College Algebra Course Syllabus

Math 1050, Summer 2012

Instructor:  Dr. Seth Armstrong, ELC 402, email: armstrong@suu.edu. Please communicate by email if possible; I check voice mail about once per decade. If you have an emergency (not just that you aren’t coming to class one day, but maybe something I really need to know), you may text or call at 590-4516. There will often be things posted on my web page – including this syllabus and previous exams – at www.suu.edu/faculty/armstrong/courseinfo.html.

 

Meeting times and Office hours: Consultation in my office will be daily from 1:30-2:30 p.m. If it is not possible for you to make my office hour, please talk to or email me to schedule another time.

 

Prerequisite: Intermediate Algebra (Math 1010) with at least a C or a math ACT of 23, either within the last two years. You may also use the Accuplacer to test into Math 1050.

Required Text: College Algebra, 8^th ed. by Michael Sullivan, Prentice Hall, ISBN 0132402866

Objectives: To explore the concept of functions: linear, polynomial, rational, inverse, logarithmic and exponential, with an emphasis on graphing and applications; to study polynomials and the fundamental theorem of algebra; to solve systems of equations using matrices; to learn conic sections. A graphing calculator will be used in the course.

Policies and Procedures:

1.       Attendance is required. I will be unwilling to go through material that you miss without excuse.  I will drop your lowest 100-pt test score (see #3) if it helps your grade if you have no unexcused absences.

2.       If you are not in a position to complete each homework (HW) assignment before the next meeting time you should probably drop the course. We move very fast – especially in Summer II – and it will be essential to have HW almost completed before the next day’s lecture. You should do your HW as independently as possible: That is, do all you can first on a problem before seeking outside help. This is because struggling through a problem for a while on your own is the best way to learn difficult material. College Algebra is not an easy course for most students, so keeping up and being constantly engaged will be very important. Homework will be turned in about every other day on those days marked with an asterisk (*); it is due in class or by 2:30 outside my office and is up through the material covered the previous day. It should be neat with the problems done in order and should show complete work to receive credit. Though it will be looked at and assigned some credit, our course TA can grade very few problems. Therefore, it will be up to you to check with the back of the book to make sure you get the correct answers and seek help if you can’t get them. I will not give any time extension on the HW except for prolonged excuses. Late HW will not be accepted. The Math Tutoring Lab is open for business in summer and you should plan to live there, at least for a few hours per day….

3.       Only three of your four exam scores will count toward your grade unless you have too many absences (see #1). Should you fall ill or have to be gone for some legitimate excuse during testing days, email me to schedule a makeup test and let me know when you are available the next day or two to make it up. If you wait more than one day to contact me, then the score on the test you miss will simply be a zero regardless of excuse (i.e., so if you have been absent less than the allotted days, that will be your dropped one). You must be prepared to provide documentation for missing a test. The exams will be administered in the Testing Center on the bottom floor of the ELC. Do not plan on “dropping” any tests so if you get a lower score on a later exam you don’t have to count that score toward your grade.

4.       Academic Integrity: Scholastic dishonesty will not be tolerated and will be prosecuted to the fullest extent. You are expected to have read and understood the current issue of the student handbook (published by Student Services) regarding student responsibilities and rights for information about procedures and about what constitutes acceptable on-campus behavior. HW plagiarism (copying from a solutions manual or someone else’s HW) will result in a zero on any assignment; if it is repeated, you will get a zero on the entire HW score (of 50 points). Passing any test information to another student that hasn’t yet taken it is prohibited and dishonest and will also be fully prosecuted.

5.       The sharing of copyrighted material through peer-to-peer (P2P) file sharing, except as provided under U.S. copyright law, is prohibited by law. Detailed information can be found at http:// www.suu.edu/it/p2p-student-notice.html.

6.       Students with medical, psychological, learning or other disabilities desiring academic adjustments, accommodations or auxiliary aids will need to contact the Southern Utah University Coordinator of Services for Students with Disabilities (SSD), in Room 206F of the Sharwan Smith Center or phone (435)865-8022. SSD determines eligibility for and authorizes the provision of services.

7.       In case of emergency, the University's Emergency Notification System (ENS) will be activated. Students are encouraged to maintain updated contact information using the link on the homepage of the mySUU portal. In addition, students are encouraged to familiarize themselves with the Emergency Response Protocols posted in each classroom. Detailed information about the University's emergency management plan can be found at http://www.suu.edu/ad/facilities/ emergency-procedures.html.

8.       Grading The total will be 500 or 600 points, including 50 total from HW, 300 or 400 from the one-hour tests (see Item 3) and then 150 from the final exam. The grading scale will be the following.  Please note that I will not raise a grade because of need. It is up to you to get the grade you want.

 

 

 

Daily Schedule   (*HW due dates)