Intermediate Algebra Syllabus for 2017-2018
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Course

MATH-0303-015 Intermediate Algebra

Prerequisites

<p>Prerequisite: Math 0302-minimum grade of C, TSI Math score of 344 or an equivalent score on a state-approved test or department chair consent</p>

Course Description

A study of relations and functions, inequalities, algebraic expressions and equations (absolute value, polynomial, radical, rational), with a special emphasis on linear and quadratic expressions and equations.

Graphing calculator required.

Student ResourcesStudent Resources Website

Department Expectations

Occupational License Disclaimer

Notice to Students enrolled in an educational program for preparation of issuance of certain occupational licenses:

Students enrolled in an educational program in preparation for obtaining certain occupational licenses are potentially ineligible for such license if the student has been convicted of an offense. For further information, please contact your advisor, the Legal Clinic, or the faculty member in charge of the educational program that you seek to enroll in. The further information you will receive will include notification to you of your right to request a criminal history evaluation letter from the licensing authority in order to clarify your particular situation.

Hours

(3 sem hrs; 3 lec, 1 lab)

Class Type

Online Course

Syllabus Information

Textbooks

Elayn Martin-Gay, Beginning & Intermediate Algebra, Sixth Edition, Pearson; ISBN: 9780134193090

Supplies

Required Materials
MyMathLab code/E-textbook Hardback Textbook (optional) Notebook paper,pencils, erasers, a ruler or straightedge, graph paper Graphing Calculator,(suggested TI-83/TI-84) No Calculators with Logic or factoring Capabilities; i.e. TI-89.	AC ID Access to printer(printer available in the Outreach Center with purchase of a pre-paid copy card) Internet access 3 ring binder Dividers

Student Performance

Student Performance/Learning Outcomes

After studying the material presented in the course, you will be able to do the following as evaluated by the faculty in the Developmental Mathematics Department.

• Define, represent, and perform operations on real and complex numbers.
• Recognize, understand, and analyze features of a function.
• Recognize and use algebraic (field) properties, concepts, procedures (including factoring), and evaluate absolute value, polynomial, and radical, and rational expressions.
• Identify and solve absolute value, polynomial, and radical equations.
• Identify and solve absolute value and linear inequalities.
• Model, interpret and justify mathematical ideas and concepts using multiple representations.
• Connect and use multiple strands of mathematics in situations and problems, as well as in the study of other disciplines.

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

ACADEMIC HONESTY:  Unethical conduct during this class will not be tolerated and may result in disciplinary action.  It is considered “cheating” if you use any app that does the math work for you or gives you the answers when testing, or when completing assignments for this class. It will become apparent during the course of the class if you have been using inappropriate technology to complete assignments at home.  You are only cheating yourself if you cheat on the work at home.  This class is set up so that 50% of your grade comes from the midterm and final exams that are taken in a proctored/testing center setting.  It will be highly unlikely that you will be able to pass without passing these two exams.  I hope you will proceed through the class with honesty and integrity  Scholastic dishonesty is clearly defined in the Student Rights and Responsibilites.  You are expected to conduct yourself in this course according to the standards outlined in the Student Rights and Responsibilites.

BEHAVIORAL EXPECTATIONS: You will be expected to follow proper online etiquette in discussion postings, chats and emails.  In order to receive credit for a course, all material listed on the syllabus must be covered.  The instructor sets the pace to ensure that these requirements are met. 

CONSISTENT EFFORT: One of the main causes for students not being successful in an online class is lack of a consistent effort.  There is a temptation to put things off until the last minute.  Please do not so that with this course.  There is a great deal of work to be done and the best way to complete it is to work at a steady pace.

PHONE/PAGER:  It is the policy of the Mathematics Department that cell phones and pagers must be turned off or in silent mode in the Math Testing Center.  Cell phones may not be visible during testing at all.

Food/Drink and Cell Phone Policy

Food and drinks are allowed in the Outreach Center (Durrett 104). Only drinks are allowed in the  Math Testing Center (Durrett 103). Cell phones should be turned off, or in silent mode in the classrooms, Outreach Center, and the Math Testing Center. Cell phone calculators may not be used at any time.  Any devices requiring headphones are not allowed in the Math Testing Center.

Grading Criteria

Grading Criteria:

Your grade will be determined as follows:

  All deadlines are listed in the Semester Schedule.

ModuleTests

There will be 5 module tests which will be taken online.  You are not allowed to use notes, homework, or the textbook while taking any Online Module Test.  Each test may be taken ONE time.  Your attempt must be completed before the due date. There will be no makeup tests allowed. Any test not taken by the due date will receive a grade of zero.

