COURSE REQUIREMENTS AND EXPECTATIONS FOR ALL STUDENTS ENROLLED IN COLLEGE ALGEBRA ROWAN UNIVERSITY CAMDEN CAMPUS SPRING 2011

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1 COURSE REQUIREMENTS AND EXPECTATIONS FOR ALL STUDENTS ENROLLED IN COLLEGE ALGEBRA ROWAN UNIVERSITY CAMDEN CAMPUS SPRING 2011 PROFESSOR JAY L. SCHIFFMAN 1

2 IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR ALL STUDENTS: I. This handout serves as a contract between the student and professor. It is your responsibility to completely understand the entire contents of this handout. ASK QUESTIONS IF YOU DO NOT UNDERSTAND ANYTHING CONTAINED IN THIS DOCUMENT. FAILURE TO FOLLOW THESE GUIDELINES WILL REDUCE YOUR CHANCES FOR SUCCESS IN THE COURSE. Kindly do not annoy the mathematics department after the course is over and you are dissatisfied with your grade if you have not done what you were supposed to during the course! This course covers functions and their graphs, special functions, the quadratic function, polynomial functions, exponential functions, and logarithmic functions. A complete course description can be found on The Mathematics Department Homepage: II. Mathematics course are completely different from other courses that you may have encountered. What you have done and how you have done in other subjects is not relevant here. This is mathematics. My courses serve as intensive learning experiences. You will be required to perform work both inside and outside of class both individually and in small groups. There will be times when you will be required to learn and be responsible for new material independently of the class lectures and discussions whether I am able to cover it in class or not. This is often necessary due to time considerations. Class participation is expected, encouraged and welcomed. You must be present for every class meeting and always be on time. In my classes, EVERY SECOND WILL BE UTILIZED. STUDENTS ARE NOT IN CLASS TOO MUCH, THEY ARE IN CLASS TOO LITTLE! Obtaining the notes from someone else in the class SIMPLY WILL NOT WORK IN ANY OF MY COURSES. IF YOU CANNOT BE PRESENT ALL THE TIME AND TRULY PUNCTUAL (WHEN IN DOUBT, ARRIVE EARLY!), THEN YOU WILL NEED TO UTILIZE THE ADD- DROP PERIOD TO FIND A DIFFERENT SECTION OF THIS COURSE. I WILL NOT TOLERATE ANY DISTRACTIONS THAT ARE COUNTER TO THE TEACHING AND LEARNING PROCESS. III. CLASSROOM DECORUM: The campus does not permit any food or beverage in the classrooms. Please adhere to this policy. Far too many classrooms are in terrible disarray because folks are not in compliance. Please do not leave the room during the class except for an emergency and be considerate of your fellow classmates. Use the restroom facilities prior to coming to class whenever possible. CELL PHONES ARE STRICTLY PROHIBITED IN MY CLASSES. THEY HAVE NO PART IN THE LEARNING PROCESS WHATSOEVER. KINDLY SILENCE THESE DEVICES AND PLACE THEM OUT OF SIGHT DURING THE PERIOD YOU ARE IN CLASS. K-MART 2

3 HAS WATCHES FOR JUST OVER $5 TO KEEP TRACK OF TIME WHICH YOU SHOULD NOT BE DOING WHILE LEARNING MATHEMATICS ANYWAY! I HAVE A ZERO TOLERANCE POLICY FOR CELL PHONE DEVICES AND RESERVE THE RIGHT TO LOWER YOUR FINAL GRADE (AFTER AN INITIAL WARNING) BY A FULL LETTER FOR THOSE NOT IN COMPLIANCE. (EX: A TO B.) IV. ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: On all assignments, the work must be that of the individual. On group projects, while collaboration is expected as well as encouraged, individual solutions must be furnished and any reference sources quoted. On quizzes and exams, anything compromising academic integrity such as using CELL PHONES AS CALCULATORS OR FOR STORING MESSAGES WILL LEAD TO THE ULTIMATE ACADEMIC PENALTY OF FAILURE IN THE COURSE. Being judicious on your part will serve to avoid any unnecessary problems. In short, ACADEMIC INTEGRITY WILL NEVER BE COMPROMISED! V. SUPPLIES: You are required to purchase the textbook and any ancillaries, an appropriate calculator, and a composition or loose-leaf notebook for projects. As mentioned above, CALCULATORS ON CELL PHONES ARE PROHIBITED! A calculator is an important investment in your education. The appropriate calculators are as follows and these will be the only calculators deployed by the professor in class: COLLEGE ALGEBRA: The TI-84+ Silver Edition is the appropriate calculator for this course. If you have a TI-83 or TI-89 family graphing calculator, you may also use it and I will assist you as needed. VI. TEXTBOOK: The required textbook is as follows: COLLEGE ALGEBRA: Thomas Hungerford, Contemporary College Algebra A Graphing Approach, 2 nd Edition VII. The use of is encouraged. I check it on a daily basis on both campuses. schiffman@rowan.edu VIII. OFFICE HOURS: I will be available for consultation on both campuses at the following times: 3

