College Algebra for STEM Majors Syllabus for 2014-2015
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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

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Administrative Drop Policy

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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-1414-009 College Algebra for STEM Majors

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

In-depth study and applications of polynomial, rational, radical, exponential and logarithmic functions, and systems of equations using matrices. Additional topics such as sequences, series, probability and conics may be included.

Student Resources Student Resources Website

Department Expectations

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Hours

(4 sem hrs; 4 lec)

Class Type

On Campus Course

Syllabus Information

Textbooks

College Algebra, 9th edition, by Michael Sullivan, Prentice Hall

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Purchase of the text with the MyMathLab access code is recommended but not required.

Supplies

Basics:  Blue-lined notebook paper (8.5" x 11") and blue-lined graph paper - 4 or 5 squares per inch or engineering graph paper, stapler, a straight edge, pencils, erasers, a highlighter in your favorite color.  You

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. \ Demonstrate and apply knowledge of properties of functions, including domain and range, operations, compositions, and inverses.
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2. \ Recognize and apply polynomial, rational, radical, exponential and logarithmic functions and solve related equations.
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3. \ Apply graphing techniques.
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4. \ Evaluate all roots of highter degree polynomial and rational functions.
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5. \ Recognize, solve and apply systems of linear equations using matrices.
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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, talking, use of personal music systems, doing homework or other personal projects during class time, 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 Handbook htt;://sites.actx.edu/catalog/notices/.

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\ 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 "F" will be received for the course. 

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\ 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, Sciences & 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 or in classrooms when laptop computers are in use by the student.

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

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\ Policy on Cheating and Plagiariam:  Plagiarism and cheating will not be tolerated in any math course at Amarillo College.  On the first day of class, you will be required to sign and date a Course Contract.  Included in the contract is the following statement:  "I fully understand that if I cheat, or attempt to cheat, on any test I will receive an automatic "F" in the course.  This grade will go on my permanent transcript and cannot be removed.  Cheating includes the use of cell phone calculators, the illegal use of books, notes, cell phones, and copying.  Cheating also includes helping, or attempting to help, other students to cheat on a test."  You will not be allowed to take your tests until this contract is signed and returned to your instructor.  Please Note:  NO CELL PHONES in the Testing Room.  If we see your cell phone out AT ANY TIME, FOR ANY REASON, while in the testing room, you will receive an "F" for the course!

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\ ADDITIONAL CLASSROOM EXPECTATIONS:
\ 1.  BE ON TIME.
\ 2.  BE PREPARED.
\ 3.  NO DISRUPTIVE BEHAVIOR will be tolerated.
\ 4.  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 average will be computed based on the following percentage basis:  Homework........10%, Daily Quiz........10%, Exams........60%, Final Exam........20%

The final letter grades are assigned based on the following numerical result:

A ............90-100,   B............80-89,   C............70-79,   D............60-69,   F.........… Below 60

Daily Quizzes: Once a section is completed, a quiz will be given on that material the next class period at the beginning of the period.  Usually, I will allow for 5-10 minutes per quiz.  Missing a quiz for any reason results in a zero for that quiz.  To compensate, for life in general, I will drop the 3 lowest quiz grades (at the end of the semester).  You will not be allowed to use any notes or your text during the quiz.  It would benefit you greatly to prepare for each quiz.

Homework:  Expect to have homework that will be assigned after each section is covered in class.  Your instructor will give you the due date for each homework section.  You may complete your homework early; however, LATE HOMEWORK WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED.  At the end of the semester, two homework grades will be dropped.  Completing all your homework is one of the best things you can do to improve your grade!

Online Homework/MyMathLab Instructions:

Enrolling in the Course:

Enrollment in this Course must be done within Blackboard and will be done on the first day of class.

Course Homepage Menu:

1.  To work on an assignment, click on Homework, the assignment name, and then on question1.
2.  Each homework problem will usually have some of the following buttons to the right of the problem:  Help me solve This, View an Example, Video, Animation, Textbook, Connect to a Tutor, Ask My Instructor, Print, Study Plan, Tools for Success, Multimedia Library and HTML eBook.  Each of these are further explained under your course content in Blackboard.
3.  The Grade book will show you the assignment you have worked, the scores, and give you the chance to review any assignment (without changing the grade).