Prior to testing, you will be required to complete an online test review and score a 70 or higher.  For the Midterm,you will print the results from the online Midterm review and present the results to the Math Testing Center when requesting the Midterm Exam.

Midterm and Final

You will be required to take a Midterm Exam and a Final Exam in the Math Testing Center on the Amarillo College Washington Street Campus or other preapproved site.  The Midterm will cover all the material in Modules I-III.  The Final is comprehensive. Deadlines are published for both the Midterm Exam and the Final Exam on the Semester Schedule. The proctored test  will be 50% of your average.

 For the Midterm,you will print the results from the online Midterm review and present the results to the Math Testing Center when requesting the Midterm Exam.  For the Final, you will need to complete the Final review and present it to the Math Testing Center when requesting the Final Exam. 

You must present an Amarillo College ID to the Math Testing Center personnel in order to take the Midterm and Final.  You must bring a pencil and can use a basic function/scientific/graphing/non-solving calculator on the Midterm and the Final.  You may NOT use a cell phone calculator nor have a cell phone out while taking tests in the Math Testing Center. You are responsible to read and follow the Math Testing Center rules stated below.

Please note: No tests will be given out less than one hour before the Math Testing Center closes and will be picked up five minutes before closing. You must present an Amarillo College picture I.D. every time you take a test in the Math Testing Center.

Students who live further than 60 miles from the Amarillo Washington Street Campus have the option of taking the Midterm Exam and Final Exam with a proctor at a local educational institution.  You must contact Gretta Johnson and make this request to test off-campus by the 5th day of class in order to have this option.  Please fill out a  proctor form (found in AC Connect on left side of home page of the class) take it to the proctor, and send it to me by email. . The student will be responsible for any proctoring fee incurred by other institutions.

Accessing Grades Online

To view your current course grades

• Go to: www.actx.edu click on AC Connect and log in using your ACNetID and password
• Click on your course
• Check on My Grades on the menu to the left.

To view your Final course grades

• Go to www.actx.edu click on AC Connect and log in using your ACNetID and password
• Scroll down to Self Service on the bottom right of the page and click on Current Student
• Under current student click on Academic Profile and click on Grades.

Be aware that the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (as amended) does not permit instructors or the Math Testing Center to disclose information regarding grades over the phone, via email, or to a third party. Therefore, if you need to discuss your grades, you must do so in person.

Outreach Center -  Tutoring

When using the Outreach Center, Durrett 104, you are required to scan in and out with your Amarillo College ID.

• Free peer tutoring

Homework 

• An online homework assignment will be assigned in MyMathLab for each section of the book covered. Homework assignments are due, fully completed online, by the deadline set by your instructor. 
• Assignments will not be accessible after the deadline set by the instructor.
• The problems due from the MyMathLab program must be worked on notebook paper(or graph paper as needed) in pencil and kept in order in your notebook with each section labeled at the top of the page. The problems assigned are similar to problems in the textbook and to the test problems. You are required to do the assignments in MyMathLab. You need to be competent in entering your answers. You may continue to work on an assignment to make a better grade up until the due date for the assignment.
  • Username:_______________________________________  Password:_____________________________________________

Course Notebook 

 You will keep a course notebook. You may turn in a course notebook at the midterm for the first check and at the final for the final check.  If the criteria is met from the course “notebook information” provided on AC connect, your lowest module test grade may be dropped. The Midterm Exam and Final Exam cannot be dropped.  Be sure to print the information from the “Notebook” link on the left in AC Connect.

• The Homework Notebook must be a 3-ring binder with dividers.
• Your notebook will include a minimum of the following:

Title Page (Your name, My name, 0303-8 ,SU17) Dividers Syllabus with Semester Schedule

Class notes  Organized homework assignments (At least 90%) Chapter test review work Chapter test work

Homework assignments should be:

• On lined notebook or graphing paper as needed.
• Completed in pencil.
• Started on a new page for each section with the section title in the top right corner.
• Organized, running down the page, with no more than two columns of work (not across the page in one line).
• With answers circled.

Grading Policy

Grading Policy:	Percentages	Grading Scale	Grade
Homework	10%	90 - 100%	A
Module Test (5@8%)	40%	80 - 89%	B
Midterm Exam	25%	70 - 79%	C
Final Exam	25%	60 - 69%	D
		Below 60%	F

There are no grade recovery options in this course and no extra credit opportunities.