4 Camden Campus: Glassboro Campus: T 6:30 P.M.-7:30 P.M. M,T,W 9:25 A.M.-10:40 A.M. and M-W 3:00 P.M.-4:00 P.M. Additional Hours are available by appointment. OFFICE IN CAMDEN: ROOM 422 CLASSROOM: ROOM 416 PHONE IN CAMDEN: (856) FAX IN CAMDEN: (856) OFFICE IN GLASSBORO: ROOM 229B (ROBINSON HALL) IN THE MATHEMATICS DEPARTMENT DEPARTMENT PHONE IN GLASSBORO: (856) FAX IN GLASSBORO: (856) IX. COURSE PREPAREDNESS: For College Algebra, the prerequisite is the successful completion of Basic Algebra II (Intermediate Algebra) or the equivalent high school preparation. If you have only completed Basic Algebra I, kindly leave this course now and enroll in Basic Algebra II! Please be forewarned and know if you are ready mathematically to enroll and be successful in a course. Kindly refrain from complaining to the Mathematics Department about your grade if you fail to adhere to these guidelines and subsequently do not have a successful course outcome. This syllabus is your contract. X. HELPFUL HINTS: You will need to study at least two (2) hours for every contact hour in class. Thus in College Algebra, you will need to be immersed in the mathematics for at least six (6) hours per work and in the Structures of Mathematics and Discrete Mathematics at least six (6) hours per week. This is figured on the basis of a contact hour being sixty minutes even if a credit hour is only fifty minutes. I will be available in the classroom for a minimum of 180 minutes per week in College Algebra. You may work in small groups (which research shows is advantageous to working solo) and be please be disciplined. Also do at least all the odd numbered problems in any section that we cover. A homework sheet will be given during the first class. Number the handouts and always be prepared to have your text and handouts turned to the appropriate pages when you enter class. You must be on time for every class meeting, earlier if possible! When I arrive, I fully expect to see a full class eagerly 4

5 awaiting the lesson to begin! Always write out the question(s) on written assignments together with a well-posed solution. Your solutions need to be both succinct and thorough. Be neat in your writing. Use a word processor if necessary. Sloppy work will hinder your progress and will be severely penalized as will answers in the absence of complete justification. Know how you are doing in the class prior to mid-semester. I will sign withdrawl forms up until the middle of the semester but will not permit withdrawls after midterm. In the last four weeks, no withdrawls are permitted except in the case of a medical emergency. XI. CONDUCT UNBECOMING TO A STUDENT: CELL PHONES ARE PROHIBITED! Each violation after the initial warning will cost you 25 of the 100 bonus points you can earn on written assignments. You will in addition be asked to leave the room for the remainder of the period. Lateness after the first in will cost you 20 points as will any absences after the first. Each class will begin promptly and run for the entire duration. This means that our courses will run completely during these times: COLLEGE ALGEBRA: T 8:00-10:30 ROOM: 424 NOTE: If the University deems it necessary to cancel classes due to inclement weather that affects any of my courses, then such classes have to be rescheduled at a mutually convenient time as soon as possible. THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS CANCELLED CLASSES FOR ANY REASON IN MY COURSES! You are paying for a complete semester, not one that is one or two weeks short. My goal will be to accommodate each and every student even if that means teaching a make-up class more than once. Please avail yourself from 6:00 P.M.-7:30 P.M. in Camden on Tuesdays in Room 422 if you have any concerns about the work, technology, or interested in further mathematical immersion. If you are taking courses in Glassboro, you can also meet with me on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays between 9:30 A.M. and 10:45 A.M. in 229B in the Mathematics Office located in Robinson Hall as well as from 3:00 P.M. 4:00 P.M. in the same location on Mondays and Wednesdays. XII. GRADING PROCEDURE AND GRADE CONSTRUCTION: 1. Weekly Quizzes (50% of grade): Beginning in the third week (the week of September 14 th ), a weekly quiz will be administered based on the handouts and problems from the work covered during the previous week. These quizzes while un-timed are geared to be of ten to fifteen minutes duration and will be given at the conclusion of the Calculus I class on Wednesdays (or some Mondays in October and November with proper notification by me), and at the conclusion of The Structures of Mathematics and College Algebra courses on Tuesdays and the Discrete Mathematics course on Mondays. These quizzes are closed book with the exception of a calculator and sometimes an index card if formulas are required. NO DESTRUCTIVE CELL PHONE 5

