by emphasizing problem solving skills. These problems sets will be used as determined by the Instructional Associates, based upon their perceptions of your learning needs.

Problem sets will be covered in discussion after the topic is introduced in lecture. Each lecture topic has its own associated problem set. The problem sets are in your Thinkbook, whereas the answers are available on-line only. So that you have an incentive to actually work through the problems on your own, solutions will be posted about one week after the lecture discussion on the topic is complete.

"Why should I bother with discussion section?"  A fair question!  You may be tempted to skip discussion, especially at 8 AM, but note that the OWLS problems sets are written by the same person who also writes the CFQ & PP and exams, suggesting OWLS problems should be excellent exam practice. In addition, course grade statistics suggest that persistent use of OWLS problems leads to grade success. Discussion section attendance is not mandatory, but is very strongly suggested.

Check out these statistics from a previous quarter that show a strong correlation of exam score with number of discussion sections attended.

OWLS Problem Sets Solutions
Solutions will be posted here about one week after the topic is covered in lecture.
Topics not included here do not have OWLS problem sets.

Help! I  am having trouble opening pdf files!

Problem Set*	Solutions Available
Structure and Bonding of Organic Molecules	Solutions
Molecular Geometry and Hybrid Orbitals	Solutions
Molecular Flexibility	Solutions
Stereochemistry	Solutions
Resonance	Solutions
Introduction to Structure and Reactivity: Acids and Bases	Solutions
Ionic Substitution Reactions - SN2	Solutions
Ionic Substitution Reactions - SN1	Solutions
Elimination Reactions	Solutions
Addition Reactions of Carbon-Carbon Pi Bonds	Solutions
Radicals	Solutions

• Organic Chemistry (Brown, Foote, et al) and Study Guide
  
• Chemistry 30A Thinkbook: Includes lecture supplements, concept focus questions, OWLS problems, and practice problems. Available here.
  
• Molecular model kit
  

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Ancillary Materials VERY STRONGLY RECOMMENDED

• Organic Chemistry as a Second Language (buy at Ackerman bookstore)
  
• General chemistry text as needed for review

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Grading Scale

	<--- This student did not pass Chemistry 30A
	This student earned an A in Chemistry 30A --->
	Are you an Einstein or an amoebae? When an exam is returned to you, consider the following thought (attributed to Karl Popper, an educational philosopher): "The difference between the amoebae and Einstein is that, although both make use of the methods of trial and error or elimination, the amoebae dislikes erring while Einstein is intrigued by it. He consciously searched for his errors in the hope of learning their discovery and elimination."

• You can earn 0-2 points per two week period for your participation in the course discussion board. These are extra credit points. Submissions are evaluated and points awarded at the end of each week.
  

• Submission are evaluated on quality and (to a lesser extent) quantity. Submissions that are more relevant, more detailed, more correct, more precise, and overall more useful to other students in the class will have a greater chance of earning credit. Spelling and accurate use of vocabulary words count as well. As the quarter goes on (and your mastery of the course material, in theory, improves), the standards used to judge the quality of discussion board posts becomes more strict. In other words, as the quarter goes on, strive to improve the quality of your posts.

• One submission = one question or one answer. One submission is worth one point.

• Any thread or reply that contains a significant conceptual or vocabulary error cannot earn credit.

• Some discussion board questions may be used as exam questions, regardless of their credit worthiness. Therefore it is useful to read all discussion board posts, even if you do not post any yourself.

• When you copy part or all of an answer from another source, you must cite the source. (A web link is useful for this.) As is true in any other circumstance, copying someone else's words without giving credit is plagiarism. Plagiarism is an act of significant academic misconduct, and carries appropriate penalties.

• Profane, disrespectful, or inappropriate postings will be removed. Penalties depend upon the nature of the infraction and are decided by the discussion board moderator. Treat others as you would like to be treated.

• For the purposes of this project, the one-week period starts Monday 12:01 AM (as determined by the discussion board clock) and runs seven calendar days. The last period begins Monday of week six and runs until the moment the final exam begins.

• You must be registered at the discussion board web site in order to make submissions.

• Please include the page number and problem number in the title of your new thread when asking a question concerning Thinkbook problems and solutions. Example: Thinkbook page 105 CFQ 1(a). Similarly, please include the problem number, exam number, and quarter in the title when asking about an old exam. Example: Spring 2008 Exam 1 Question 6.
  

Everyone uses the Thinkbook

This is place to download Thinkbook content, including suggested readings, Concept Focus Questions (CFQs), OWLS questions, Practice Problems (PP), and Lecture Supplements. Suggested readings and practice problems for first four lecture topics can be found here (pdf).

Lecture Supplements will be distributed at the beginning of the corresponding lectures. All other materials will need to be downloaded here (pdf files). Links will be activated as the material become available.

Help! I  am having trouble opening pdf files!

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Lecture and Exam Schedule

Download the Chemistry 30A Lecture and Exam Schedule (pdf). Suggested reading and exercises from the textbook are listed in the Chemistry 30A Thinkbook. Suggested readings and practice problems for first four lecture topics can be found here (pdf).