Contemporary Mathematics I Syllabus for 2014-2015
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Instructor Information

Office Location

Engineering 201D

Office Hours

Unless I am in a meeting, my office hours for Fall 2015 will be:

10:30 – 11:50 a.m. MW

1:30 – 2:00 p.m. MW

2:50 – 4:10 p.m. T

Other days and times by appointment are also fine. (For your convenience, making an appointment with me is always best. E-mail me, or call me, and we’ll set up a time!)

Additional Contacts:

Collin Witherspoon, Math, Science, & Engineering Department Chair

Office: ENGR-205B Phone: 371-5142 Email: ccwitherspoon@actx.edu

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-1332-003 Contemporary Mathematics I

Prerequisites

Prerequisite: 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

Logic; sets and counting; metric system; probability; statistics; geometry; math of finance; and exponential and logarithmic functions.

Student Resources Student Resources Website

Department Expectations

Occupational License Disclaimer

Hours

(3 sem hrs; 3 lec)

Class Type

On Campus Course

Syllabus Information

Textbooks

Thinking Mathematically, Sixth Edition. Author: Robert Blitzer, Pearson Education, Inc.

NOTE: Washington Street Campus Bookstore: (806) 371 - 5304

Supplies

Thinking Mathematically, Sixth Edition. Author: Robert Blitzer, Pearson Education, Inc.
TI-83, TI-83 Plus, TI-84, or TI-84 plus graphing calculator (no TI-89’s, TI-92’s, or TI nspire)

Blue-line notebo

Student Performance

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:

Investigate and apply sets, set operations, and Venn diagrams.
Apply basic principles of deductive reasoning, symbolic logic, conditionals, and truth tables.
Investigate and apply introductory principles of number theory, relations, and functions.
Evaluate simple interest, compound interest, annuities, and amortization principles.
Demonstrate an understanding of basic counting principles and basic probability theory.
Demonstrate an understanding of basic statistical theory including measures of central tendency, measures of dispersion, and normal distribution.

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

Math & Engineering Department Behavior Policy:

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; working on assignments for other courses during class; reading newspapers; use of personal music systems; use of cell phones (including texting); electronic device noises; talking during the lecture, even about a math topic; abusive, offensive, and/or disrespectful language or demeanor toward AC faculty, staff, students, and/or Amarillo College property.

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. Complaining about the pace will not result in less material being covered. :) 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 AC’s Student Rights & Responsibilities document will be subject to disciplinary action which may include, but is not limited to: removal from the classroom; consultation with the Math & Engineering Department Chair and/or other AC authority; withdrawal from the course and/or Amarillo College.

NOTE: If the instructor or a Math Testing Lab staff member sees a cell phone out during any exam, the instructor will assume that the student is cheating and the exam will be taken up and a grade of "F" will be received for the course. This grade will go on your permanent transcript and cannot be removed.

Cheating/Plagiarism/Academic Dishonesty Policy:

Cheating/plagiarism/academic dishonesty, whether it is on homework assignments or on tests, cannot be tolerated in any math course at Amarillo College. A student who plagiarizes or cheats (or attempts to plagiarize or cheat) on any homework assignment or on any test in this course will receive an automatic “F” in the course. Such academic dishonesty includes, but is not limited to, the illegal use of books, notes, calculators, cell phones, and/or copying on any test or any course assignment. Cheating also includes helping, or attempting to help, other students to cheat on a test or any course assignment. Please refer to the “Student Rights and Responsibilities” document on AC’s website for more information on this issue, and feel free to ask me about any questions you have on any of these policies.

Food/Drink Policy AND Cell Phone/Pager Policy:

It is the policy of the Mathematics & Engineering Department that food and drink may be allowed in the classroom setting, at the instructor’s discretion, but food and drink are not allowed at any time in the computer labs.

It is the policy of the Mathematics & Engineering Department that cell phones and pagers should be turned off, or in silent mode, in the classrooms and in the computer labs. If you must have your cell phone on in class, due to a true emergency situation, please step out into the hallway immediately with your phone, without talking, to minimize the disruption to the class and/or to the other students.