6 CALCULATORS ARE PERMITTED! The best ten (10) scores will count. Each quiz is worth ten (10) points. 2. Problem Sets or Activities (10% of grade): These problem sets (2) will be take-home (a different problem set for each student) and are due back one week after they are administered. See Classroom Dates for the appropriate times. All work must be shown. Microscopic and illegible work will NOT BE ACCEPTED! IF I CANNOT READ IT, THEN I CANNOT GRADE IT! THE QUESTION PAPER MUST BE RETURNED WITH THE PROBLEM SET OR IT WILL NOT BE GRADED AND A ZERO WILL BE RECORDED FOR THAT ASSIGNMENT! 3. Group Projects (15% of grade): In groups of 3-4, two (2) of these projects will be given during the semester. Students will work together to form a final product. Each person must write his/her own solution and initial which problems were solved. The group members are otherwise encouraged to collaborate with one another in this unique learning experience. The projects will include both mathematical as well as technological components. Specific instructions on how to proceed with these projects will be given. There has been confusion and incorrect understanding of my expectations with these projects in the past. WHEN YOU ARE ASKED TO WRITE OUT OR XEROX THE QUESTIONS OR GRAPHS, KINDLY DO SO OR I WILL NOT GRADE IT AND A ZERO WILL BE RECORDED FOR THAT ASSIGNMENT! 4. Final Activity (25% of grade): During the last two weeks of the semester, a cumulative problem set will be given, a different one for each student. At my discretion, part of the problem set may be given during the last class meeting lasting one hour. No group work or help apart from books and notes is permitted on the take-home portion of the problem set. ALL WORK MUST BE SHOWN! ANSWERS IN THE ABSENCE OF WORK WILL BE SEVERELY PENALIZED! When a graphing calculator is appropriate, your input and output data must clearly be delineated. When in doubt, show more work, not less! THE QUESTION PAPER MUST BE RETURNED WITH THE PROBLEM SET OR I WILL NOT GRADE IT AND A ZERO WILL BE RECORDED FOR THIS ASSIGNMENT! XIII. MISSED ASSIGNMENTS AND QUIZZES: In case an emergency occurs making it impossible to take a quiz, then with proper notification ( ing or calling me), I will allow you to take the quiz as long as it is taken within the week that it is given. I will permit such action only once during the semester. Not being prepared does not constitute an emergency and will not be an acceptable excuse. No makeups for quizzes will be allowed if one week s time has elapsed. The best ten (10) quizzes will count and the others will be dropped. I encourage you to take all quizzes. Problem sets will not be accepted following the week that they are due. Projects that are more than one class period late will not be 6

7 accepted. The last two assignments must be turned in by 6 P.M. on Monday, May 9 th to Room 426. This deadline is firm and cannot be extended! XIV. METHODS OF INSTRUCTION: 1. Blackboard Notes. 2. Frequent Handouts. 3. Technology Demonstrations (The TI-84 in College Algebra). XV. FINAL THOUGHTS: 1. If I have students with Special Needs as in keeping with the ADA act, I will be happy to accommodate you upon notification. Extra time on quizzes can be provided for you. 2. If you are not doing well in the course, you may receive a W (Withdrawl) grade prior to the middle of the semester. I will not permit withdrawls after midterm and withdrawls in the final month of the semester without an exceptional reason (usually health related only) are not allowed. Not doing well on an exam does not constitute a valid reason for withdrawl after the middle of the semester. Access and be realistic about your chances. Act in a mature fashion and contribute to your education in a positive manner. Trashing this campus only leads to a poor view of Camden by others, numerous course cancellations, and an uncertain future. This does not serve anyone s best interest. 3. Take advantage of office hours. They are designed with you in mind. Note that if you are taking courses on the Glassboro Campus, then I encourage you to visit me there as needed. I will be there during the week on a regular basis. You may access technology there as well. 4. May I wish you success in your educational endeavors. You truly can make a difference! 7