If the criteria is met from the course notebook information provided on AC Connect, your lowest chapter test grade may be dropped.  The Midterm and Final cannot be dropped.  Be sure to print the information from the “notebook” link on the left is AC Connect.

• A grade of "F" will be earned as follows:
  • You complete the course with an overall average below 60.
  • You do not complete the course and so not drop the course in time to receive a grade of "W" and do not meet the requirements listed below for a grade of "I"(incomplete).
  • You receive an "I" (Incomplete) after signing an Incomplete contract, but so not satisfy the conditions for removal by the agreed-upon date.
  • You violate the cheating and plagiarism policy.
• Incomplete:
  • A grade of "I" (Incomplete) is not generally given in developmental math courses. Any exceptions will be made by your instructor on an individual basis, and only for extreme circumstances.
  • A grade of "I" (Incomplete) will be possible only if the student has at most the Final Exam and one Module test to complete. If the instructor agrees to give the student an incomplete, the student must sign a contract that specifies the requirements for changing the temporary grade of "I" to the letter grade earned by the student. The student will have a maximum of three months from the date the contract is signed to fulfill these requirements. If the student has not met those requirements by the end of the three months, the grade of "I" will automatically be changed to an "F". 

Withdrawal Policy

• You will receive a "W" for a withdrawal/drop if the withdrawal is initiated before the deadline stated in AC Connect under Self Service – click on Academic profile -- "Important Course Section Dates."  
• Students who wish to withdraw from a class must consult with their instructor first.  Students may either communicate via email or meet face-to-face with their instructor to begin the withdrawal process.  If the instructor and the student both agree that withdrawal is the appropriate course of action, then the instructor will initiate a withdrawal case for the student in the Retention Alert System (AC Connect).
• Students will receive confirmation that their withdrawal request has been completed.  The Registrar’s Office will process the withdrawal and notify both the student and instructor via AC email.

Amarillo College’s Developmental Education Policy:

A student who is not TSI met in all areas must be continuously enrolled in one or more developmental education courses until TSI complete.

Attendance

General Attendance Policy

Regular attendance online is necessary for satisfactory achievement.  Although on campus attendance is not required, students enrolled in this online class are required  to post discussions, check e-mails and do homework.  Students should expect to spend a minimum of 8 – 12 hours per week for this class.  You must log in at least 4 times a week and participate online in the course with daily deadlines.  You must also have the ability to be on the Amarillo College Campus at least two times to take a midterm and a final. You will need to plan to learn the material every day, just as if you were in class and then spend time working the homework.

Calendar

Additional Information

Math Testing Center  Durrett 103	Outreach Center  Durrett 104
Monday - Thursday	Monday - Thursday
8:00 am - 10:00 pm last test will be handed out at 9:00 pm	8:00 am - 8:00 pm
Friday	Friday
8:00 am - 8:00 pm last test will be handed out at 7:00 pm	8:00 am - 8:00 pm
Saturday	Saturday
9:00a m  – 8:00 pm last test will be handed out at 7:00 pm	9:00 am - 8:00 pm
371-5088	371-5119

Math Testing Center General Rules

• Books can be placed on the bookshelf before you request a test but Amarillo College is not responsible for lost or stolen items.
• To request a test, fill out a “Test Request” slip.
• All tests must be taken in order. Once a test is taken, you may not go back and take (or re-take) a previous test.
• An Amarillo College picture ID is required in order to take or view any test in the Math Testing Center.
• No scratch paper is allowed for testing. You may use the back of the test to show your extra work.  Once you have begun work on a test, you cannot leave the Math Testing Center and return to finish that test at a later time.
• In the testing room, please do not sit by someone with the same colored test. All purses must be on the floor.
• The Math Testing Center will not hand out a test less than one hour before closing.
• The Math Testing Center personnel will pick up your test five minutes prior to closing.
• Students can log in to AC Connect to get their test results.
• Tests and test questions may not be taken out of the Math Testing Center.
• The Math Testing Center hours are posted outside of the MTC door, in this syllabus, in Blackboard, and in the Math Testing Center.
• Please come prepared. If you do not have a pencil, you may purchase one from the Math Testing Center for 25 cents.  Please bring exact change. Pens are not allowed on any test.
• Childcare arrangements must be made prior to testing. Children may not accompany students into testing room or be left unattended anywhere on campus.
• CELL PHONE CALCULATORS ARE NOT ALLOWED.
• Cell phones must be turned off as not to disturb other students who are testing. 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!