MATH 1730 COURSE SYLLABUS

Spring 2014

Pathways to Calculus,  Carlson, Oerhtman, and Moore  

Click here for Pathways login


PREREQUISITES: Precalculus is the prerequisite for Math 1910 (Calculus I) and hence the gateway course to the calculus sequence.  You must have Precalculus or its equivalent before you can enroll in Calculus I.  This is probably why you are here.  Precalculus is considered a "service" course.  This means that it cannot be counted toward a Math major or Math minor.  If you are not taking the course as a prerequisite for Calculus I, please check with your advisor to make sure the course satisfies the requirements of your major; otherwise, you might be better served by taking a less demanding course.

You will need a graphing calculator (preferably TI-83 or TI-84).  You may not use graphing calculators with symbolic manipulation software (DERIVE, MAPLE, etc.) on exams.  You will need the Pathways to Calculus textbook, access code, and workbook for this particular section of Precalculus.  (Note that this is different from some sections.)

This section of Precalculus will use the ALEKS software system to help you refresh and expand your algebra skills.  This is a free service provided for you.  (See details below.)

This particular section of Precalculus is an active learning class.  This means you will be working frequently in small groups on focused discussion questions.  A portion of your grade will come from your participation in these groups and discussions.  Sometimes, you will have to meet with your assigned group outside of class (either in person or online).  There will be times when you will receive a group grade on activities.  

PURPOSE: Precalculus is an introduction to functions in general and the specific classes of functions you encounter in the calculus sequence.  In particular, in this course you will

You will also learn the basics of the TI-83 graphing calculator, a tool you will use throughout the first two semesters of calculus.  I will be introducing salient features of the TI-83 calculator in class.  For the most part, the TI-84 will be the same; however, if you encounter differences or difficulties, the following links might prove helpful.

TI Instruction Manuals: http://education.ti.com/en/us/guidebook/search

TI 84 Tutorial:  http://www.atomiclearning.com/ti_84

TI-83 and TI-84 Tutorial:  http://hotmath.com/graphing_calculators/ti84_movie_index.html

From a broader perspective, you will also learn key thinking skills that will prepare you for the special difficulties presented by calculus problems.  In particular, you will practice


OBJECTIVES: Upon completion of this course, students will have developed an understanding of: 
1. graphs and how to extract information from them; 
2. functions and how to manipulate them; 
3. polynomial and rational functions;  
4. logarithmic, exponential, and trigonometric functions; 
5. basic applications of the major function families; 
6. some advantages and limitations of current technology. 



REQUIREMENTS: In general, you are expected to 
1. attend class and participate in discussions; 
2. read and study class assignments and solve assigned problems; 
3. ask questions in class when you are unsure of any concept or unclear on any assigned problem; 
4. attend the help lab or come to my office for additional assistance as necessary; 
5. take all announced quizzes and exams (including the final) on the day they are scheduled
6. come to class prepared.  This includes completing homework in a timely manner, bringing your workbook, and bringing your calculator. 

I have primary responsibility for control over the classroom learning environment and can direct the temporary removal or exclusion from the classroom of any student engaged in disruptive conduct or conduct which otherwise violates the general rules and regulations of the institution.  Depending on the severity or frequency of the incident(s), I may report such misconduct to the assistant dean for Judicial Affairs for implementation of such disciplinary sanctions as may be appropriate.

GRADING: We will cover the majority of Modules 1-8 in this course.  Grading is done on a standard scale : 90-100 -- A, 80-89.5 -- B, etc.  Individual activities are not curved; however, there will be a curve at the end of the course.  The grading components for the course are as follows:

  1. Homework:  There will be a homework quiz twice a week.  I will select one or two homework problems from a recent assignment (not from the previous day), and you will be given ten minutes to write your solutions to these problems from your notes.  You will not be given enough time to work the problems; you are expected to have worked the assigned problems beforehand.  I will also grade your group work from time to time, and there may be other grades coming from homework.  Homework grades will count 10% of your final grade.
  2. In-class testing:  There will be a minimum of five in-class quizzes and four in-class exams.  All quizzes and exams are closed-book.  Quizzes are twenty minutes and are worth twenty points each.  Exams are one hour and are worth 100 points each.   There will be a quiz roughly halfway between each exam.  Quizzes will count 15% of your final grade,  and exams will count 60% of your final grade.
  3. Final exam:  There will be a comprehensive in-class final exam given on the specified final exam date.  This  departmental common exam will be multiple choice and will count 15% of your final grade.  You will need a Scantron sheet for the final exam.
  4. Concept Testing:  You will take two concept/skills tests, one on algebra skills, and one on precalculus concepts.  You will take these tests twice; once at the beginning of the semester and again near the end.  Your first and second scores on these exams will be averaged together to give you two additional quiz grades.
  5. ALEKS Algebra Review:  You will use the ALEKS software system first to assess your current algebra skills and then use the system to refresh and improve those skills during the first half of the semester. Your weekly progress will be monitored, and you will receive a participation grade based on your progress.  These participation grades will serve as another quiz grade.

Your end-of-semester grade will be computed according to the following formula.  Let E denote your cumulative exam score, let Q denote your cumulative quiz score, let H denote your homework score,  and let F denote your final exam score.  Let w,x,y, and z denote the highest cumulative exam, quiz, homework, and final scores in the class.  Your end-of-semester grade will be

G = .60(E/w) + .15(Q/x)+ .10(H/y) +  .15(F/z)

If you are not able to take a quiz or exam at the scheduled time, you must schedule a makeup time.  Except for medical or family emergencies, the scheduled makeup time cannot be more than two weekdays after the quiz or exam.  You will not be able to make up graded homework activities. 

