Problems in organic chemistry : a self-study guide

Includes index.

This is a different kind of organic Chemistry problem-solving book. It uses a lead-oriented incremental approach that allows students to solve organic chemistry problems in a manner that best facilitates learning. It complements the lecture by sequentially building concepts with in a problem-solving context. Specific areas of interest may be chosen for learning. When it is used correctly, the book approximates, in a simple fashion, student instructor dialogue.
Conventional problem-solving books allow students only three options.
First, they can solve the problem. However, if they are unable to solve it, they have two other options. Either they can go to the textbooks to try, in an unguided fashion, to find assistance in the form of analogy, or they can look up the answer in the back of the book. This last option is a particularly poor alternative. By providing too much information it destroys much of the learning that might have occurred. Often students can solve problems with appropriate leads or clues, similar to those given by an instructor in a problem review session, but with the complete solution in front of them this opportunity is lost. Looking up the answer destroys the connections that are being built during the working out of a solution.
If, however, the students are guided to the correct answers by leads or hints, then the opportunities for learning increase. These lead postpone the sometimes irresistible temptation to look up the answer before all possibilities have been investigated. Our book uses this unique approach to solving problems.