College Algebra Syllabus for 2011-2012
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Instructor Information
Instructor
Ronald Bennett (Curriculum Vitae)Phone
Phone number not availableOffice Location
Office Hours
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.
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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
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Administrative Drop Policy
N/A
Student Withdrawal Procedures
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Course
MATH-1314-012 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, 5th edition, by Robert Blitzer
\\ Prentice Hall Publishing Company
\Supplies
\ Course Materials:
\- \
- \
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:
\- \
- \ Recognize, solve, and apply radical, absolute value, linear, quadratic, and rational equations \
- \ Recognize, solve, and apply inequalities \
- \ Recognize, solve, graph, and apply polynomial, rational, exponential, and logarithmic functions \
- \ Explore functions, graphing techniques, operations of functions, composition of functions, and inverse functions. \
- \ Evaluate all real roots of higher degrees of polynomials \
- \ Recognize, solve, and apply systems of linear equations, including the use of matrices and matrix algebra \
- \ Identify sequences and series, and calculate the sum of a sequence \
Students Rights and Responsibilities
Student Rights and ResponsibilitiesLog 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
\\ 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 device noises; talking during the lecture; abusive, offensive, and/or disrespectful language or demeanor toward AC faculty, staff, students, and/or Amarillo College property.
\\ For a full discussion of appropriate behavior and student responsibilities, please refer to the Student Rights & Responsibilities Handbook. http://www.actx.edu/admission/files/filecabinet/folder2/Student_R_R_07_Hyper.pdf
\Grading Criteria
The final grades of A (95 – 100), B (77 – 94), C (65 – 76), and F (below 65) will be computed as the weighted average of the earned grades from: 10% for Homework, 10% for Quizzes, 10% for In-Class Worksheets, and 70% for exams consisting of four Chapter Tests and a Comprehensive Final (Counting as two Chapter Tests), and a 3% bonus for perfect attendance (exclusive of day 1) and 1% deduction for each unexcused absence beyond 3.
Please do NOT ask for extra credit work.
Attendance
\ Attendance will be taken at each class meeting. A bonus of 3 points on the final grade will be given for perfect attendance (Not counting the first class day.) Conversely, each unexcused absence beyond the third such will result in a 1 point deduction from the final score. If the instructor does not pass out an attendance sheet the students are expected to generate thier own.
\\\ Please remember the deadline for dropping any class at AC for the Fall 2011 Semester is November 16, 2011. If you stop attending class and your average drops below a 65 due to missed classes/assignments and you do not officially drop the course by this deadline, you will receive an F for the course.
\Calendar
There will be four major exams (chapter exams) and a comprehensive final taken in class. Test dates will be announced in class.
The final exam is comprehensive and taken in class.
The final exam for Math 1314-012 will be on Thursday, December 8, from 9:00 A.M. to 11:00 A.M.
TENTATIVE SCHEDULE: (This schedule is subject to change by the instructor at any time.)
Class # Day of Week Date Class Activity Class # Day of Week Date Subject Covered 1 Tuesday 8/23/2011 Syllabus 16 Thursday 10/13/2011 4.1, 4.2 2 Thursday 8/25/2011 1.4 17 Tuesday 10/18/2011 Exam III 3 Tuesday 8/30/2011 1.5 18 Thursday 10/20/2011 4.3 4 Thursday 9/1/2011 1.6 19 Tuesday 10/25/2011 4.4 5 Tuesday 9/6/2011 1.7 20 Thursday 10/27/2011 Review 6 Thursday 9/8/2011 Exam I 21 Tuesday 11/1/2011 Exam IV 7 Tuesday 9/13/2011 2.1 &2.2 22 Thursday 11/3/2011 6.1 8 Thursday 9/15/2011 2.5 23 Tuesday 11/8/2011 6.1, 6.2 9 Tuesday 9/20/2011 2.6 24 Thursday 11/10/2011 6.2, 6.5 10 Thursday 9/22/2011 2.7 25 Tuesday 11/15/2011 6.5 11 Tuesday 9/27/2011 Exam II 26 Thursday 11/17/2011 8.1 12 Thursday 9/29/2011 3.1 27 Tuesday 11/22/2011 8.2 13 Tuesday 10/4/2011 3.2, 3.3 28 Tuesday 11/29/2011 8.3, 8.3 14 Thursday 10/6/2011 3.3, 3.4 29 Thursday 12/1/2011 Review for Final 15 Tuesday 10/11/2011 3.5, 4.1 30 Thursday 12/8/2011 Final Exam Additional Information
INSTRUCTIONAL METHOD/EXAMINATIONS:
This course consists of 3 “hours” of lecture (150 minutes class time) per week for one semester.
Homework is critically important in learning mathematics and will be assigned and graded.