If you are diagnosed with, or suspect you have the flu... DO NOT COME TO CLASS.

I usually return an exam or quiz no more than two class days after it is given.  It is your responsibility to monitor your progress in the course.  I strongly recommend you actively ask questions in class or come to my office regularly to discuss your progress.  I will be happy to suggest strategies for helping you succeed, but no strategy provides a quick-fix. Do not wait until the last few weeks of class to try improving your grade. 

I will be taking attendance on most days.  More than four unexcused absences will automatically lower your end-of-semester grade by one letter.

ALEKS:  ALEKS is a software system that uses adaptive technology to tailor a course of study to your individual needs.  In this course, you will be using ALEKS to refresh or learn those algebra skills most important for success in Calculus I.  

Click here to learn more about ALEKS

Click here for ALEKS registration instructions

Click here to register for ALEKS

I will email the access code to you shortly before the semester starts.  DO NOT give this code to anyone else.  There are only enough free reservations for those enrolled in my Precalculus classes.

ALEKS GRADING:  There are approximately 130 algebra topics that you will be tested over in your first ALEKS session (don't worry... the test is not very long).  The test will determine which of these topics you need help on; and over the next six weeks, you will be expected to work your way through these topics using ALEKS.  You and I will both know how many topics you need to cover.  Divide that number by six, and this will be the number of topics I expect you to cover each week.  You will receive a grade each week based on the percentage of that weekly number you complete --- 90% A, 80% B, etc.  These six grades will be combined to form a quiz grade.  The topics are also geared toward the algebra skills test that you will take twice.

For example, suppose your testing shows that you need to cover 100 topics.  This means you need to cover at least 17 topics per week (most of these topics can be covered in ten minutes or less).  If you covered 15 topics in a particular week, you would therefore receive a "B" progress grade for that week.  If you covered 15 topics the following week, you would still receive a "B" progress grade for that week, even though you are getting behind on the topics.  If you do not make it through all of your recommended topics by the end of the sixth week, then your resulting quiz grade will be reduced based on the number of topics you failed to cover.

THERE ARE NO OPPORTUNITIES FOR EXTRA CREDIT IN THIS COURSE.

IMPORTANT:  It is Department policy not to grant withdrawals after the withdrawal deadline has passed, unless circumstances have arisen which make it impossible for you to complete the course.  Late withdrawals must be approved by the Department Chair and often require documentation for the extenuating circumstances.

No one will be exempt from the final.

Lottery Statement:   To retain Tennessee Education Lottery Scholarship eligibility, you must earn a cumulative TELS GPA of 2.75 after 24 and 48 attempted hours and a cumulative TELS GPA of 3.0 thereafter.  You may qualify with a 2.75 cumulative GPA after 72 attempted hours (and subsequent semesters), if you are enrolled full-time and maintain a semester GPA of at least 3.0.  A grade of C, D, F, FA, or I in this class may negatively impact TELS eligibility.  Dropping or stopping attendance in a class after 14 days may also impact eligibility; if you withdraw from or stop attending this class and it results in an enrollment status of less than full time, you may lose eligibility for your lottery scholarship. Lottery recipients are eligible to receive the scholarship for a maximum of five years from the date of initial enrollment, or until reaching 120 TELS attempted hours or earning a bachelor degree.  For additional Lottery rules, please refer to your Lottery Statement of Understanding form http://mtsu.edu/financialaid/forms/Lottery%20Statement%20of%20Understanding%202013-14.pdf or contact the Financial Aid Office at 898-2830.

INCOMPLETES:  An incomplete will be given only in accordance with the University Policy.  If you have a disability that may require assistance or accommodation, or you have questions related to any accommodations  for testing, note takers, readers, etc., please speak with me as soon as possible. Students may also contact the  Office of Disabled Students Services (898-2783) with questions about such services.  

ACADEMIC MISCONDUCT:  Middle Tennessee State University takes a strong stance against academic misconduct.  Academic Misconduct includes, but is not limited to, plagiarism, cheating, and fabrication.  Plagiarism, cheating, fabrication, or facilitating any such act.  For purposes of this section, the following definitions apply:

(1) Plagiarism:  The adoption or reproduction of ideas, words, statements, images, or works of another person as one’s own without proper attribution. This includes self-plagiarism, which occurs when an author submits material or research from a previous academic exercise to satisfy the requirements of another exercise and uses it without proper citation of its reuse.

(2) Cheating:  Using or attempting to use unauthorized materials, information, or study aids in any academic exercise.  This includes unapproved collaboration, which occurs when a student works with others on an academic exercise without the express permission of the professor.  The term academic exercise includes all forms of work submitted for credit or hours.

 (3) Fabrication:  Unauthorized falsification or invention of any information or citation in an academic exercise.

Going online and taking information without proper citations, copying parts of other student’s work, creating information for the purposes of making your paper seem more official, or anything involving taking someone else’s thoughts or ideas without proper attribution is academic misconduct.  If you work together on an assignment when it is not allowed, it is academic misconduct.  If you have a question about an assignment, please come see me to clarify.  Any cases of academic misconduct will be reported to the Office of Academic Affairs for violating the academic honesty requirements in the student handbook.  They will also result in failure for the course.  Remember – ignorance is NOT a defense. 

This syllabus is only a guide for your convenience; I reserve the right to make changes as class needs dictate.

 

Important dates:

January 20 --- Martin Luther King Holiday                                   

January 29 --- Last day to drop without a grade       March 28 --- Last day to drop with a "W"

March 10 - 15 --- Spring Break                                 May 1 --- Study Day (No Classes)                        

May 2 - May 8 --- Finals Week