CHM 221/222

Organic chemistry happens in you and around you on a daily basis.  It can be one of the most rewarding disciplines to learn, but it takes effort.

You should expect the organic series to be different than your general chemistry classes.  We don’t do as much math and we focus on chemical reactions.  Not only will you be able to predict products from chemical reactions, but hopefully by the end of CHM 221, you will start to be able to describe a synthesis for a variety of molecules.

Organic chemistry should not be a bunch of memorizing to you.  There is some memorization, but concepts should make logical sense.  If they don’t come see me!  While some people are able to “get away” with memorizing, this method will not allow you to retain this information very long and it will be useless.

When you approach this course, think of it as you might think of playing a sport or learning a musical instrument.  The only way to succeed is to PRACTICE daily.  You wouldn’t expect to be a pro at playing the violin with a few hours of practice before a concert, and you shouldn’t expect that cramming will help you succeed on an organic chemistry test.

My goal is to not only teach you the principles of organic chemistry, but also help you hone your reading and critical thinking skills so when you leave my class you can solve problems on your own!

Berry College

Berry College is a liberal arts institution focusing on “the education of the head, heart, and hands.”  It is the largest campus in the world, spanning 26,000 acres in the town of Rome, GA.  Martha Berry, the founder, created a unique environment at Berry where service and work are as important as learning inside of the classroom.  Her motto, which continues to be the motto of the college, is “not to be ministered unto, but to minister.”