Grading Criteria

Homework

At the end of each class, I will assign homework problems from the problems given in the book. These problems will be listed on your separate “Homework Assignment Sheet.” That assignment will be due at the BEGINNING of the next class.
Late homework will only be accepted for a particular section of homework before the major exam covering the material in that section is given. Also, I will accept a maximum of TWO late homework assignments only on the day that the test is given covering that homework sections’ material.
When I calculate the homework grade, I will drop some problems from the total number of problems assigned. So, if you do not turn in a few problems, you can still receive a grade of “100” for your homework grade. The highest grade you may receive for your homework average is “100.”
Please see your “Homework Assignment Sheet” for additional instructions on using the correct format on your homework assignments.
You will also be given a "Core Assessment" Problem to complete at some time during the semester that will allow you to work on a more in-depth application of a topic we covered during this course.

Tests

Tentatively, there will be 5 major chapter exams during the semester and a mandatory comprehensive final exam at the end of the semester. Some of the chapter exams will be given in class, and some will be given in the Math Testing Lab, Durrett Hall, Room 103, 371-5088. You will need your Amarillo College ID card to sign in. Hours: 7:30 a.m. - 10:00 p.m. MTWR, 7:30 a.m. - 8:00 p.m. Friday, and 9:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m. Saturday. Closed on Sunday.
If you know in advance that you will be gone during the date assigned for one of the exams, it is YOUR responsibility to make arrangements with your instructor to take the exam EARLY in the Math Testing Lab. Make-up tests will not be given in this course.
If you miss one of the 5 major exams, that grade will be replaced with the score you make on the final exam. This policy applies to one test only. If you miss more than one test, a grade of zero will be averaged for the other missed test(s).
If you do not miss any major exam during the semester (good for you!), the score you make on the mandatory final exam, if it is higher, will replace your lowest test grade.
Students testing through DisAbility Services are responsible for making arrangements with the instructor for each test taken over there.
Please refer to your “Lecture & Suggested Test Schedule” in your syllabus for the test dates and the final exam time. If we need to adjust a major exam date, we will make note of it on this schedule during class. I will also try to announce it in our AC Connect class email. Another reason class attendance is so important. :)

Test Corrections

A student who scores below a "70" on any chapter test will be required to turn in corrections for that test, for no credit, in order to be allowed to take the next test. You may go to the Math OutReach Center (the ORC) in Durrett Hall, Room 104, to work on the corrections, or you may come to me for help.

Test Reflections

Each student will complete a short "test reflection" after each chapter test is taken. This form will be supplied by the instructor.

Final Examination:

The mandatory comprehensive final exam for this course will be given, in our regular classroom, on:

Math 1332 - 003: Thursday, December 11, 2014 at 12:00 p.m. (noon) to 2:00 p.m. (No late finals accepted!)

(Please note: This exam time, along with all the other final exam times, is listed on the AC Website with up-to-date final exam information.)

Grading Policy

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

Your homework average = 10%
Your 5 Chapter Test grades = 60%
Your Chapter Test Reflections/Corrections = 5%
Your Attendance = 5%
Your Core Assessment Problem = 5%
Your final exam grade = 15%

Attendance

Attendance Policy:

Regular attendance is necessary to learn the material. Therefore, it is your responsibility to attend class and be on time for the daily attendance check. Signing in on the attendance sheet is your responsibility to prove you attended a specific class. Nonattendance will be recorded as an absence, and no differentiation will be made as to excused or unexcused absences. Students are expected to attend each class with your calculator and your textbook. If you are absent for any reason, YOU are responsible for obtaining the assignments.

Your attendance grade will be recorded as follows for a 16-week class that meets two times per week:

Perfect attendance = 100 (woo-hoo!)
1 -- 3 absences = 90
4 -- 5 absences = 75
6 or more absences = 60

Please be honest about your attendance. If you sign the attendance sheet and then leave class early without my permission, you will be given an absence for that day. Moreover, a student who signs in for another absent student will be given an absence as well for that particular day. (An important drop date note is below.)

NOTE: Please remember that the last day to drop any 16-week class at AC during the Fall 2014 Semester is Tuesday, November 18, 2014. This date is published in the school year calendar in WebAdvisor on the Amarillo College Website. 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

MATH 1332 - 003

CONTEMPORARY MATHEMATICS

Lecture and Suggested Test Schedule

Fall 2014

12:00 p.m. – 1:15 p.m. TR

NOTE: This schedule (including the Test Dates) is subject to numerous changes without advance notice, so you always need to come to class to stay informed of updates as they occur. ***I also post updated announcements in our AC Connect class, so please check it (and your email) regularly to keep up with what’s going on in class.

