Math 0099 Course Syllabus Spring 2010

 

 

MATH 0099     INTRODUCTORY ALGEBRA     CRN: 30388

MTWR  11:00 – 11:50am     King Hall Room 11

 

 

Mr. Gary D. Dicks, Assistant Professor of Mathematics

Office:  King Hall Room 9

229 – 391 – 5108 or 229 – 391 – 5100

gdicks@abac.edu

Course information:  Go to www.abac.edu/gdicks

Office Hours:  Go to www.abac.edu/gdicks

 

Textbook:  Beginning and Intermediate Algebra, Lial,4th ed., 2008.

Materials required:  TI83 or TI83Plus or TI84 or TI84Plus graphing calculator and notebook

 

 

A short review of beginning algebra followed by additional algebra topics including real number operations on algebraic expressions, algebraic fractions, exponents and radicals, graphing equalities and inequalities. Fall, Spring, Summer.  4 credit hours.  Prerequisite: MATH 0097 with a grade of “C” or better, or a satisfactory score on the MATH 0097 exemption test.

 

USG General Education Outcomes pertinent to this course:

 

Quantitative Reasoning and Mathematics: quantitative reasoning and mathematics will be characterized by logic, critical evaluation, analysis, synthesis generalization, modeling, and verbal, numeric, graphical, and symbolic problem solving.

 

Competence within the context of collegiate general education objectives is defined by the following outcomes:

  • Ability to model situations from a variety of settings in generalized mathematical forms;
  • Ability to express and manipulate mathematical information, concepts, and thoughts in verbal, numeric, graphical and symbolic form while solving a variety of problems;
  • Ability to solve multiple-step problems through different (inductive, deductive and symbolic) modes of reasoning;
  • Ability to properly use appropriate technology in the evaluation, analysis, and synthesis of information in problem-solving situations;
  • Ability to shift among the verbal, numeric, graphical and symbolic modes of considering relationships;
  • Ability to extract quantitative data from a given situation, translate the data into information in various modes, evaluate the information, abstract essential information, make logical deductions, and arrive at reasonable conclusions;
  • Ability to employ quantitative reasoning appropriately while applying scientific methodology to explore nature and the universe;
  • Ability to discern the impact of quantitative reasoning and mathematics on the sciences, society, and one's personal life.

 

 

ABAC Course Learning Outcomes:

Students should demonstrate the ability to:

 

1.          Operate on rational expressions and solve rational equations

2.          Solve a system of linear equations with two equations and two variables.

3.          Perform operations on radicals, operations using fractional exponents and solve radical equations containing square roots

4.          Solve quadratic equations using factoring, the square root method, the completing the square method and the quadratic formula.  Students shall be able to determine the vertex of a parabola and graph the parabola using the vertex and intercepts.  Students shall perform operations on complex numbers and solve quadratic equations with complex roots

5.          Find the inverse of a function, solve exponential and logarithmic equations and use the properties of exponents and logarithms.

6.          Formulate equations and solve application problems.

 

Final Grade Determination

 

5 Chapter Tests:         65%                                 90 – 100           A

MML-HW:                     5%                                 80 – 89             B

MML-Quiz:                    5%                                 70 – 79             C

Notebook:                   5%                                   60 – 69             IP (instructor discretion)

                                                                            Less than 60     F

In class quizzes:           5%

Final Exam:                15% (The final exam grade will replace the lowest test grade)

 

Homework has been assigned for the semester.  Homework will be completed using MyMathLab and a list of textbook problems will also be completed in a notebook of your choice.  The notebooks will be handed in and checked on test days.  Notebooks cannot be turned in late.  In class quizzes will be administered throughout the semester.  Students are expected to complete all MyMathLab homework, MyMathLab quizzes, and textbook homework by the due date.  Due dates are posted in MyMathLab.  A course calendar (showing test dates, sections covered, etc.) can be viewed on the MyMathLab homepage.

 

REMINDER

Do not use or operate cell phones or other electronic devices during class unless otherwise approved by the instructor.

 

ATTENDANCE

      Courses at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College are provided for the intellectual growth and development of students.  To attain maximum success, students must attend all their classes, be on time, and attend all scheduled course activities including, but not limited to, field trips, seminars, study sessions, individual conferences, and lectures.  This interaction with instructors and other students is an important element of the learning process, and a high correlation exists between class attendance and course grades. A student must understand the importance of regular participation in classroom and laboratory activities. The absence of any student affects not only his or her performance but the performance of the class as a whole. Absence from class, for whatever reason, does not excuse a student from full responsibility for class work or assignments missed. Students must accept this responsibility. 

      Specific attendance requirements applying to labs, clinics, accelerated classes or Learning Support will be adapted to the unique situation by the appropriate school/department.  Final determination of what constitutes an excused absence rests with the classroom instructor.  In implementing this Policy, faculty will not include in a student’s unexcused absences those absences incurred due to authorized and approved College sponsored events (or in the case of joint-enrollment students high-school sponsored events) in which the student represents the institution as part of a group or under the direct supervision of a faculty or staff member.