I prefer to grade each homework assignment in detail, giving guidance on solution methods as I grade. Sadly, there is rarely sufficient time for such detail. There will, therefore, be times when I give you credit based on correct answers or appropriate effort. I will use a set of specialized symbols to indicate how the credit for your problems was determined. As I do not know how to make the online syllabus manager display those symbols, you will receive a separate handout showing those symbols.
DESCRIPTIONS OF SYMBOLS USED IN GRADING
(Variations may be used):
Check thru "C" : Credit assigned for completion (answer may not be correct)
"Check X" on "C" : Half credit assigned for partial completion (answer may not be correct)
"A" in Check : Credit assigned for correct answer.
"A" in"Check X" : Half credit assigned for partially correct answer
"S" in Check with 100 : Credit assigned for substantially complete homework submission (answers may not be correct)
Simple check mark : Fully correct work (detail graded)
Some (typically odd-numbered problems) will be “completion grades”, while others (typically even-numbered) will be graded on the basis of the correct answer (still requiring supporting work), and some will be graded in full detail. Please note: Detail Grade HW problems will likely end up as quiz and/or test problems.
There will be frequent quizzes based directly or indirectly on the homework, class lectures, online videos, etc.
Questions regarding the assignments will be discussed in class as time permits.
Assignments are due at the beginning of class. Late homework will not be accepted. To allow for missed assignments and missed classes, I will drop the 3 lowest homework grades and the 3 lowest quiz grades and will allow you to make up 3 worksheets.
For you to receive credit for each homework assignment, it is critically important that you follow instructions carefully.
At the top of the first page you will include the following information: (A minimum 20% deduction will be made for failure to comply)
Math 1314-012 Student Name (Last, First)
Instructor: Ron Bennett Date
Assignment #
Chapter # .Section# & Problem #’s
Each succeeding page of an assignment should have the course #, page number, your name, the assignment number, and the date at the top right-hand corner.
Math 1314-012 page #
Student Name (Last, First)
Assignment #
Date
Secondary pages WITHOUT proper heading will receive NO credit.
Multiple pages must be stapled in the correct order in the upper left hand corner and properly numbered in the upper right corner. Any sheets not properly attached to the first sheet will not be graded.
Homework must be done in pencil on lined loose leaf paper or quadrille paper (required for graphs). Homework done in ink and/or worked on spiral notebook paper with ragged edges will not be graded. Homework that is messy and/or illegible will not be graded.
The original equation and any needed text for each problem must be written.
Work must be shown (an answer without appropriate steps will yield NO credit). Clearly erroneous work followed by the “miracle” of a correct answer without adequate explanation will lead to DOUBLE DEDUCTION.
Final answer must be BOXED to receive credit for that problem.
You do not have to copy word-for-word the original text for word problems, but there should be sufficient text that someone WITHOUT a copy of the textbook could read your work and understand WHAT you are working on.
You need NOT BOX graphical answers unless you have intermediate graphical steps shown.
Fold your paper lengthwise and with it oriented “as a book” place course #, your name, assignment number, and date on the new “top right” as shown below: (Same layout as extra pages sans page #)
Math 1314-012
Student Name (Last, First)
Assignment #
Date
Tests will be graded in detail.
Tests will be self-contained. You will NOT need a Blue Book.
Failure to genuinely ATTEMPT a problem on a test for which adequate time is given will lead to DOUBLE DEDUCTION for that problem.
I will drop your lowest two “Chapter Test” grades.
SCHOLASTIC DISHONESTY
Scholastic dishonesty (cheating) of any kind will not be tolerated in this course. Participation in scholastic dishonesty will result in a non replaceable grade of zero on the assignment or exam involved. Thus, if you are caught cheating on an exam, a grade of zero will be assigned with no chance of that grade being dropped. Further action at a higher level may be sought if necessary, up to permanent removal from the class, or failing the course. A second case warrants an automatic failure of the course.
The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board sets the topics that must be covered in order to receive credit for a course. The instructor sets the pace to ensure that these requirements are met. Any student having trouble maintaining the pace should seek extra help from the instructor and/or a tutor.
Students who fail to comply with the standards outlined in the syllabus and/or Student Rights & Responsibilities will be subject to disciplinary action.
TIME AND LOCATION: T/Th 9:00 A.M.-10:15 A.M. Engineering Room 208
ADDITIONAL CONTACTS:
Dr. Kathryn Wetzel, Department Chair, phone: 371-5097, e-mail: kcwetzel@actx.edu
Gina Garrett, Senior Staff Assistant, phone: 371-5158, e-mail: ggarrett@actx.edu
FOOD/DRINK:
It is the policy of the Mathematics & Engineering Department that food and drink are allowed in the classroom setting, at the instructor’s discretion. I will allow them so long as the privilege is not abused. Food and drink are not allowed in the computer labs.
PHONE/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.
Phones must be PUT AWAY during tests or quizzes.
HATS/CAPS:
Hats or caps should not be worn in class.
Syllabus Created on:
11/30/-1 12:00 AM
Last Edited on:
11/30/-1 12:00 AM