College Algebra Syllabus for 2017-2018
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Course

MATH-1314-008 College Algebra

Prerequisites

<p>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</p>

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 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)

Class Type

On Campus Course

Syllabus Information

Textbooks

College Algebra, Twelfth Edition
Authors:  Lial, Hornsby, Schneider, Daniels
(Pearson Education Publishers)

Note:  The physical textbook for this course is optional.  With the purchase of MyMathLab (more about this later), the electronic copy of the book is available.  The cost of MyMathLab is approx $104.

Supplies

Students will need a graphing calculator for this course.  The recommended calculator is a Texas Instruments TI-84 Plus.  Other forms of Texas Instruments or Casio graphing calculators will be permitted at the instructors discretion.  Note that no TI-89s or TI-Nspires will be permitted during the midterm and final exams.

Students need access to a computer with a reliable internet connection to complete online homework assignments and access to a printer for required handouts.

Students need an official Amarillo College student ID to scan into class, to scan into the Outreach Center, and to scan into the Math Testing Center before each exam.

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:

1. Demonstrate and apply knowledge of properties of functions, including domain and range, operations, compositions, and inverses.
2. Recognize and apply polynomial, rational, radical, exponential and logarithmic functions and solve related equations.
3. Apply graphing techniques.
4. Evaluate all roots of higher degree polynomial and rational functions.
5. Recognize, solve and apply systems of linear equations using matrices.

 

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 cell phones, texting, making offensive remarks, reading material not related to class, 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 http://sites.actx.edu/catalog/notices/.  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. Students who fail to comply with the standards outlined in the syllabus and/or Student Rights & Responsibilities will be subject to disciplinary action. 

Policy on Cheating and Plagiarism:  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 on file with 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!

Grading Criteria

Homework:  We will complete homework in two formats.  Online homework will be completed using MyMathLab and will be graded automatically.  Written homework consists of Focus Problem worksheets which will be submitted in class and graded by the instructor.  Expect to have an online MyMathLab homework assignment and 2 to 5 written Focus Problems assigned after each section covered in class.

Online Homework/MyMathLab Instructions:  Online homework is located on the MyMathLab website at www.pearsonmylabandmastering.com.  Online homework due dates will be posted on MyMathLab.    (Detailed instructions on how to register can be found in the “Additonal Information” section of the syllabus below.)

Written Focus Problem Instructions:  After each section covered in class, you will need to log into Blackboard and print the FOCUS problem worksheet for that section.  (Focus problems are located under the content menu option from our class homepage in Blackboard.)  All work should be written by hand and shown in the space provided on the Focus Problem pages to receive full credit.  Due dates will be set by the instructor in class, and late Focus Problems will not be accepted.  To compensate for this, the 2 lowest Focus Problem grades will be dropped.

Test Reviews:  Like the Focus Problems, the student is responsible for printing Chapter Review Worksheets from our class in Blackboard. (These are located under the content menu option from our class homepage in Blackboard.) Reviews will be assigned before each major exam and will be turned in to the Math Testing Center prior to taking each exam.  Reviews will be graded by the instructor on a completion basis.  Students will get credit for each problem completed with work shown and will receive no credit for those left undone or not completed according to the stated directions.  Students will not be allowed to take an exam without first turning in a COMPLETED exam review including all necessary work.  Late reviews will not be accepted after the exam due date.

Exams:  Four major exams will be given and will be completed outside of class in the Math Testing Lab.  Students must show an Amarillo College ID and turn in an exam review before testing.  No late exams will be given, no matter the reason.  If you know in advance that you will be gone during the assigned exam dates, you MUST make arrangements with your instructor to take the exam early in the Math Lab.  At the end of the semester, your final exam grade will replace your lowest exam grade if it is higher.  All graded exams will be kept on file in the math department.

If you score below a 70 on an exam, you will be required to complete an assignment covering that material in the Math Outreach Center (Durrett Room 104) before you will be allowed to take the next exam.  

Final Exam:  The final exam is comprehensive.  Final exam day TBA.

Grading Policy:	Percentages:	Grading Scale:	Grade:
Focus Problem Grade - drop 2	10%	90 - 100%	A
Online Homework	10%	80 - 89%	B
Major Exams (4 @12.5% each)	50%	70 - 79%	C
Final	20%	60 - 69%	D
Exam Reviews	5%	below 60%	F
Attendance*	5%

*5 points will be deducted for each absence after the first.

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.  Students will scan in with their student ID.  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 this class is May 1. You must notify me by noon on that day in order to process your drop in time, you must receive the drop form from me.  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

Getting Started with MyMathLab

To access MyMathLab where your online homework is located, go to www.pearsonmylab.com. You will need the following information:

Course ID: mcgowan04349

Student Access Code: Retrieve the student access code from the student access kit you bought from the bookstore, or buy the access code online with a credit card (approx $104) during the registration process.

Email Address: Use the address you check most often.

To register and enroll:

1.) Go to www.pearsonmylab.comand click the Register button in the Students Area.
2.) Choose “Get Access to a New Course” on the next screen.
3.) Enter the Course ID (XXXXXXXX) and click “Find Course.”
4.) If you received the MyMathLab kit with your textbook, click the “Access Code” button. Remember that your student access code is included in the kit. If you choose not to purchase the hard copy of the textbook, click the “Buy Now” button. You will need a credit card to purchase the access code.  There is a temporary free access, if needed,  until you can purchase the access code.
5.) Follow the step by step instructions to register and enroll. During the registration process, you will design a username and password. Consider using the same username and password you use for myAC.

To log in:

1.) After registration is complete, log in to the course from the homepage, www.pearsonmylab.com, using the new username and password you designed.
2.) Enter the class.

To get started after logging in:

1.) To work on assignments, click the “Homework” button, and choose the section you wish to complete.
2.) To access the textbook, click the “Chapter Contents” button, and choose the chapter and section you wish to view.
3.) To view a power point presentation of a particular section, click the “Multimedia Library” button, and choose the chapter and section you wish to view or print.
4.) Under the “Homework” button, click the section of homework you wish to complete.

 

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:

1. Contact your instructor to make an appointment for help.
2. Get free tutoring from the Outreach Center (Durr 104, 371-5119).  You will need your AC ID to sign in.  
   Hours:    Monday through Friday  8:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m., Saturday 9:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m., Sunday closed
3. If you need help with AC Connect, you can contact the AC Help Center at 371-5000, or via email at askac@actx.edu.

 

Math Testing Lab(Durrett 103)	Outreach Center (Durrett 104)
Monday - Thursday	Monday - Thursday
8:00am - 10:00pm	8:00am - 8:00pm
Friday	Friday
8:00am - 8:00pm	8:00 - 8:00pm
Saturday	Saturday
9:00am - 8:00pm	9:00am - 8:00pm
371-5088	371-5119

MATH TESTING CENTER RULES

• Books may be placed on the bookshelf, but security cannot be assured. 
• An Amarillo College picture ID is required in order to take a test in the Math Testing Center. 
• Once you have begun work on a test that is considered one attempt. 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 time.
• The Math Testing Center personnel will pick up your test five minutes prior to closing time.
• The hours are posted on the outside door,in this syllabus, and in the lab itself. 
• Please come prepared. If you do not have a pencil, you may purchase one from the Math Lab 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 PHONE use of any kind is allowed 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!