John Gordon’s Math 1113, Precalculus, Syllabus for Spring Semester, 2008
The prerequisite for Math 1113 is credit for Math 1111, College Algebra. The grade of “C” or higher, or an appropriate MAT score, is required for credit for Math 1111. When teaching Math 1113, it will be assumed that students know College Algebra. Students who have mastered College Algebra and are willing to give an honest effort can understand and can master Precalculus, but CLASS ATTENDANCE AND REAL EFFORT ARE ESSENTIAL.
Learning Outcomes: Upon mastering Math 1113 students should be able to: 1. apply the principles of trigonometry to the solution of equations and verification of identities, 2. sketch graphs of trigonometric functions, 3. identify the basic properties of vectors, and 4. use matrix properties to solve systems of linear equations.
John Gordon’s Math 1113 classes will meet Mon, Tues, Thurs, & Fridays. Classes will start Mon., January 14, 2008, and will end classes Thurs., May 1, 2008. We will not have classes on Mon, January 21, Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday, and we will not have classes on Mon.-Sat., March 3-8, Spring Break/Holidays. We will have classes on Valentines Day, Presidents’ Day, George Washington’s Birthday, St. Patrick’s Day, Maundy Thursday, and Good Friday.
Final Exams will be between May 1 and May 9. Exact dates and times will be announced later.
Tuesday, March 11, is the last day to withdraw from class and receive a grade of “W”. By March 10 decide if you want to withdraw. If students want to withdraw after March 11, and if the students have good reasons, then John Gordon will sign petitions to withdraw from all courses in which the students are enrolled. He will not support “picking and choosing.”
Office Hours: in D-230; Mon, Tues, Thurs, and Fri at 10:00 – 10:55 am and by appointment.
Professor’s phone number: 678-915-7326; email: jgordon0@spsu.edu
Free Help: Professor’s office hours; “Math Help Sessions” in D-125; and “ATTIC” in J-210.
Required textbook and calculator: Algebra and Trigonometry, 8th Edition, by Michael Sullivan, and TI-89. This is the only calculator allowed in Math 1111, 1113, 2240, 2253, and 2254. Parts of some tests will be taken without a calculator, and the TI-89 will be allowed on other parts.
Students with disabilities (learning or physical) who think they may need special, but reasonable accommodations in this class, are encouraged to contact the counselor working with disabilities. Contact the counselor as soon as possible to better insure that appropriate accommodations are implemented in a timely fashion. This counselor works in ATTIC, and her/his phone number is 678-915-7361. It is the responsibility of the student to see to it that the counselor provides the professor and the student the paperwork requesting the accommodations.
Cell phones and other electronic devices should not be brought to class. The only exceptions are the TI-89 calculator and hearing aids if a medical doctor recommends hearing aids. If you need to bring a cell phone to class, please turn it off before you come into the classroom and put it under your desk before class starts. It is understood that you and your spouse may be expecting a baby just any day now, or there may be some other real reason why you need to stay in contact with someone, but in class, we need to stay focused on math. These devices distract.
Any work submitted for grading is to be the work of the student submitting the work. Students are not to give or accept help on tests/exams, but it is fine for students to work together on homework assignments. John Gordon encourages study groups. See the SPSU Catalogue for details on academic dishonesty. Do not use the calculator as an electronic cheat sheet.
FOUR MAJOR TESTS; APPROXIMATE DATES; AND CONTENT ON THE TESTS:
Test 1 about Tues., Feb. 5; over the algebra review, and parts of chapters 5 and 7;
Test 2 about Fri., Feb. 29; over chapter 7, and most of chapter 8;
Test 3 about Tues., April 1; over most of chapter 9 and some of chapter 10;
Test 4 about Tues., April 22; over parts of chapters 10 and 12. (Parts of chapter 12 probably will be covered after Test 4, and this material will be about 1/5 of the final exam.)
SEMESTER GRADE: The date and time for the comprehensive final examination will be announced. It will cover the material covered after Test 4, plus the material on the four major tests. The comprehensive final examination will count 2/6 of the semester grade.
At least 12 times during the semester either assignments will be collected or short 10 minute quizzes will be given. The average of the best 10 of these grades will count 1/6 of the semester grade. These collected assignments or quizzes will be closely related to the recent assignments. No collected assignments or short quizzes will be accepted late. Everyone can drop at least 2 of these grades. Do the assignments everyday. Review everyday. Be prepared everyday.
We will have four major tests as outlined above. The average of the best 3 major tests will count 3/6 of the semester grade. No late test will be given. Everyone can drop 1 major test. If a student does not take a major test, then that “0” will be the test grade that will be dropped. If a student misses two major tests, the first grade will be the one dropped and the second missed grade will be replaced by the average of the items from the missed test that appears on the final exam. Any third and fourth missed tests will receive a grade of “0”.
Semester grades will be: A = 90-100, B = 80-89, C = 70-79, D = 60-69, and F = 0-59.
