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Intermediate Algebra Syllabus for 2011-2012
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Instructor Information

Instructor

Tammy Holmes (Curriculum Vitae)

E-Mail

tdholmes22@actx.edu

Phone

8063715328

Office Location

Engineering 201B

Office Hours

I'll stay after class if you have questions or need help.  You can also contact me through email at tdholmes22@actx.edu.

Others by appointment

Course Information

Recording Policy

Disability Statement

Any student who, because of a disabling condition, may require some special arrangements in order to meet course requirements should contact disAbility Services (Student Service Center room 119, phone 371-5436) as soon as possible.

Statement for Mental Health and Advocacy & Resource Center:

As a student you may experience a range of issues that can cause barriers to learning, such as strained relationships, increased anxiety, alcohol/drug problems, feeling down, difficulty concentrating and/or lack of motivation. These mental health concerns or stressful events may lead to diminished academic performance or reduce a student's ability to participate in daily activities. Amarillo College offers services to assist you with addressing these and other concerns you may be experiencing. If you or someone you know are suffering from any of the aforementioned conditions, you can learn more about the broad range of confidential mental health services available on campus by calling the AC Counseling Center at 806-371-5900. The AC Counseling Center website is https://www.actx.edu/counseling/ . Also, if you are in need of social services (affordable housing, utilities, transportation, food, clothing, childcare, medical/dental/vision, legal), please call the AC Advocacy & Resource Center at 806-371-5439. The AC Advocacy & Resource Center website is https://www.actx.edu/arc

Amarillo College Tutoring for Success Policy:

Administrative Drop Policy

N/A

Student Withdrawal Procedures

N/A

Privacy Statement

The Amarillo College Privacy Policy is found at https://www.actx.edu/-amarillo-college-privacy-notice , and applies to all Amarillo College students.  If you have questions about this privacy statement or you believe that your personal information has been released without your consent, send email to humanresources@actx.edu .

Course

MATH-0303-024 Intermediate Algebra

Prerequisites

Math 0302-minimum grade of C, Accuplacer score of 63, THEA score of 230, an equivalent score on a state-approved test or department chair consent

Course Description

A study of relations and functions; inequalities; factoring; polynomials, rational expressions; quadratics with an introduction to complex numbers; exponential and logarithmic functions; determinants and matrices; sequences and series.

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(This is a developmental course. It does not meet elective or graduation requirements.)

Student Resources Student Resources Website

Department Expectations

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Occupational License Disclaimer

Hours

(3 sem hrs; 3 lec, 1 lab)

Class Type

On Campus Course

Syllabus Information

Textbooks

\ Robert Blitzer, Intermediate Algebra for College Students, Fifth Edition, Pearson Prentice Hall

Supplies

\ 1.      Blue-line graph paper – 4 or 5 squares per inch
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\ 2.      Blue-line notebook paper, pencils, erasers, a ruler or straightedge
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\ 3.   &nbs

Student Performance

\ STUDENT PERFORMANCE / LEARNING OUTCOMES
\ After studying the material presented in this course, the student will be able to do the following as evaluated by the faculty in the Mathematics Department.
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\ ·         Demonstrate a basic understanding of relations and functions, including exponential and logarithmic functions.
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\ ·         Algebraically evaluate and graph linear inequalities  in two variables.
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\ ·         Understand and apply factoring to binomials, trinomials and four-term polynomials.
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\ ·         Apply the arithmetic operations with polynomials and work with the many applications of polynomials.
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\ ·         Evaluate polynomial equations in one variable using a variety of methods.
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\ ·         Apply arithmetic operations using order of operation on rational expressions and radical expressions.
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\ ·         Evaluate quadratic equations by various methods.
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\ ·         Demonstrate a basic understanding of imaginary numbers.
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\ ·         Demonstrate a basic understanding of determinants and matrices.
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\ ·         Understand and apply the basic concepts of sequences and series.

Students Rights and Responsibilities

Student Rights and Responsibilities

Log in using the AC Connect Portal

In order to receive your AC Connect Email, you must log in through AC Connect at https://acconnect.actx.edu .

If you are an active staff or faculty member according to Human Resources, use "Exchange". All other students, use "AC Connect (Google) Email".

Expected Student Behavior

\ BEHAVIORAL EXPECTATIONS / CLASSROOM GROUND RULES:
\ Students are expected to behave in the classroom in a manner that is supportive of the learning environment.  Behaviors that are not supportive include, but are not limited to: tardiness/leaving early; electronic devices noises; talking during lectures; abusive, offensive, or disrespectful language; abusive, offensive, or disrespectful demeanor toward AC faculty, staff, students and/or property.
\ In order to receive credit for a course, all material listed on the syllabus must be covered.  The instructor sets the pace to ensure that these requirements are met.  Complaining about the pace will not result in less material being covered.
\ Students who fail to comply with the standards outlined in the syllabus and/or “Student’s Rights & Responsibilities” will be subject to disciplinary action which may include, but is not limited to: removal from the classroom; consultation with the Mathematics and Engineering Department Chair and/or other AC authority; withdrawal from the course and/or the college.
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\ FOOD / DRINK POLICY AND CELL PHONE / PAGER POLICY:
\ It is the policy of the Mathematics Department that food and drink may be allowed in the classroom setting, at the instructor’s discretion.  Snacks and drinks are allowed in the Student Outreach Center.  Beverages only are allowed in the developmental math testing room.
\ It is the policy of the Mathematics Department that cell phones and pagers should be turned off, or in silent mode, in the classrooms and in the Student Outreach Center.  In the Math Lab testing room, all cell phones must be turned off or in silent mode as a courtesy to other students who are testing.  Cell phones should remain in purses, pockets, or clips.  At no time should a cell phone be out and/or visible.  Cell phone calculators may not be used.  Headphones, IPODS, and any device requiring headphones are not allowed in the Math Lab testing room.