DATE	ASSIGNMENT	INFORMATION
Tuesday, August 26	Orientation, 5.1
Thursday, August 28	5.1, 5.2
Friday, August 29		Last Day to Receive 100% Refund
Monday, September 1	No Classes	Labor Day Holiday—College Closed
Tuesday, September 2	5.6
Thursday, September 4	7.1
Tuesday, September 9	7.2, 7.3
Wednesday, September 10		Census Day (Dropped course won’t appear on transcript)
Thursday, September 11	7.3, 8.1
Monday, September 15		Last Day to Receive 70% Refund
Tuesday, September 16	Test # 1, 8.2	Test #1 covers 5.1 – 7.3
Thursday, September 18	8.3, 8.4
Monday, September 22		Last Day to Receive 25% Refund
Tuesday, September 23	8.5, 8.6
Thursday, September 25	8.6, 8.7
Tuesday, September 30	11.1
Thursday, October 2	Test # 2	Test #2 covers 8.1 – 8.7
Tuesday, October 7	11.2, 11.3
Thursday, October 9	11.3, 11.4
Tuesday, October 14	12.1, 12.2
Thursday, October 16	Test #3	Test #3 covers 11.1 – 11.4
Tuesday, October 21	12.3
Thursday, October 23	12.4
Tuesday, October 28	3.1, 3.2
Thursday, October 30	Test #4	Test #4 covers 12.1 – 12.4
Tuesday, November 4	3.3, 3.4
Thursday, November 6	3.4, 3.7
Tuesday, November 11	2.1
Thursday, November 13	Test #5	Test #5 covers 3.1 – 3.4, 3.7
Tuesday, November 18	2.2, 2.3 *Last chance!*	Last Day to Drop a 16-Week Class & Receive a Grade of “W”

Thursday, November 20	2.3, 2.4
Tuesday, November 25	2.5
Thursday, November 27	No Classes	Thanksgiving Holiday :)
Friday, November 28	No Classes	College Closed
Tuesday, December 2	Review	Last Day to Turn in Homework!
Thursday, December 4	Review	Last regular class day for our class
Monday, December 8	No regular classes	Final Exams begin (Check the AC web page for the final exam schedule.)
Thursday, December 11	12:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.	Contemporary Math Final Exam! (We’ll meet in this classroom for the final exam.)
Friday, December 12	High noon	Final Course Grades Due
Saturday, December 13	10:00 a.m.	Commencement

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 a few ways to get FREE help outside of class:

Contact your instructor to make an appointment for help.
Get free tutoring from the ORC--Math OutReach Center (Durrett Hall, Room 104, 371-5119). You will need your Amarillo College ID card to sign in. Hours: 8:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m. MTWRF, and 9:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m. Saturday. Closed on Sunday.
Get free one-on-one tutoring for other classes from Charlotte Goebel at 371-5432 (Lynn Library basement, office 011)
If you need help with AC Connect, you can contact the AC Help Center at 371-5000, or via email at AskAC@actx.edu.
Smarthinking is free online tutoring that Amarillo College makes available to currently enrolled students. Professional tutors are available for mathematics (Basic Math through Calculus, including Bilingual Math), Biology, Intro to Human A & P, Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, Physics, Economics, Accounting, Intro to Finance, Statistics, Spanish, and Writing. Tutoring is available up to 24/7.

With Smarthinking you can:

chat with a live tutor
submit your writing for any class and receive a critique in 24 hours
email a question and receive a reply from a tutor.

To get started:

Go to http://www.actx.edu and click on AC Connect on the left side of the screen.
Log into your account using your ACNetID and Password.
Click on one of your classes.
Click on the My Institution tab at the top right to navigate to the SMARTHINKING sign-in area.
On your first visit, Create an Account. The next time you use SMARTHINKING, just log on with your username and password.

**Please note that going to the Outreach Center is NOT a substitute for attending class! You must attend each class to begin learning the material and to avoid losing attendance points. The Outreach Center is designed to support your studying for tests, as the place to go to check your homework answers in my solution notebook, and to get clarification, outside of my office hours, of difficult concepts you have already seen in class.

A Final Note:

This course can be stressful for many students, primarily because of the volume of material we need to cover. (Let’s work on reducing everyone’s stress level in general.) Please don’t feel overwhelmed—I am here to help you, and you can be here to help each other as well. If you have a problem, please bring it to me, or to the group, so that we can work together to solve it. You can succeed in Contemporary Mathematics if you will make the commitment of effort and time. :)

Syllabus Created on:

11/30/-1 12:00 AM

Last Edited on: