Organic Chemistry Help

[sarahjth]

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My professor is brand new, just moved to the US from India and his English is poor. I have been working my fanny reading the chapters, maybe 4x, to make sure I haven't missed information... (but he of course skips around..) Is there anyone else that has had an awful experience in O. Chem? If so, what did you do to overcome? Also, is there any resources (books, websites, etc.) that one has found useful during there O. Chem experience?

 

[PharmDeb]

Boy, can I empathize! My teacher was the worst. He had a bad stutter and he avoided talking as much as possible. He basically just wanted us to memorize reactions and not ask too many questions. He also skipped all over the book. He didn't seem to understand if you don't know the terminology taught earlier in the book, you can't understand what they're talking about later in the book. There were 3 of us left in that class by the end of the first semester...swear to god. It was horrible. I'd ask lots of questions, but never got great answers. I had to pretty much teach myself. Like you...I read the book over and over.

Google was my best friend that year. There are lots of O-chem sites from other universities that have their lessons written out beautifully. I would find them just doing a search on some term or reaction name. The book's website helped too. I had to devote a LOT of time for that class. But actually, I think I ended up learning the subject pretty well. Sorry I can't give you any real info to help you out a little better. But I read your post and thought "Ahhh, the memories". 😳

 

[DownonthePharm]

Try the book Organic Chemistry as a Second Language. It covers most of the first semester of Orgo.

Its amazing how thin the book is, yet how much you learn. Its good stuff.

 

[fenil2005]

First of all Where are you from?(just curious to know) Even if you have a good professor you have to study lot for organic. The reason i asked where are you from is because in south asian countries like India they teach most of the organic in high school so it's not that bad for people like me who gets 90's on the tests. Also what textbook are u using? I have L.G.Wade and looks very easy to understand and covers everything you need to know. The key to success in organic is get the basics straight in your head i mean the geometry cis, trans, nomenclature etc. Try to make friends with students who are comfortable with organic. Also seek help from a tutor if necessary.
Beleive me, make it interesting, study hard and i practise the types of questions that your teacher will ask on the exam(i mean if he hands out practise tests before the exam). I am not an expert but it works for all of my classes.

The most important thing is this DOn't think/listen to those people who say that organic is a hard subject. It matters because it changes the whole attitude towards the subject and the way you look at things

 

[annievu]

First of all Where are you from?(just curious to know) Even if you have a good professor you have to study lot for organic. The reason i asked where are you from is because in south asian countries like India they teach most of the organic in high school so it's not that bad for people like me who gets 90's on the tests. Also what textbook are u using? I have L.G.Wade and looks very easy to understand and covers everything you need to know. The key to success in organic is get the basics straight in your head i mean the geometry cis, trans, nomenclature etc. Try to make friends with students who are comfortable with organic. Also seek help from a tutor if necessary.
Beleive me, make it interesting, study hard and i practise the types of questions that your teacher will ask on the exam(i mean if he hands out practise tests before the exam). I am not an expert but it works for all of my classes.

The most important thing is this DOn't think/listen to those people who say that organic is a hard subject. It matters because it changes the whole attitude towards the subject and the way you look at things

yea, so true...those who said Organic Chemistry is hard scared the heck out of me......lol.....but i think it is pretty interesting...just need to spend more time reading the book and do the exercises....Practice do help! And yea, I do have the Organic Chem as a Second Language book...it's pretty cool...i learned to do basic stuffs in there...make you feel like...ah, this is simple....And I also go to tutor and ask questions, which is another helpful source....Good luck in Organic Chem! I'm taking it now, too! Let's try our best! 🙂

 

[OSURxgirl]

I would highly recommend a book entitled "Pushing Electrons". I don't remember who the author is, but it was very helpful. If you have a good grasp of lewis strutures and the concept of resonance (which this book provides), reactions will be a lot easier to understand.

For O Chem, problems are key. I would put more emphasis on problems than on reading the chapters. Yes, knowing definitions and content is important, but applying it is even more important. Instead of reading the chapters 4 times each, I would work all of the end of the chapter problems 4 times each. If your text has a solutions manual, buy it, but do not look at any answers until you have attempted each problem. You learn better that way.