Other Information:

1.  When you send emails from the Ask My Instructor button on a problem, it generates and email that is sent with the reply email address as the email address you used when setting up your account.  To view/edit this, click on Account at the top left corner of the page and enter your login name and password.
2.  In general, you get 4 attempts on each problem.  The following equal 1 attempt.
      a.  Entering an incorrect answer on a short answer or numeric problem 3 times.
      b.  Entering an incorrect answer on a multiple choice problem 1-2 times depending on the number of answer choices.
      c.  Using the Help Me Solve This button. (View an Example does not use an attempt.)
3.  After each attempt, you will be presented with the correct answer and the Submit Answer button will become Similar Exercise (until 4 attempts have been used).  To get another attempt on your problem, click on Similar Exerciese and a similar problem (same problem, different numbers) will appear.
4.  You can print your assignments, work on them away from the computer, and then return to enter the answers.  On each problem, there is a button that will open a popup and ask if you want to print that page or the entire assignment.
5.  You do not have to "save" any work.  Once you click on Submit answer and see either a green check mark or a red box with hints, the answers are saved.
6.  If you open a homework assignment and see a green check next to a problem, you have received full credit for that problem.  A red X means you have attempted the problem, but have not received any credit.  If you have both a green check and a red X, you have received partial credit.
7.  Be VERY careful when entering an answer.  There are instructions written in blue below most problems, if you do not enter the answer in the specified format or with the requested rounding, the answer will be considered incorrect.  Recall that entering an incorrect answer three times is one attempt.

If you are having technical problems with MML, you must contact Pearson (I usually will not be able to do anything).  Go to http://247pearsoned.custhelp.com/ to find out what number you can call to get help.

If you have any question about why a problem was considered incorrect by MML, please send me an email with the question number, section number, and a short explanation about why you think you should receive credit.

Exams:   Five major exams will be given and a comprehensive final.  If you miss a major exam, the grade on your final exam will be used to replace the missing grade.  I do not offer make-up exams.  If you know ahead of time that you will be missing an exam, you may schedule to take the exam early.  If you miss more than one exam (remember the first missed one is replaced by your grade on the final exam) a second missed exam will be recoreded as a zero.  If you do not miss any exam and your final exam grade is higher than your lowest test score, I will replace the lowest test score with your final test grade.  Major exams will be administered in class (in which case they must be completed by the end of class), in the testing center (in which case you may take as long as you wish, until the center closes), or as a take home test.

If you receive less than a 70 on any exam, you will be required to go to tutoring for at least 1 hour before the due date of the next exam.  If you do not complete the hour of tutoring, you will receive a grade of 0 on the next exam.  In order to receive credit for your tutoring, you must sign in at the tutoring center.

Final:  Under NO circumstances will the final be given late (i.e. No Make Ups)!  The final will be comprehensive and will be given IN CLASS Monday, May 11th from 10:30 AM - 12:30 PM.

I do not give extra credit work.

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. 
The following are a few ways to get FREE help outside of class:
1.  Your instructor is your first, BEST resource for help.  Feel free to come to office hours or make an appointment.
2.MyMathLab has videos, examples, and helps for solving the problem at the click of a button as you work your online homework.  Remember that the key is to start your homework assignment EARLY so that you have plenty of time to work each problem as many times as possible to get the highest grade.
3. Free one-on-one tutoring at the Student Success Center in 111 is available.  You will need your AC ID to sign in.  The tutoring hours will be posted on Blackboard.

Using Blackboard to print class materials, get your grades, contact your instructor, find class announcements, etc.:    Students will be required to log in to Blackboard regularly to check the course announcements, calendar, e-mails, grades and print class handouts.  To access our course area in Blackboard:
1.  Go to https://acconnect.actx.edu 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 STL helpdesk at 371-5992.
2.  Once you are logged in, click on our course
3.  Then you will see any links you will need on the left hand side of the screen.

Attendance

Attendance:  Regular attendance is necessary for satisfactory achievement.  Therefore, it is the responsibility of the student to attend class and be on time for daily attendance check.  Nonattendance will be recorded as an absence and no differentiation will be made as to excused or unexcused absences.  Students arriving more than 10 minutes late or leaving class early, prior to instructor dismissal, will be marked absent.

If you are absent for any reason, you are responsible for obtaining the assignments and notes.  Remember that the deadline for withdrawing from any class at AC for the Spring 2016 Semester is April 23, 2015.  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

Additional Information

A Note from the Instructor:  At this point you may be feeling a little overwhelmed with the requirements of Math 1414.  Please note that we are all in this together, and my role as your instructor is to facilitate your efforts to reach your educational goals.  I am looking forward to working with each and every one of you this semester.