Whenever a student is absent, whether for official or personal reasons, the student must assume responsibility and provide notice to the instructor, preferably in advance, for making arrangements for any assignments and class work missed because of the absence. However, final approval for make up work remains with the individual instructor.  A student who stops attending class without officially withdrawing from the course is subject to this attendance policy and will receive a grade for the course.  Learning Support classes are designed to bridge deficiencies in students’ academic background in the areas of English, Reading, and math and to prepare students for regular college-level work.  Class attendance is mandatory for these remediation classes.  Students whose number of unexcused absences is more than the number of class meeting in one week will receive a grade of “F” for the course.  A student penalized for excessive absences may appeal through the grade appeal process, as stated in ABAC’s college catalog and student handbook.

 

INSTITUTIONAL ABSENCE

     A student who serves as an official representative of the college is defined as one who:

 

     is authorized to use the college name in public relationships outside the institution;

     regularly interacts with non-college individuals and groups over an extended period of time

            (at least one semester);

      represents the college as a part of a group and not as an individual;

      represents the college under the direct supervision of a college faculty or staff member; and

      is authorized in writing, in advance, by the President of the college.

 

      Such a student is in no way released from the obligations and responsibilities of all students, but will not be penalized with unexcused absences when absences result from regularly scheduled activities in which he/she represents the college.

      Further, it is the responsibility of each student to contact instructors prior to the absence and to make arrangements to make up any work that will be missed, in a manner acceptable to the instructor. Advisors of activities will schedule off-campus activities in a manner that does not unduly disrupt the learning process for a student.

 

http://www.abac.edu/catalog/2009_2010/AcademicPolicy.pdf

 

 

 

ACADEMIC DISHONESTY

     Because Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College has the dual responsibility of educating students and helping them mature into worthy citizens who take their place in the larger community, it has adopted a code for dealing with academic irregularities.

     Academic irregularities include, but are not limited to, giving or receiving of unauthorized assistance in the preparation of any academic or clinical assignment; taking or attempting to take, stealing, or otherwise obtaining in an unauthorized manner any material pertaining to the education process; selling, giving, lending, or otherwise furnishing to any person any question and/or answers to any examination known to be scheduled at any subsequent date; fabricating, forging, or falsifying lab or clinical results; plagiarism in any form related to themes, essays, term papers, tests, and other assignments; breaching any confidentiality regarding patient information.

 

Due Process for Academic Dishonesty Cases

 

Step 1. When a faculty member suspects that a student has engaged in academic dishonesty, the

            faculty member will call the student into a private meeting in the faculty member’s office.

            (The division chair will be notified of and will approve any action.)

Step 2. The faculty member will confront the student with the evidence of dishonesty and/or 

            academic irregularity. The faculty member and the student will discuss the specifics of

            what occurred. If the student confesses and accepts responsibility for academic

            dishonesty, then the faculty member will ask the student to sign in his/her own

            handwriting, a statement which makes clear that the student admits responsibility for the

            academic dishonesty. The faculty member will then consult with the division chair. The

            faculty member is then free to reprimand the student, to give a failing grade for the

            assignment, or to require the student to resubmit the assignment in question. With

            approval of the division chair, the faculty member can increase the penalty up to and

            including a “WF” for the course if the incident(s) merit this severe penalty.

Step 3. If the student refuses to sign a statement accepting responsibility for the act(s) of

            academic dishonesty, then a full hearing on the matter must be held. The faculty member

            and chair will document this incident and schedule a meeting with the student. This

            information will be turned over to the Academic Dean, who will make the determination 

            of charges against the student and notify him/her in writing. The charges will be mailed by

            the Academic Dean to the student along with a notice to appear at a hearing, and, if the

            student wishes, to bring witnesses. At least three days’ notice is necessary unless the

            student waives the notice in writing.

Step 4. If the student requests a hearing, the Academic Dean has the option of hearing the case for

            administrative adjudication, convening a special hearing panel including faculty and

            students, or of referring it to the Student Life Hearing panel which handles all other

            disciplinary matters on campus. The committee will provide its recommendation to the

            Academic Dean. The Student Life Hearing Panel, when hearing cases of academic

            dishonesty, will include two faculty members, two students (one of whom will be the

            SGA president and the other an associate justice,) and the Director of Student Life, who

            oversees campus discipline and the Code of Conduct. The Chief Justice of the SGA chairs

            the panel. The Vice President for Student Affairs will serve as advisor to the panel for all

            academic dishonesty cases. In general, the decision of the Academic Dean or his/her

            designee will not be appealed to the Student Life Hearing Panel. An appeal of the Dean’s

            decision will go directly to the President who may choose to use the Student Life Hearing

            Panel to make a recommendation to him.

Step 5. The student has a right to appeal the decision of the hearing officer or hearing panel

             within ten calendar days of the decision. The appeal will be to the President or his

             designee. The President’s decision is final. The President reserves the right to review all

             disciplinary cases and the judgments made during the process.

 

http://www.abac.edu/catalog/2009_2010/AcademicPolicy.pdf

 

 

 

If there is a student in this class who has specific needs because of learning disabilities or any other disability, please feel free to contact the instructor.

 

Mid-term deadline for withdrawal w/o academic penalty

Thu., October 8, 4:30 PM

 

http://www.abac.edu/catalog/2009_2010/AcademicPolicy.pdf