This NO LATE AND NO MAKE-UP SHORT QUIZZES, TESTS and ASSIGNMENTS policy applies to all students. If a student knows she/he will need to miss a major test, then the student can ask the professor about taking the major test early. If the student and the professor can agree on a time for an early testing, then the student can take the major test early.
The SPSU Catalog says that if a student is doing satisfactory work, but for nonacademic reasons beyond the student’s control, was unable to meet the full requirements of the course, then a grade of “I” can be awarded. Thus, for real emergencies that can be documented, students are able to make up requirements that exceed the above provisions. See the SPSU catalog for details.
** If a student misses only 0 or 1 or 2 classes, she/he will receive 10 bonus points on the final examination. If anyone complains about any of this provision, this provision will not apply. If a student comes to class late or leaves early, it is the student’s responsibility to speak with the teacher to correct the record. An absence is an absence. We will not be concerned with excused or unexcused absences. We want students attending class, giving a real effort, and learning math.
Students who have a “can do” attitude and who give reasonable time and effort (in class and outside of class) usually pass math. Can we have a 100% passing this class? Yes, we can.
** Students who earn 98 or higher on ALL 4 major tests, will receive an “A” without taking the final exam. When we have bonus items, the bonus will not carry a grade over 100%.
If inclement weather necessitates the delay or suspension of classes, official announcements will be made on the SPSU web site (www.spsu.edu) and over radio stations WSB-(750 AM & 98.5 FM), WGST-(640 AM), WLTM Lite FM or WPCH-(94.9 FM), WFOX-(95.5 FM), and WVEE-(103.3 FM) and over TV stations 2-WSB, 5-WAGA, 11-WXIA, and 46-WGCL.
CLASS ATTENDANCE IS IMPORTANT.
Roll will be checked in most classes. If a student arrives late or leaves early, he/she should check with the professor to be sure that accurate records are maintained. The 10 bonus points added to the final exam is an effort to loudly say, “CLASS ATTENDANCE IS IMPORTANT.” Students will not loose points for missing classes, but students who miss more that 2 or 3 classes rarely make good grades in calculus and they frequently do not pass. Students penalize themselves when they are absent. If a student, parent, or guardian talks with the professor about the student’s performance (or lack of performance), then attendance records may be discussed.
Actively PARTICIPATE IN CLASS. Ask questions. Answer questions. Be PREPARED for class. FEEL GOOD when you come to class. With the flu and bad colds going around, you can decrease your chances of getting sick by washing your hands frequently, keeping your hands away from your eyes, having a health diet, getting 8 to 9 hours of sleep each night, and by getting in some recreation and physical activity on at least 4 days a week. If you are coughing or sneezing or showing signs of having a bad cold or the flu, then you may want to decline shaking hands when someone offers to shake hands with you.
EFFORT IS IMPORTANT.
An ORGANIZED NOTEBOOK can help students learn math. The notebook helps as the semester progresses, and it can help when it comes time to review for tests and for the final exam. It is recommended that students use a looseleaf notebook that holds 8 ½ by 11 inch paper for their math notebook, and use 5 or 6 subject dividers. Behind the first divider, put the syllabus and any handouts of a general nature. Behind the second divider put class notes and homework assignments related to Test 1. Behind the third divider put all materials related to Test 2. Continue in this manner for the 5 tests. When doing assignments or taking class notes, put the textbook section number or page number, the problem number, and work the exercises in a manner that communicates the processes and the answers. It probably would be good to do the assignments on one side of the paper and to save the back side of the paper for class notes.
READ THE TEXTBOOK with pencil and calculator at hand so that you can draw diagrams, fill in missing steps, and do the calculations. Reading a mathematics textbook is different from reading a newspaper, novel, or non-math textbooks. Carefully read to get the details. Some students try to do homework problems and read the text only if they get stuck on an exercise. It probably would be better for students to read the text, review class lecture notes, and then start doing the homework problems. You should be sure you understand the exact meanings of the terms or vocabulary and the exact statements of the theorems, properties, and rules.
As you read the text and as you do the assignments, make note of anything you do not understand and ASK about it in class. ASK FOR HELP AFTER YOU TRY. If you do not get all your questions answered in class, then take advantage of the help offered during the professor’s office hours, the Math Help Sessions held on Monday-Friday at 2:00-4:00 pm, and the ATTIC.
Part of the aim of this course is to train students to THINK LOGICALLY. Students need to write their solutions in a connected, step-by-step fashion with explanatory sentences, so that the mathematical processes and answers are COMMUNICATED. ORGANIZE your work like the professor’s work or like the examples in the textbook. A few well organized problems will be of more value than many poorly written problems, even with correct answers. Do not get fancy and creative. Frequently, simple diagrams or figures will help students. Use them if they help. Sometimes the students’ solution manual does a poor job of organizing the mathematics.