College Algebra Syllabus for 2011-2012
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Instructor Information

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

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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-1314-008 College Algebra

Prerequisites

MATH 0303-minimum grade of C, an Accuplacer score of 75, a THEA score of 270, an equivalent score on a state-approved test or Department Chair consent

Course Description

Study of quadratics; polynomial, rational, logarithmic and exponential functions; systems of equations; progressions, sequences and series; matrices and determinants.

Student Resources Student Resources Website

Department Expectations

\N

Occupational License Disclaimer

Hours

(3 sem hrs; 3 lec)

Class Type

On Campus Course

Syllabus Information

Textbooks

\ College Algebra  By Blitzer, Ed. 5

\ Publisher: Prentice Hall

Supplies

\ Course Materials:

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• \ Graphing Calculator:  You are required to bring your calculator to EVERY class.  A TI-84 Plus calculator is preferred, but most TI calculators will be ok. If you already own

  Student Performance

  \ Learning Objectives: After completing this course, the student will be able to demonstrate knowledge of thefollowing topics as evaluated by the faculty in the department/program:

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  1. \ Recognize, solve, and apply radical, absolute value, linear, quadratic, and rational equations
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  2. \ Recognize, solve, and apply inequalities
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  3. \ Recognize, solve, graph, and apply polynomial, rational, exponential, and logarithmic functions
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  4. \ Explore functions, graphing techniques, operations of functions, composition of functions, and inverse functions.
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  5. \ Evaluate all real roots of higher degrees of polynomials
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  6. \ Recognize, solve, and apply systems of linear equations, including the use of matrices and matrix algebra
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  7. \ Identify sequences and series, and calculate the sum of a sequence
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  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

  \ Student Responsibilities:   Students are expected to behave in the classroom in a manner that is supportive of the learning environment.  Disruptive behavior includes, but is not limited to the following: the use of cellular phones, texting, making offensive remarks, reading newspapers, sleeping, asking questions not relevant to class material, or engaging in any other form of distraction. For a full discussion of appropriate behavior and studentresponsibilities, please refer to the Student Rights & Responsibilities Handbook http://sites.actx.edu/catalog/notices/.  Cheating is defined in Webster’s College Dictionary as “taking an examination in a dishonest way, as by having improper access to answers.” Improper access includes, but is not limited to, copying from another student’s paper, copying from the homework solutions manual, or using any unauthorized sources of information while taking an exam or quiz. If the instructor sees a cell phone out during any exam, the instructor will assume that student is cheating and the exam will be taken up and a grade of a zero will be received on that exam. Any student who cheats on an exam or quiz will receive a grade of zero for that exam or quiz and that grade may NOT be dropped.  .  Students who fail to comply with the standards outlined in the syllabus and/or Student Rights & Responsibilities will be subject to disciplinary action.

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  \ Food/Drink: It is the policy of the Mathematics & Engineering Department that food and drink be allowed in the classroom setting, at the instructor’s discretion. Food and drink are notallowed in the computer labs.

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  \ Phones/Pagers: It is the policy of the Mathematics & Engineering Department that cell phones and pagers must be turned off or in silent mode in the classrooms and the computer labs.

  Grading Criteria

  \ Homework:  Expect to have homework every day in this course! Homework will be assigned from the book and they will be graded.

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  • \   Written Homework:  Homework that does not meet the requirements will be recorded as a grade of a zero. You may come check your written homework in my office anytime as long as you have attempted every problem.  Homework that is to be turned in on paper must follow the following requirements:
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  1. \  It must be turned in at the beginning of the class period. Late homework will not be accepted. Late is defined to be: anything turned in after the start of the class period.
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  2. \ Homework must be written in pencil on white 8.5 x 11 inch paper.  It must be neat and legible. I will be the judge as to what is neat. Just because you can read it doesn’t mean that I can interpret it.
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  3. \ Do not tear your paper out of a spiral and leave jagged edges. Any assignment with jagged edges will not be accepted and be recorded with a grade of zero.
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  4. \ If you have more than one page to turn in, the pages must be stapled together. Multiple pages that are not stapled or held together by a paperclip, folded corner, spit, gum, etc. will not be accepted and be recorded with a grade of zero. You must staple multiple pages together.
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  5. \ Homework must be presented in an orderly manner with the problem running in a single column down the page.
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  6. \ All final answers must be circled to receive credit. Any algebraic answer not circled or “boxed” in will not be graded.  Pictures/graphs do not need to be circled or boxed.
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  7. \ If you have an assignment where you have to graph something, the ENTIRE ASSIGNEMENT must be on graph paper.
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  \ Exams:  Exams must be taken in pencil. 

