|
Syllabus
Mat 152a Fall, 2000 Instructor:
George Drake Instructor:
George Drake
Office: F103 Phone:(530)541-4660x256
Office Hours: M 3:30-4:30, T
2:30-3:30, W 11:00-12:00 in the GMC,
Th 9:30-10:30
Or by appointment if the student finds these hours difficult Text:
Auvil, Daniel L: Algebra for College Students, McGraw-Hill,1996, ISBN
0-07-003106-1 Prerequisite:
A grade of C or better in all modules of Mat 181 or the equivalent, or a
satisfactory score on the Mathematics Assessment Test. Grading
Policy:
This class is entry level for algebra.
For success it requires a good understanding of arithmetic, upon which
algebra is built, hence the prerequisite requirements stated above.
A good understanding (as opposed to a casual understanding) of several of
the topics introduced in this class is necessary for success in the succeeding
math classes. In keeping with this
last observation, STUDENTS WILL BE
REQUIRED TO DEMONSTRATE MASTERY OF CERTAIN MINIMUM COMPETENCIES before being
given a passing grade in MAT 152a. Skills
which must be mastered will be pointed out as such in class.
These will include, but are not necessarily limited to, the ability
to apply the properties of equality, of inequality, of addition and
multiplication, and of exponents to expressions and/or equations involving
variables and relations. These
properties are summarized on the inside cover of the textbook.
This material is only a small portion of the material covered in MAT152a.
It is, however, used throughout this course and is central to all work in
Algebra. Subject to the restriction
indicated in the previous paragraph, scoring will be on the basis of the
following.
Homework (due daily)
100pts*
Each midterm exam (3)
100pts**
Surprise quizzes based on the
homework and given at start
of class ( 5)
50pts
Lab time at the Gateway Math Center
25 pts †
plus feedback to instructor
Class Notes
100pts**
Final Exam (comprehensive)
150pts
Total Possible points
625pts * If less than
half of the homework is handed in (including late work) with legitimate evidence
of effort, the student cannot receive a grade greater than C, no matter what
other scores are attained in other areas.
Occasionally homework may include some problems from sections not yet
touched on in lectures. In such
cases any legitimate effort will be counted the same as a correct solution.
Not every problem on each homework assignment will be graded.
Instead, a representative sample (some easy problems, some medium, and
some hard, some odd numbers, some even) will be graded and scored.
The grade for that homework assignment will be the score received on the
sample. **
The best three scores of the three midterms and the class notes will be
counted. †
Each student is required to visit the GMC twice within the first 3 weeks
of class (log in and ask the aide for help with the “math applets”) and then
give the instructor feedback on the experience and facility.
Feedback is preferred in written form (a note will do) but it may be in
verbal form so long as the log in records at the GMC reflect two visits before
October 9, 2000.
A maximum of 50 points may be earned through extra credit assignments
which will be given from time to time throughout the quarter.
All work will be graded on the basis of the process the student employs
at least as much as on the result, so always
show your work! Correct answers
which obviously required written work will not be given full--even much--credit
if the work is not shown.
With the restrictions mentioned in the first paragraph and
at * above, grades will be assigned as follows:
A if 562 points
B if 500 points
C if 437 points
D if 375 points
F if < 375 points
The last day to withdraw from this class with no record is Oct 13, 2000.
The last day to withdraw with the letter grade of “W” is Nov 11,
2000.
The I grade is not intended as a way of avoiding a grade the student
doesn't want, or even one which the instructor doesn't wish to give.
It will not, therefore, be given except in circumstances which cannot
have been foreseen and which occur too late to withdraw from the class. Late
and Make-up policy:
Homework may be handed in up to one week late for ˝ credit.
However, late work will not normally be graded.
Instead the student will be given credit at the end of the quarter for
each late assignment at the rate of ˝
of his/her average homework score. To
meet the requirement that ˝ of the homework be attempted in order to score
better than a C, homework may be handed in until the date of the final.
