Chemical Jeopardy An Alternative Group Meeting David Scarpetti Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907
The literature-based group meeting has manifested itself, in our group, in the form of: (a) a literature renew, (b) a problem set, or (c) a group member's research summary. Although these activities are successful means of group discussion the element of individual participation is often missing. Chemical Jeopardy, a game modeled after the popular television game show and modified to facilitate team and individual participation, is a fun alternative to these more conventional forms of group meeting. Presented below is a set of rules for a typical research group of 13 players (students),. a host (student), and a consultant (group leaderladvisor). Description The group is divided into three subgroups. Each p u p is composed of students a t varying levels of seniority (postdocs to undergraduate associates). Simply, the nature of the game is to choose a category and a level of difficulty from the game board (see table) and listen to the answer; the first team to respond must provide a n appropriate question for that answer. The first team to answer correctly chooses the next topic and level. There are five categories of answers from $100 to $500. The latter, of course, will require a more challenging question. The wiming team will be rewarded a culinary delight of the host's choosing. (This seems to be the best form of incentive for graduate students.)Due to the nature of the questions only one round is played but there is a Final Jeopardy. The game board is shown below. Chemical Jeopardy Game Board The Namb Game
Products
Pot Luck
Reagents Mechanism
Rules and Directions
1.An answer, qualified by dollar value and category will he chosen from the game hoard (see table). 2. The host will present the answer on a n overhead ~roiector. " R.Thecomc1 question must be provided by the first team to res~ond:if it is not. the other terms then have a chance to pr&ide the correct'rquestion. The teams a t any one time of response will have one member responsible for responding to the answer. This person will he on a rotation that
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'These questions came from Nickon, A,; Silversmith, E. Organic Chemisty: The Name Game; Pergarnon Press, New York, 1987.
includes the entire team. An example will illustrate a typical round. Sample Game Host: Dave Teams: 1:kshok, Chi L1,Sang, Marie 2: Kip, You, Doug, Sharad 3: Mark, Anu, Erie, Song, Gilbert Contesfant (which one will be discussed later): The Name Game' for $100, Dave [our Host]." Daue: "The late Harvard University researcher who synthesized ErythromycinA," Now, it's up to only kshok (team 11,Kip (team 21, or Anu (team 3) to respond by raising a hand. Anu (for instance) is first to respond. Dave: "Anu" Anu: 'Who is R. B. Woodward?" Dave: "Correct for $100." Note 1: Before the question is given a brief conference may be held with your team. All the teams should be discussing possible questions in the event ofNote 2. Note 2: If Anu had questioned incorrectly Ashok or Kip would have had a chance to respond in the same manner described earlier (by raising his hand first).
4. After the question has been provided, the temporary spokesperson (in the previous example: Anu, Ashok, and Kip were the spokespersons) for every team is changed in a systematic rotation and the team who responded correctly will choose the next category and dollar value. 5. How does the major professor get to play? He is an auxiliary player and may be called on to participate on any team. But. . . there is a minor fee for this consultation. His fees are $100 per response for answers valued a t $300 dollars or less and increase to $200 per response for answers valued a t $500 or $400. The spokesperson for the team may a d on this service by raising a hand and by passing the response to the major professor. If shdhe answers incorrectly that team still loses the consulting fee, but that's all. 6. When 10 min are left, Final Jeopardy will be played. All of the teams wager (the maximum of that wager is your team's earnings to that point) and one answer is given by the host. The teams have a conference and provide a question. If your team responds correctly you receive the amount wagered. Conversely, if your team provides an inwrred response you lose a n amount equal to your wager. 7. Contrary to "rcal" Jeopardy rules, there will be no financial penalties for incorrect answers (with the two exceptions mentioned earlier). The goal is participation, a t any risk. 8. The team with the most money receives the culinary delight. A "Decadent Chocolate Cake" serves well in this capacity 9. All the answedquestion duos are relatively brief, but the host may elaborate on some of the topics where appropriate for some post response, stimulating discussion. The Volume 68 Number 12 December 1991
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emphasis of this game is to cover recent topics in the literature staying away from the more esoteric aspects of organic chemistry, and emphasize recent developments that exemplify first principles. Anovel way to prepare for cumulative exams, prelims., etc.
This game could be adapted easily for any level of education; high school to research group (university or industry). Intra-departmental competition is an event we hope to participate in, in the future. Losers buy winners pizza.
Closing Remarks This game was played over the course of 1.25 h, and we covered approximately 50% of the game board. This game has been operational in stimulating group discussion in an enjoyable and untimidating manner. Creating the answerlquestion duos (chosen by the host) is a fun way to read the literature. Tetrahedron Letters offers many possibilities for these answerlquestion duos.
Acknowledgment
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Journal of Chemical Education
The author wishes to exmess his appreciation to Philip
L. Fuchs and his resear& group forAparticipatingin thk teskrun of this activity. (Incidentally, team #1earned the "Decadent" Chocolate Cake2). This chocolate cake was prepared from a recipe from Rosso, J.; Lukins, S. The Silver Palate Cookbook; Workman: New York, 1982, p 290.Cooking time required 10 additional min in our hands.
