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.

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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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Course

MATH-1314-014 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

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Hours

(3 sem hrs; 3 lec)

Class Type

On Campus Course

Syllabus Information

Textbooks

\ College Algebra, 5th edition, by Robert Blitzer, Pearson Prentice Hall

Supplies

Course Materials:

• MyMathLab Access Code. If you purchased a book that was not bundled with the access code inside the front cover, you may purchase one at the bookstore for $100

  Student Performance

  \ Learning Objectives: After completing this course, the student will be able to demonstrate knowledge of the following 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 student responsibilities, please refer to the Student Rights & Responsibilities.  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 not allowed 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 will be graded. At the end of the semester, I will drop your three lowest homework assignments. 

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  • \   Written Homework:  Homework that does not meet the requirements will be recorded as a grade of a zero. 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.  Not all assigned homework may be collected for grading.  You will not know in advance which assignments will be collected for grading, therefore it is in your best interest to complete all assigned homework. 
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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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  8. \ All completed homework assignments have a base grade of 50.  If you turn in your completed assignment, then the lowest grade you can make on that assignment is a 50.  A completed assignment is one in which every assigned problem is fully attempted with all work shown.  For each graded homework assignment, 5 problems will be graded.  If the assignment is complete then the base grade is 50 with each of the 5 problems being worth 10 points each.  If the assignment is not complete then the base grade is 0 and each of the 5 problems is worth 20 points each.  The 5 problems will be graded as correct or incorrect with no partial credit being given.
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  \ Exams:  1.  Exams must be taken in pencil. 

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  \                 2.  Major exams are taken in class.  No make-up exams will be given, no matter what the reason for missing it.  If you know ahead of time that you will be missing an exam, you may schedule to take the exam early, but no exams will be given after they are given in class.

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  \ 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.  The final exam score may not be dropped.  If you have two zero’s, the final will replace only one of these zero’s.

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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, 6, and 8. The comprehensive final will be given on the date announced by your instructor, and may not be taken at another time. 

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  \ Grading Policy:                                                               Grading Scale:

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  \ Participation and Preparation           20%                      90-100                 A

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  \ Homework           10%                                                       80-89%            B

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  \ Exams                   40%                                                      70-79%           C

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  \ Final                    30%                                                        60-69%           D

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  \                                                                                         below 60%       F

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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.  It is your responsibility to make sure that I have marked you present for each class.    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 April 19 2012. 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

  This is a tentative course calendar, and subject to change at the discretion of the instructor.

  Week 1	Syllabus, P.5, 1.4		Week 9	3.5, 4.1, 4.2
  Week 2	1.5, 1.6		Week 10	Exam III, 4.3
  Week 3	1.7, Exam 1		Week 11	4.4, Review
  Week 4	2.1 &2.2, 2.5		Week 12	Exam IV, 6.1
  Week 5	2.5, 2.6		Week 13	6.1, 6.2, 6.5
  Week 6	2.7, Exam II		Week 14	6.5, 8.1
  Week 7	3.1, 3.2, 3.3		Week 15	8.2, 8.3, Review for Final
  Week 8	3.3, 3.4, 3.5		Week 16	Final May 9, 7:30-9:30

  Additional Information

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  Syllabus Created on:

  11/30/-1 12:00 AM

  Last Edited on:

  11/30/-1 12:00 AM