Grading Criteria

GRADING POLICY:
  1. You may at any time check your test grades in this course by accessing the Internet and logging on to AC Online.  You may also check with your instructor.
  2. Homework and Skill Drill grades will be recorded by the instructor.  It is recommended that each student maintain his/her own records on the copy of the grade card provided in the Homework Assignment Sheet.
  3. Your final grade for this course will be determined as follows:
    • Test Average                              60%
    • Skill Drills                                   10%
    • Homework                                 10%
    • Final Exam                                20%
  4. Grades will be given as follows:
    1. A 90-100
    2. B 80-89
    3. C 70-79
    4. D 60-69
    5. F  Below 60 (Unsatisfactory)
       
  5. A grade of “F” will be earned as follows:
    • You complete the course with an overall average below 60.
    • You do not complete the course and do not drop the course in time to receive a grade of “W” and do not meet the requirements listed below for a grade of “I” (Incomplete).
    • You receive an “I” (Incomplete) after signing an Incomplete contract, but do not satisfy the conditions for removal by the agreed upon date.
    • You violate the cheating and plagiarism policy.
  6. Incomplete:
    • A grade of “I” (Incomplete) is not generally given in developmental math courses.  Any exceptions will be made by your instructor on an individual basis and only for extreme circumstances.
    • A grade of “I” (Incomplete) will be possible only if the student has at most the Final Exam and one Chapter Test to complete.  If the instructor agrees to give the student an Incomplete, the student must sign a contract that specifies the requirements for changing the temporary grade of “I” to the letter grade earned by the student.  The student will have a maximum of three months from the date the contract is signed to fulfill these requirements.  If the student has not met those requirements by the end of the three months, the grade of “I” will automatically be changed to a grade of “F”.
  7. Withdrawal:  

 

  • You will receive a “W” for a withdrawal/drop if the withdrawal is initiated before the deadline stated in the AC Program/Course Guide.


**Please note the following deadline for withdrawals.**
  16 week classes – November 16, 2011


SKILL DRILLS

  • Once instruction has begun and homework has been assigned, 5-minute skill drills will be administered at the beginning of every class period over previous homework. It will be important to be in class on time so as not to miss the skill drills.
  • Skill Drills must be completed in pencil, no credit if done in ink.
  • During the course of the semester, there will be a total of 116 points available on skill drills.  A student’s skill drill grade will be the total points accumulated over the course of the semester.  The highest score given will be a 100 even if a student acquires over 100 points.
  • If a student’s skill drill grade is higher than his/her lowest chapter test grade, the skill drill grade will replace that test grade when calculating the student’s final average.
  • There will be no make-up skill drills for any reason.
HOMEWORK:
  1. A homework assignment will usually be given at the end of each class.  This assignment is due, fully completed, at the beginning of the next class and is not to be worked on while instruction is being given.  Late homework for any section(s) will not be accepted. However, your three (3) lowest homework grades will be dropped. Not all assigned homework may be collected for grading. You will not know in advance which homework will be collected for grading, therefore it is in your best interest to complete all assigned homework.
  2. If you know you are going to be absent, send your homework with someone to turn in or you can turn it into the instructor’s office before it is due.
  3. All completed homework assignments have a base grade of 50. If you turn in your completed assignment showing that you attempted each problem, then the lowest grade you can make on that assignment is a 50. For each homework assignment, 5 problems will be graded and will be worth 10 points each. Therefore, the highest grade possible for each homework assignment is a 100.  For each incomplete assignment 5 problems will be graded but will be worth 20 points each.  Each problem is graded as correct or incorrect.
    Students will not know which 5 problems will be graded, so it is in your best interest to complete all of your assignment. Failure to follow the homework guidelines could result in you receiving no credit for that assignment and receiving a 0 as a grade. Students who do not write down the problem or who do not show their work will receive a zero on that assignment. Answers only on an assignment will result in a zero. Turning in all collected homework is one of the best things you can do to improve your grade!
  4. Please read carefully your Homework Assignment Sheet for instructions on the correct format for all homework assignments.  You must write the problem down, show all of your work, and give a final, circled answer to receive credit for working a homework problem. (See Homework Assignment Sheet for example.)
  5. Only odd-numbered problems will be assigned throughout the semester.  Students should check their answers with those provided in the back of the textbook for accuracy.
POLICY ON CHEATING AND PLAGIARISM:
Plagiarism and cheating will not be tolerated in any math course at Amarillo College.  
On the first day of class, you will be required to sign and date a Course Contract.  Included in the contract is the following statement:  "I fully understand that if I cheat or attempt to cheat, on any test I will receive an automatic “F” in the course.  The grade will go on my permanent transcript and cannot be removed.  Cheating includes, but is not limited to, the illegal use of books, notes, cell phones, copying, or the use of cell phone calculators.  Cheating also includes helping, or attempting to help, other students to cheat on a test."
You will not be allowed to take your tests until this contract is signed and returned to your instructor.