Do you have a teaching assistant who speaks better english? I would make nice with that person real quickly or even hire a grad student tutor who is a better comminicator. Good luck to you.

 

[sarahjth]

Thanks for all your helpful replies! I guess I am just kinda "down" on the subject.. But thank you for everything! 😀 I will be buying those two books..

 

[Smilescali]

Thanks for all your helpful replies! I guess I am just kinda "down" on the subject.. But thank you for everything! 😀 I will be buying those two books..

I know how you feel, organic chemistyry has been by far the most difficult class so far. I have purchased "Pushing Electrons" and have not really used it yet because my class is focusing on nomenclature and concepts. I think it will come in handy later on when we do synthesis and mechanisms. Go to ebay for this book because it is very expensive.

I am thinking about getting Schaum's Outline for Organic chemistry as I have heard it has tons of practice problems. Good luck!

 

[BTB]

My professor is brand new, just moved to the US from India and his English is poor.

You have just stated the #1 reason why I took my prerequisite science and math classes at my local community college and not at any of several big-name universities in my area.

 

[sarahjth]

I know it's not good! I think they should have a language test... but then again, the Dean of Chemistry is from India.. so are most of the TAs, Lab assistants... Let's just say.. when you walk into the Chemistry Department... English isn't the first language you hear! Nothing against Indians... but 👎 I can't understand you!

 

[KUMoose]

I don't know about your state, but Kansas at some point passed a law (or reagent's rule, I don't remember) that stated that teachers and TAs must be able to communicate effectively in English to be able to (or maintain) their teaching status. If the Dean of Chemistry doesn't want to hear it, bump it to the dean of students. I'd include a taping (several) of classes, to help show the issue.

I had to do this waaaaa-aaay back in the day, where my Chem1 TA was taking ESL in addition to teaching. She literally had a grasp of less then 30% of the langauge! 😡

 

[freshbeatschris]

I know it's not good! I think they should have a language test... but then again, the Dean of Chemistry is from India.. so are most of the TAs, Lab assistants... Let's just say.. when you walk into the Chemistry Department... English isn't the first language you hear! Nothing against Indians... but 👎 I can't understand you!

Too bad you can't commute to Palatine, IL to Harper college. We have a super strong chemistry department and Dr. Stanford is one of the best teachers I have ever had in my entire life. He was ALWAYS available for questions and wouldn't let us go until he knew we knew it.

Oh, by the way, he would give us candy when we would answer questions aloud in class.

I'll get back to you with the website that accompanied our textbook. It is great for quizzing yourself before tests and quizzes.

Chris

 

[freshbeatschris]

http://www.brookscole.com/cgi-brook...uct_isbn_issn=0534389996&discipline_number=12

If that link doesn't work, go to brookscole.com and pick the organic chemistry book. I suggest doing the organic interactive, chapter quiz, and building block questions. I swear to you, these increased my grades exponetially.

good luck.

Chris

 

[sarahjth]

Thank you soo much! I wish I had a teacher that was known to be excellent.. but nope!


In fact, Friday he got the class in an uproar when he told us we should be happy to get a 6/10 on our lab reports... and people were like "That's a D, sir!" and he said.. "D better than F" Some guy raised his hand and said, "So we are all going to get in Ds in this class?" and he replied, "You best hope so!"

What an ass!

 

[mystiqx]

I would highly recommend a book entitled "Pushing Electrons". I don't remember who the author is, but it was very helpful. If you have a good grasp of lewis strutures and the concept of resonance (which this book provides), reactions will be a lot easier to understand.

my tutor just gave me that book "Pushing Electrons" all that it says on the front is "Weeks" who I assume is the author, she told me it came with her orgo text book the isbn # is 0-03-020693-6
I hope this helps.

~M

 

[kevintech]

OCHEM will be very though without a good teacher. i've been blessed with a really good one. i just hope i do my part and study! [kinda hard with 22 units]