<p>Once again, here is the list of material for chem:</p>
<p>Chemistry: Science of Change Pkg (Custom)
I-Clicker Classroom Response System
Chem 1A Lab Manual Fall 2010
TI-30X IIS Calculator
Stud Lab Notebook
Chemistry (SG)
Chemistry (SSM)
and other simple charts</p>
<p>Also, what exactly does the Chemistry: Custom Pkg contain? I found out something about the OWL learning - which is all too confusing. Can it be reused when i purchased a use book. All of the stuff, including those OWL codes thing, really necessary? Sorry for all these question but the fees for Chem 1A seems really expensive :/ So I am trying to purchase those things in used condition. Thanks a lot guys</p>
<p>I can sell you the book I used for Chem 1A last semester! :P</p>
<p>Um, unfortunately, you DO need the OWL package. However, you don’t really need the book (esp if you took AP chem/some college chemistry before; I really regretted wasting money on a book I CAN’T EVEN SELL BACK NOW UGHHH F U C K CUSTOM EDITIONS) because the OWL comes with an e-book.</p>
<p>Thanks for the quick response, I wouldn’t mind purchasing the used book from you. But how can I purchase an OWL code separately. Also, what exactly do you need the OWL code for?? AHHH. It feels like all these publishing company is just trying to steal money from students, who are already paying biggillion dollar for tuition already sigh</p>
<p>You can buy the OWL code online just as the semester starts - it gives you the online access where you are submitting homework, plus the entire textbook is available to read online. No need to buy the physical text at all, as long as you can get online regularly to do your reading and assignments. </p>
<p>The clicker can be used - you just re-register the clicker to your name when you buy it. </p>
<p>The calculator is not actually required - you just must have SOME calculator available with the ability to do the kinds of operations you can do with a simple scientific calculator like the TI. You are solving formulas and calculating values, not taking a test on how that particular calculator works. </p>
<p>the custom edition is the textbook plus a one-semester OWL code. They expire and can’t be reused.</p>
<p>The SG is a study guide - regurgitates the text chapters and has some additional worked out example problems. The SSM is a student solutions manual - even more worked out problems. Bah. Not many buy them, almost none of the students who did buy them ever use them during Chem 1A. Don’t waste your money. The OWL system is providing you practice problems as well as homework - you use that instead if you want to do problems to be sure you understand everything.</p>
<p>You will need the lab notebook - basically a book full of carbon copy pages so that you can take notes or do work during lab then hand in the copy to the GSI, taking your originals back to complete further assignments or to study from. </p>
<p>There will be a lab reader that you will learn about when you start the course - you buy it from one of the copy shops in the area. That is not available from the book store.</p>
<p>The charts are an absolute waste. They are generic plastic charts that are the same ones you find in every college bookstore in the country and in Staples and other chains. Your text (and the e-book on OWL) have the periodic table of the elements, why buy a glossy plastic copy too?</p>
<p>Rider, where does it mention needing the OWL code for the class? It doesn’t say that anywhere on the list of required texts for the class… Just wondering…</p>
<p>Looks like this new textbook Chemistry: Science of Change 4th edition does not offer an ebook option on OWL - you need the physical text plus the OWL account for homework. </p>
<p>The book separately is 196.76 at Amazon.com and 208.99 through the OWL purchase site, while the Cal bookstore bundle of OWL + text is only $145.25. </p>
<p>As a custom edition it is undoubtedly softcover and a subset of the full hardcover textbook, but the cost differential is pretty compelling. On the other hand, Amazon.com has plenty of used books offered at prices of $53 and less, if lowest cost is really important. </p>
<p>Ned’s Bookstore [Welcome</a> | Ned’s - Berkeley](<a href=“http://www.nedsbooks.com/ucb/]Welcome”>http://www.nedsbooks.com/ucb/) has the custom bundle at 139.50 and their description mentions ebook with the OWL, which may not actually exist but did with the old text. Nonetheless, they are cheaper for this and their iClicker price is lower too.</p>
<p>Thanks for all the information, Rider! Honestly the materials for Chem 1A and Math 1A are confusing as ****. You’ve helped a lot in clearing up the confusion.</p>
<p>Do you think the custom edition will be much different from the generic one? I don’t understand why they’re making us switch and basically eliminating the option of buying from third parties.</p>
<p>it is actually quite a cost savings for students, that is the motivation I think. They negotiate with the publisher, stripping some content and switching to paperback, thus offering a package at about 140 that would cost 250 or more with the regular text at the bookstore. </p>
<p>Typically this only happens for the very largest classes - those like Chem 1A, Math 16A etc that have multiple lectures of 600 or so students per semester. It takes quite a bit of time for the department to do all the negotiating to build a custom edition and is reserved only for the cases that can benefit the largest number of students.</p>
<p>“it is actually quite a cost savings for students, that is the motivation I think. They negotiate with the publisher, stripping some content and switching to paperback, thus offering a package at about 140 that would cost 250 or more with the regular text at the bookstore.”</p>
<p>Perhaps it’s a cost savings if you buy new, but I can find the book on half.com for about $40. Granted, I would still have to buy the OWL for $33.49, as well as the lab manual, notebook, and iclicker. I could probably get the iclicker for about $20 used, and I have no idea how much the lab manual and notebook will cost. However, it looks like it would still be a savings. The only thing holding me back is whether it will make a difference if I don’t use the custom edition. I guess I could always wait till first week of class to buy the textbook.</p>
<p>The bundle does NOT include iclicker, lab manual etc. only the text and OWL. Definitely cheaper to buy used + OWL separately. </p>
<p>With the previous text, it made zero difference using the custom vs regular text. Same for Math custom editions. Same exact chapter names and contents, but they may cut out chapters that won’t be covered in the class and page numbers vary. Not that hard to work out the translation from custom to hardcover. </p>
<p>Until someone can report what might be different in the custom edition, can’t tell. It could simply be paper covers and lower price, but also could be only selected chapters and new page numbering.</p>
<p>On the PDF on bSpace for Chem 1A, it states the following:
</p>
<p>But some ppl are talking about buying the OWL code for $33.49? Would that be acceptable instead to buy, and would the eBook be included with the 33 dollar deal? Oh, and if one does get the eBook, is it only available for a semester?</p>
<p>The 33.49 price mentioned earlier is for 6 month access to OWL for submitting homework, but does NOT include the ebook. In fact, the publisher does not make an ebook available for their text.</p>
<p>The 66.49 price gives you both the OWL homework access and an e-book of the text. With the ebook you can skip buying the physical book entirely, as long as you have internet access to read the ebook whenever you are studying or doing assignments - pretty much guaranteed on campus and in dorms. </p>
<p>This underscores the benefit of waiting to buy books until the bspace material is up or until you hear from the professor at the start of classes.</p>
<p>So you would buy this in lieu of the textbook? The Cal bookstore package has a paperback version of the textbook, OWL access code, and a rebate on the clicker for $137.</p>
<p>This gives you everything but the clicker rebate for $67. A new iClicker purchase is only about $38. If you buy used or rent an iclicker you save more - could be as low as $84 with rental compared to the bookstore package at $137.</p>
<p>The 19.49 item they offer is an additional pre-class preparatory training. It is a 20 hour online course you take before the first day of Chem 1A to build up key skills and concepts before the class. Not required, but a new option for those who haven’t just aced AP Chem with a 5 or who took Chem a few years ago in HS and want to brush up.</p>
sigh</p>