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  \ Exam dates will be announced at least one week in advance.  At the end of the semester, I will replace your ONE lowest exam grade with the final grade, provided the grade on the final is higher than an exam grade.  If you miss an exam, it will count as your replacement exam and will not be made up. If you have two zero’s, the final will replace only one of these zero’s.

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  \ The tentative exam dates are as follows: Tests are after completing the chapters as shown below:

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  \ Test 1  - Chapters 1 and 2

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  \ Test 2 - Chapters 3 and 4

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  \ Test 3 - Chapters 5, 6, and 8

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  \ Final:  Under NO circumstances will the final be given at any other time (i.e. No Make Ups)!! The final will cover all material covered in-class including chapters 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 8. The comprehensive final will be given on the following date as directed by the official Amarillo College Schedule:

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  • \ Section Final Exam: 
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  \ Make-up:  Make-up work is given at the discretion of the instructor.  NO make-up homework or tests are given.  If you know that you are going to be out in advance, you MUST make arrangements to take the quiz or test early. No make up exams.
  \ If a test is missed, then the Final Exam grade is substituted for that exam.

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  \ Grading Policy:                                                               Grading Scale:

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  \ Attendance           5%                                                       90-100%          A

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  \ Homework           15%                                                      80 - 89%         B

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  \                                                                                       70 - 79%         C

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  \ Review                   20% ( 5% each)                                   60 - 69%         D

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  \ Exams                   45% (15% each)                               Below 60%         F                          

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  \ Final                      15%                                                   

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  \ Other Student Resources:       

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  1. \ Your instructor is your first and BEST resource for any help!
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  2. \ Free one-on-one tutoring at the Student Outreach Center in Engineering 104. You will need your AC ID  to sign in.                                 Hours:    MTWR 8:00am – 8:00pm, F 8:00am – 2:00pm, S 10:00am – 3:00pm, U closed
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  3. \

     \ Free online tutoring at Smarthinking on MyAC. This is available 24 hours a day.  You will need to log on to MyAC, click on Academics, click on Tutoring, then create an account.

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  Attendance

  \ Attendance:  Attendance is mandatory and will be taken at EVERY class period. Your Homework counts for your attendance from the second week. If you are absent for any reason, YOU are responsible for all make-up work and notes.  Please find a friend to get your notes from, as I do not make copies of my personal lecture notes.Remember that the deadline for withdrawing from any class at AC for Fall 2011 Semester is Wednesday, November 16^th . If you stop attending class and your average drops below a 60 due to missed assignments and you do not officially drop the course by this deadline, you will receive an F for the course.

  Calendar

  Tentative Schedule - subject to change

  Test 1 - after completing Chapter 1 and Chapter 2 - after handing the Review 1

  Test 2 - after completing chapters 3 and 4 - after handing the Review 2

  Test 3 - after completing chapters 5,6 and 8 - after handing Reviews 3 and Final Review

  Additional Information

  \ Additional Contacts:        

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  \ Dr. Kathryn Wetzel, Department Chair, 371-5097, kcwetzel@actx.edu

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  \ Gina Garrett, Senior Staff Assistant, 317-5158, rrgarrett@actx.edu

  Syllabus Created on:

  11/30/-1 12:00 AM

  Last Edited on:

  11/30/-1 12:00 AM