MATH 6170 COURSE SYLLABUS
Fall 2018
No Textbook for this Course
Prerequisites: This is an advanced, theory-based course. Math 6170 is a core course for the MS degree; as such, those MS students who do not opt to write a thesis are required to take a comprehensive exam which includes material from this course in the final semester before graduation.
Purpose: This course is intended to provide graduate students with an introduction to formal logic, the use of formal logic in construction of mathematical proofs, and an introduction to intermediate set theory.
OBJECTIVES: Upon completion of this course, students will have developed an understanding
of
1. reasoning with categorical,
disjunctive, conjunctive, and conditional statements,
2. valid and invalid argument forms and
their role in mathematical proof
3. the fundamentals of set-based
arithmetic,
4. equivalence relations and
functions,
5. countable and uncountable sets.
REQUIREMENTS: In general, you are expected to
1. attend class lectures and work
with your assigned small group,
2. read and study class assignments
and solve assigned problems,
3. ask questions in class when unsure of any concept or unclear on any assigned problem;
4. take all announced exams (including the final) on the day they are scheduled
5. present assigned homework
problems regularly in class.
Grading: This is an inquiry-oriented class that uses the "constructivist" approach to learning. Among other things, this means many class meetings will involve you working in small groups to help you understand the learning objectives listed above. It is your responsibility as a member of this learning team to be actively participating, rather than merely taking notes.
The course will consist of fourteen investigations. Each investigation presents you with of set of in-class problems that you will work on in small groups. I will frequently ask you to explain your thinking on parts of a problem or to present a completed problem along with your group. Your efforts in this regard will be part of your participation grade.
Investigations can be found on my webpage.
Each investigation includes a set of homework problems. Most of these problems will be assigned as homework to turn in; some may be assigned to you for presentation in class. You are required to submit hardcopies of your solutions to the turn-in problems by the assigned deadlines. You are encouraged to work with your classmates or use other outside resources to help complete your homework. However, you must credit all individuals or outside sources that you used as part of your submitted homework. Typically, one (sometimes two) homework assignment will be due each week. Late assignments will not be accepted unless you have contacted me in advance to make arrangements for turning in the assignment late. Homework problems assigned for presentation will be graded on completeness and correctness of solution as well as the quality of the presentation itself. Homework presentations usually take no more than five minutes each.
A word of caution: Never draw upon ideas or concepts from outside of class if you cannot explain them. If you use notation or concepts that have not been developed in class, then I and everyone else in the class reserve the right to question you about their meaning. Your ability to explain these outside ideas and connect them to class content will be part of your participation grade or homework grade.
Fifty percent of your grade will come from your submitted homework and presentations.
There will be two closed-book in-class exams, each lasting a full class period. The first exam will be given near midterm and will cover the material in Investigations 1 - 7. The second exam will be given on the day of the final and will cover the material in Investigations 8 - 14.
Fifty percent of your grade will come from these exams.
There is no final exam for this course.
A standard grading scale will be used on all graded work: 90-100 --- A, 80 - 89.5 --- B, etc. Particular grades are not curved; there will be an end-of-semester curve on exams based upon class performance. (The curve is separate for graduate and undergraduate students.)
ATTENDANCE: Attendance is expected and vital for this class. Absences are not excuses for missing a graded in-class activity or turning in an assignment late. Late assignments will not be accepted and makeup exams will not be given unless you have made prior arrangements with me. With the exception of dire family emergency, you must contact me no later than the due day to get approval for late work.
Except for medical or family emergencies, the scheduled makeup time cannot be more than two weekdays after the due date.
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.
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.
LOTTERY
STATEMENT:
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.
Students with Disabilities: Middle Tennessee State University is committed to campus access in accordance with Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act and Section 504 of the Vocational Rehabilitation Act of 1973. Any student interested in reasonable accommodations can consult the Disability & Access Center (DAC) website and/or contact the DAC for assistance at 615-898-2783 or dacemail@mtsu.edu.
Title IX (Harrassment):
If you believe you have been
harrassed, disciminated against, or have been the victim of sexual assault,
dating or domestic violence, or stalking, please contact a Title IX Deputy
Coordinator at 615-898-2185 or 615-898-2750 or visit http://www.mtsu.edu/titleix/
for resources. As a faculty member, I am legally obligated to share
reports of such incidents with the MTSU Title IX coordinator.
This syllabus is only a guide for your convenience; I reserve the right to make changes as class needs dictate.
Important dates:
September 9 --- Last day to drop without a grade October 31 --- Last day to drop with a "W"
October 13 - 16 --- Fall Break November 22 - 24 Thanksgiving Break
December 6 --- Study Day (No Classes) December 7 - 14 --- Finals Week
Final Exam Day Thursday December 13 --- 3:30 PM to 5:30 PM