College Algebra Syllabus for 2011-2012
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Instructor Information

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-1314-010 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

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

\ Access to Internet (including MyMathLab), graphing calculator, blue-line graph paper, straight edge, pencils, and college-ruled notebook paper.

\ The recommended c

Student Performance

\ After completing this course, the student will be able to demonstrate knowledge of the following topics:

\ 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 polynomial equations.
\ 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 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

\ SCHOLASTIC DISHONESTY: Scholastic dishonesty (cheating) of any kind will not be tolerated in this course and 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 and that grade cannot be replaced by the final exam. Further action at a higher level may be sought if necessary. Scholastic dishonesty is clearly defined in the Student Rights and Responsibilities.

\ 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: text messaging, tardiness/leaving early, electronic device noises, talking during lecture, abusive, offensive, or disrespectful language and/or 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 state of Texas sets the requirements; therefore, this course will move at a 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 Rights & Responsibilities” will be subject to disciplinary action which may include but is not limited to; removal from the classroom, consultation with department chair and/or other AC authority, withdrawal from the course and/or the college.

\ FOOD/DRINK: It is the policy of the Mathematics and Engineering Department that food and drink be allowed in the classroom setting, at the instructor’s discretion, but food and drink are not allowed in the Computer Labs.

\ PHONE/PAGERS: It is the policy of the Mathematics and Engineering Department that cell phones and pagers must be turned off or in silent mode in the classrooms and the Computer Labs. Cell phones should not be out during class.

\ ADDITIONAL CLASSROOM EXPECTATIONS:

\ BE ON TIME: Students need to be on time to every class meeting. It is distracting and disrespectful to the class when you arrive late. If you must be late, please take the seat nearest to the door. If you are more than 10 minutes late, you will be counted absent.
\ BE PREPARED: Students need to have all homework completed and ready to discuss when class begins as well as have read the section that will be covered in class that day before lecture. Lecture should not be the first time to see new information.
\ NO DISRUPTIVE BEHAVIORwill be tolerated. Disruptive behavior includes, but is not limited to the following: cell phones (ringing or text messaging) and beepers, abusive language and/or behavior, talking while instructor is lecturing, sleeping, leaving class early, arriving late, and getting up during lecture to go to the trashcan or restroom.
\ SUBSTITUTE BEHAVIOR: If a substitute should come in to teach the class, you are expected to be on your best behavior and treat him/her with the highest respect. I would not send anyone in to teach who is not fully capable of doing so.

Grading Criteria

The final grades of A (90-100), B (80-89), C (70-79), D (60-69), and F (below 60) will be computed as follows:

Homework                20%
Attendance                            5%
Exams (4@15% each)        60%
Final Exam                          15%

Homework: Daily homework assignments will consist of online assignments as well as written assignments. Online assignments will be submitted using MyMathLab and will be automatically graded on the website. Written assignments will be submitted in class and graded by the instructor. Details on how to register and enroll in MyMathLab will be given in class. Detailed instructions on format for written assignments will also be given in class.

No late work will be accepted, so complete and turn in all assignments on time.

Exams: There will be four major exams and a comprehensive final taken in class. Test dates will be announced in class. All tests are kept on file in Ms. Holmes’ office. No make-up exams will be given, no matter the reason for missing the exam (sick, work, funeral, etc…). To compensate for this, you may replace one missed exam grade with the grade you make on the final exam. If you do not miss any chapter exams during the semester, I will replace your lowest chapter exam grade with the grade you make on the final, provided the grade on the final is higher than the lowest chapter exam grade. If you know ahead of time that you will be missing an exam, you may schedule to take the exam early.

FINAL EXAMINATION: The final exam is comprehensive and taken in class. The final exam for this course is TBA.

Attendance

\ Regular attendance is necessary to be successful in this course and will constitute five percent of your overall average. Students will be allowed to miss one class day without penalty. Starting with the second absence, five points will be deducted from the starting attendance grade of 100 for each absence. For one absence, a grade of 100 will be given; for two absences, 95; for three absences, 90, etc. A student who misses more than 9 times will receive a failing attendance grade. It is the responsibility of the student to sign the attendance sheet daily. Nonattendance will be recorded as an absence, and no differentiation will be made as to excused or unexcused absences.

\ Please remember the deadline for dropping a class at AC is April 19, 2012 and is also published in the official Amarillo College Schedule of Classes. 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. Note: Late drops will NOT be given under any circumstance.

Calendar

\ College Algebra Tentative Lecture Schedule. This schedule is subject to change by the instructor at any time.

\ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \

\ \ Week 1 \	\ \ Holiday, Syllabus \	\ \ \	\ \ Week 9 \	\ \ 3.4, 3.5 \
\ \ Week 2 \	\ \ 1.4, 1.5 \	\ \ \	\ \ Week 10 \	\ \ Chapter 3 Exam, 4.1 \
\ \ Week 3 \	\ \ 1.6, 1.7 \	\ \ \	\ \ Week 11 \	\ \ 4.2, 4.3 \
\ \ Week 4 \	\ \ Chapter 1 Exam, 2.1 \	\ \ \	\ \ Week 12 \	\ \ 4.4, 6.1 \
\ \ Week 5 \	\ \ 2.2, 2.5 \	\ \ \	\ \ Week 13 \	\ \ Chapter 4 Exam, 6.2 \
\ \ Week 6 \	\ \ 2.6, 2.7 \	\ \ \	\ \ Week 14 \	\ \ 6.5, 8.1, 8.2 \
\ \ Week 7 \	\ \ 3.1, Chapter 2 Exam \	\ \ \	\ \ Week 15 \	\ \ 8.3, Review for Final \
\ \ Week 8 \	\ \ 3.2, 3.3 \	\ \ \	\ \ Week 16 \	\ \ Final Exam \

Additional Information

\ FREE HELP: If you feel yourself getting behind in class or having problems with certain concepts covered, get help immediately. It is YOUR responsibility to get help outside of class.

\ The following are ways to get FREE help outside of class:

\ Contact your instructorduring their office hours or make an appointment.
\ Get free tutoring from the Learning Resouce Center
\ Get free tutoring from Student Support Services
\ Contact a fellow classmate. Group learning is encouraged as long as you do your own work.

\ AC ONLINE: Students will be required to log in to AC Online regularly to check the course calendar, e-mail, grades, and print class handouts. To access our course area in AC Online:

\ Go to http://actx.angellearning.com and log in. Your log in information is the same as your Web Advisor log in. If you need help contact askAC at 371-5000 and they can lead you in the right direction. You may also contact the CTL helpdesk at 371-5992.
\ Once you are logged in, click on our course
\ Then, you will see several tabs at the top. The tabs you will use in this course are:

\ Lessons: this is where posted course material will be located
\ Communication: this is where you have access to e-mail and discussion boards

\ A Note from your instructor: This class requires that we work together as a TEAM. Each of you can be successful in this course if we both put forth our best efforts and work together. I know it can be overwhelming at times, but you can be successful.

\ As your instructor, I pledge to:

\ Present the material to you in an organized manner
\ Support you in your educational efforts and help you achieve your goals
\ Maintain the course on AC Online

\ As a student, I expect you to:

\ Log in to AC Online regularly
\ Put in the time it takes to understand the material presented each class meeting
\ Stay caught up with your written and online assignments
\ Ask for help when you need it

Syllabus Created on:

11/30/-1 12:00 AM

Last Edited on: