Enquiry for Science Major/Minor/Programme Requirements
CHEM4910 Chemistry literacy and research (6 credits) Academic Year 2025
Offering Department Chemistry Quota ---
Course Co-ordinator Prof X D Li, Chemistry < xiangli@hku.hk >
Teachers Involved (Various teachers in the Department,Chemistry)
Course Objectives This course is designed for final year students who would like to gain experience on research methods and techniques by working on small projects on literature research and chemistry research.
Course Contents & Topics The course provides training on chemistry literature research techniques. Students will work on a small project on literature research and a short laboratory-based research project. The laboratory-based projects are provided by the students' supervisors who are assigned by the department.
Course Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this course, students should be able to:

CLO 1 demonstrate knowledge of academic databases and search engines of chemistry literature
CLO 2 understand the terminology and nomenclature associated with their own research project
CLO 3 demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the chemical techniques they used to do the research in their own research project
CLO 4 demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the results of their own research project and its context in the broader research area
Pre-requisites
(and Co-requisites and
Impermissible combinations)		 Pass in at least 24 credits of advanced level disciplinary core/elective chemistry courses (CHEM3XXX or CHEM4XXX) in the Chemistry Major including CHEM3241, and CHEM3341, and CHEM3441, and CHEM3541.
This capstone course is for Chemistry Major students only.
The earliest that a student is allowed to take this capstone course is their year 3 study.
Course Status with Related Major/Minor /Professional Core 2025 Major in Chemistry ( Disciplinary Elective )
2025 Minor in Chemistry ( Disciplinary Elective )
2024 Major in Chemistry ( Disciplinary Elective )
2024 Minor in Chemistry ( Disciplinary Elective )
2023 Major in Chemistry ( Disciplinary Elective )
2023 Minor in Chemistry ( Disciplinary Elective )
2022 Major in Chemistry ( Disciplinary Elective )
2022 Minor in Chemistry ( Disciplinary Elective )
2021 Major in Chemistry ( Disciplinary Elective )
2021 Minor in Chemistry ( Disciplinary Elective )
Course to PLO Mapping 2025 Major in Chemistry < PLO 1,2,3,4,5,6 >
2024 Major in Chemistry < PLO 1,2,3,4,5,6 >
2023 Major in Chemistry < PLO 1,2,3,4,5,6 >
2022 Major in Chemistry < PLO 1,2,3,4,5,6 >
2021 Major in Chemistry < PLO 1,2,3,4,5,6 >
Offer in 2025 - 2026 Y        2nd sem    Examination No Exam     
Offer in 2026 - 2027 Y
Course Grade A+ to F
Grade Descriptors
A Show an extensive comprehension of the research project. Demonstrate very able analytical and critical thought with presence of some originality. Illuminating utilization and critical analysis / evaluation of information acquired from a wide range of high quality sources. Critical employment of data and results to synthesize appropriate and illuminating conclusions. Demonstrate integration of a wide range of appropriate theories, principles, data and methods. Employ very effective organizational and presentational skills. [Work of A+ should demonstrate substantial additional work beyond that is required in wider areas relevant to the topic.]
B Show a substantial comprehension of the research project. Demonstrate able analytical and critical thinking with use of relevant information from sources. Demonstrate ability to compose meaningful comparisons between different secondary interpretations. Correct utilization of data and results to form appropriate conclusions. Compose general integration of theories, principles, data and methods. Perform effective organizational and presentational skills.
C Show a general but incomplete comprehension of the research project. Presence of some analytical and critical thinking with use of relevant information from sources. Demonstrate ability to compose comparisons between different interpretations. Mainly correct but some incorrect utilization of data and results to form appropriate conclusions. Demonstrate some partial integration of theories, principles, data and methods. Perform moderately effective organizational and presentational skills.
D Show a partial but limited comprehension, with knowledge of some relevant information, of the research project. Presence of some coherent and logical thinking, but with limited analytical and critical abilities. Show utilization and reference of several sources, but mostly via summary instead of by analysis and comparison. Limited ability to employ data and results to form appropriate conclusions. Demonstrate limited integration of theories, principles, data and methods. Perform limited or marginally effective organizational and presentational skills.
Fail Show little or no comprehension of the research project. Evidence of little or lack of analytical and critical abilities, logical and coherent thinking. Limited employment of secondary sources and no critical comparison of them. Incorrectly utilize data and results and/or unable to form appropriate conclusions. Demonstrate little or no integration of theories, principles, data and methods. Organization and presentational skills are of very limited use or ineffective.
Communication-intensive Course N
Course Type Project-based course
Course Teaching
& Learning Activities
Activities Details No. of Hours
Reading / Self study 12 hrs tutorials; 46 hrs of workshops and 100 hrs reading/self study 158.0
Assessment Methods
and Weighting
Methods Details Weighting in final
course grade (%)		 Assessment Methods
to CLO Mapping
Oral presentation 50.0 1,2,3,4
Research report 50.0 1,2,3,4
Required/recommended reading
and online materials		 Reading materials will be assigned depending on the project.
Course Website NIL
Additional Course Information Satisfactory completion of this course will be counted towards the Capstone requirement.


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