Any homework received later than one week from the due date will be given
a zero point value.
Quizzes may not be made up.
Midterms and the final may only be
made up if arrangements are made before
the exam or upon the presentation of
written documentation that the absence was beyond the student's control and
unpredictable (e.g., doctor's note on letterhead stationary, police accident
report, etc.) If a student misses a
midterm under other circumstances, that score will be the one thrown out.
If a student misses the final under other circumstances, the score on the
final will be zero. Restriction
on use of certain calculators:
The student will be expected to use a calculator for much of this class,
including on many specific homework assignments.
However, there are now on the market calculators (called symbolic
manipulators) which will do much of the work being taught in MAT152a.
Although it might be successfully argued that, in order to use such
calculators correctly, one needs first to know independently what it is that
they are doing, it can hardly be argued that, by using such machines, one will
learn to do what they do. Hence
their use in MAT152a is forbidden (yes, even for homework).
The machines prohibited include the TI 89 and some other so called
“graphing” calculators. If you
wish to use a graphing calculator other than the TI89--which you may not use!--get
the instructor's approval first. Lecture
and exam schedule, including due dates of assignments:
Lectures and exams will proceed according to the following schedule:
Sept 18 Introduction
and §1.1
Sept 20 §§1.2-1.3
Assignment #1 due
Sept 25 §§1.4-1.5
Assignment #2 due
Sept 27 §§2.1-2.2
Assignment #3 due
Oct 2
Review §§1.1-1.5
Assignment #4 due
Oct 4
Midterm #1 (§§1.1-1.5) first hour + lecture on §2.3
Oct 9
Go Over exam + lecture on §2.4 Assignments
##5&6 due Also date
by which GMC visits must be
completed
Oct 11 §§2.5-2.6
Assignment #7 due
Oct 16 §§2.7
and 3.1 Assignment #8 due
Oct 18 §§3.2-3.3
Assignment #9 due
Oct 23 Review
§§2.1-3.1
Assignment #10 due
Oct 25 Midterm
#2 (§§2.1-3.1) first hour + lecture on 3.4
Oct 30 Go
Over Exam + lecture on §3.5 Assignments
##11&12 due
Nov 1 §4.7
Assignment #13 due
Nov 6
§§7.1-7.2
Assignment #14 due
Nov 8
Review §§3.2-4.7
Assignment #15 due
Nov 13 Midterm
#3 (§§3.2-4.7) first hour + lecture on §7.3
Nov 15 §§7.4-7.5
Assignments ##16&17 due + Notes Due!
Nov 20 Go
Over Exam + lecture on §8.1 Assignment #18
due
Nov 22 Return
Notes +§8.2 + review §§7.1-7.3
Assignment #19 due
Nov 27 Review
§§7.3-8.2 + ?
Assignment #20 due
Nov 29 Review
all
Assignment #21 due
Dec 4 (2:00-4:00) Final
Exam (Comprehensive with an emphasis on §§7.1-8.2)
NOTE THE IRREGULAR TIME FOR THE
FINAL!
Please come to class having read the material which is to be covered in
class that day. Sometimes this will be hard to do, as the material may be
very difficult to understand when it is read without the benefit of having heard
a lecture on the topic. But, when
that is the case, it gives the student the benefit of knowing in advance which
topics are most confusing. When it
is not the case, it gives him/her a head start on the lecture, making it easier
to benefit from any special nuances
which may be brought out in class. Homework
Assignments:
Homework assignments will be made via handouts which will be distributed
every two weeks, covering the following two weeks.
These handouts will also be available in the tray outside
F103 after distribution in class, but the student is expected to attend class,
and the instructor accepts no responsibility for difficulties which may arise
from the student's failure to do so--including the possibility that the
instructor may forget to leave the assignment sheets in the tray.
Homework is due at the start of class on the date due. |