TESTING:

Students in Intermediate Algebra may use graphing calculators.  
 

A.  Testing

All tests, including final exam, will be taken in the Learning Resource Center testing area.  Tests may be taken during regular testing hours.  Testing hours TBA.

Tests for these classes may not be taken during regular class time.

Please note:  No tests will be given out less than one hour prior to the closing of the testing area.  An Amarillo College ID must be presented every time a test is taken.

•         The tests over each chapter must be completed by deadlines set by your instructor.  These tests due dates will be set by your instructor.  The tests will be graded by your instructor.  The grade will generally be available no less than two days after the test is taken.  All of your tests are stored in the Testing Center during the semester. 

•         Your instructor will keep tests until the end of the semester. 

Please note:  Under no circumstances may a student take any test or questions from a test out of the Testing Center.

B.  Chapter Tests
 
1.       NO make-up exams will be given, no matter what the reason for missing it is (sick, work, funeral, etc…). To compensate for this, you may replace your lowest test grade with your skill drill grade. If you know ahead of time that you will be missing an exam, you may schedule to take the exam early, but NO make-up exams will be given after they are given in class.
 
C.    Final Exam
 
1.      A comprehensive final exam will be given after all chapter tests are completed.
2.      Final exams will be graded by your instructor.  
3.      The final exam may be taken only one time.
4.      The final exam must be taken by the date set by your instructor.
5.      You must complete the final exam by the assigned due date and time as specified by your instructor.  Remember, the final exam score counts twice.

Attendance

GENERAL ATTENDANCE POLICY:
Regular attendance is necessary for satisfactory achievement.  Therefore, it is the responsibility of the student to attend class and be on time for daily attendance check.  Nonattendance will be recorded as an absence and no differentiation will be made as to excused or unexcused absences.  Leaving class early or prior to dismissal time will be counted as an absence.  You will be rewarded for perfect attendance, not only because you will receive the instruction you need to do the assignments, but you will also have two points added to your final average.

16 week classes meet 2 times a week
Perfect attendance: 2 points added to final average
1 - 3  absences: no chance in final average
4 - 5 absences: 1 point deducted from final average.
6+ absences: 3 points deducted from final average.     

These points definitely could result in a letter grade difference.  A failing grade may cause you to be placed on academic probation or suspension according to the provisions of the college catalog.  They may also affect admission to another college if you seek a transfer.  A total number of 3 weeks or more of absences will be considered excessive and as failure to make satisfactory progress. These standards will be used in reporting to any agency that supports any student financially and requires satisfactory progress as measured by attendance (the Veterans Administration, for example).  If you quit attending and do not officially drop the course by the official drop date, a grade of “F” will be given.

Calendar

TENATIVE COURSE OUTLINE (subject to change):

Week

Dates

Assignments

Tests
1 8/22 -8/27 Orientation, 1.1  
2 8/29 - 9/3 1.2,1.4  
  9/5 Labor Day - Campus Closed  
3 9/6 - 9/10 4.1, 1.6 Chapter 1
4 9/12 - 9/17 2.1 - 2.3  
5 9/19 - 9/24 2.4 - 2.5 Chapter 2
6 9/26 - 10/1 5.1 - 5.3  
       
7 10/3 - 10/8 5.4 - 5.5 Chapter 5
8 10/10 - 10/15 5.7, 6.1  
  LAST DAY TO DROP - WEDNSDAY - November 16th  
9 10/17 - 10/22 6.2 - 6.3 Chapter 6
10 10/24 - 10/29 7.1 - 7.2  
11 10/31 - 11/5 7.3 - 7.5 Chapter 7
12 11/7 - 11/12 7.7, 8.1  
13 11/14 - 11/19 8.2 - 8.3,3.4- 3.5***  Chapter 8
14 11/21 - 11/23 9.1, 9.3,11.1-11.3***  
  11/23 No Evening Classes  
   11/24 - 11/27 Thanksgiving Holiday  - College Closed  
15 11/28 - 12/3 Review  
16 12/5 - 12/8 Finals Week Final Week**
    Only Chapter 8 and Final Exam will be available for testing.  

 *     Section 4.1 will appear on Chapter 1 Test

**    Check with your instructor for your Final Exam Due Date.

***  "Looking Ahead" topics will be discussed in class. Students will be responsible for Homework, no Skill Drills will be  administered. These topics  will appear on the Final Exam.

Additional Information

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Syllabus Created on:

11/30/-1 12:00 AM

Last Edited on:

11/30/-1 12:00 AM