Mathematics 070 Intermediate Algebra

Examines higher degree and rational equations and inequalities,

functions and graphs, systems of equations, exponential and logarithmic functions, an introduction to sequences, and life-applications of all of the above

STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES:  By the completion of this course the student will be able to

Solve Radical, Quadratic, Exponential and Logarithmic Equations

My goal in this course:  You will learn this material as we go—so well that you are fully prepared for the final exam, and for applications of your math knowledge all your life long.

Spring 2012           Aliso Lab 101         9:10- 11:35 am     MW

College of the Canyons       Section 84855       Instructor:  George Rhys

Textbook:  Intermediate Algebra by Sullivan and Struve

Pearson Prentice Hall    ISBN-13:  978-0-321-59309-2

MyMathLab Course ID:  rhys09015

Final Exam:  Wednesday May 30, in class

INSTRUCTOR INFORMATION

Office Phone:  (661) 362-5049

Office:  Seco 207

E-mail:  george.rhys@canyons.edu    Please begin the subject line with "Math 070"

WebPage:  www.canyons.edu/faculty/rhysg    

Make a habit of checking the web page periodically for announcements and instructor ranting.

Visit-the-Instructor Hours (Tentative)

And many other times by appointment, including Fridays. Call 362-5049 or email.

ASSIGNMENTS

Homework is assigned for every class meeting. Every assignment has two components: Quick Checks from the book, and online assignments in MyMathLab. Each online assignment includes online exercises and a brief quiz.

I will credit Quick Checks during randomly selected class meetings.

The online work, provided by the publisher, is extremely helpful. Anyone who is willing to make a reasonable effort should be able to earn high homework scores—and high test scores are the result. By a reasonable effort, I mean the effort expected by any college professor, namely: twice as much concentrated time on homework and studying as is spent in class, and visits to the professor’s office hours. Do not skimp on either of these and you will succeed.

Late homework is of diminished value, as you will not be able to share in classroom discussion. Therefore, late homework will not be credited to your grade.

The MyMathLab program has proven itself to make a significant difference in student success. It is a required component of this course.



TESTS and QUIZZES



During class I will give occasional MicroQuizzes, which are single questions pertaining to the subject at hand. These quizzes will not always be returned to you, but you will know your results immediately. Their purpose is to let you and me know if you have met the day’s objective.

You will take five chapter-level tests and a comprehensive Final Exam. All tests are counted equally, except for the Final Exam, which counts as twenty percent of the final grade.

There will be no make-up tests, no exceptions. Missed tests count zero. Your Final Exam score will be averaged with your lowest test score, if that improves your average.

If you know that you must miss a test, you may make arrangements to take the test ahead of time in TLC. To do this, you must give the instructor sufficient notice, in writing, because he will forget otherwise.



SUPPLEMENTAL INSTRUCTION WORKSHOPS

Dedicated College of the Canyon faculty have put together an ever-expanding collection of workshops, designed to support your learning and fill in any gaps. I emphatically urge you to attend all workshops that address your problem areas, such as fractions or long division. I have provided a link to the SIGMA schedule at the Math 070 page.



ACTIVE LEARNING

Because you will not be able to do homework you have not learned, and because engaged students learn while passive students just spin their wheels, my lessons are designed to involve you in mathematics as much as possible. There are many varieties of active learning; mine is modest but effective:

Every new topic builds on those that went before. During my presentations, when we come to a portion of the work that you already know, I will allow you to do that work rather than leave you to sit and watch me do something you already know how to do.

In order to help you get more comfortable and capable with word problems, we will make up stories about abstract equations whenever we can. Brain experts now recognize the great power of stories in learning, and, much as you will surely enjoy my stories, your stories are even more powerful.

You will complete two well-structured real-world projects. Then, toward the end of the semester, we will look for real-life examples of the math we have studied. You will pick one such example and explain it in writing. Your grade on this assignment will count as one additional test.



CLASSROOM CONDUCT

I cannot tolerate disruptive behavior or off-task activity. Such behavior includes, but is not limited to: conversing during instruction, texting, working on unrelated assignments, sleeping, writing notes, or refusing to participate in group activities.

I find teaching to be an exciting but very demanding profession, and it requires a lot of concentration. I lose my concentration—and your classmates lose theirs—when a student is disrespectful or inconsiderate of the rest of us. Please respect what we are trying to do here.

Students who persist (after a warning) in obstructing or disrupting the education process—theirs or that of others—will be removed from the classroom for the remainder of that class session and possibly for the next meeting. I’ll try not to be rude about it, but I am not very good at being nice to people who are rude to me. Obstruction or disruption of the College’s function is grounds for disciplinary action. Please see the College catalog. But don’t worry. None of this has been necessary for many years. We all know what is expected of us.



INTEGRITY

College policy is emphatic that I report instances of cheating to the dean. I am not permitted to give a zero for cheating, which is bad for cheaters because it makes it easier for me to turn them in. Just do your best and I’ll do my best and there will be no need to cheat.

As stated in the Student Rights and Responsibilities section of the COC Catalog and in the COC Schedule of Classes, “Cheating, plagiarism, fabrication, and other forms of academic dishonesty, and/or facilitating academic dishonesty” are grounds for disciplinary action.



ATTENDANCE

Regular attendance is essential to success. Regardless of the reason for an absence, every absence reduces the chances of your doing well in any course. For that reason, there really is no such thing as an “excused” or “unexcused” absence. It is not a disciplinary issue; it is a success issue.

If, for reasons of health, family, or job, you cannot attend this class regularly, it is your responsibility to officially withdraw from the class by the drop deadline through Admissions and Records and make room for a student who can attend. Any student who does not drop and does not complete the course must be given a grade by the instructor. If you disappear without withdrawing, that grade will most likely be an F.

You will be dropped from the course if you miss more than five class hours. Late arrivals and early departures count as half a class hour. If you schedule another class or other activity in conflict with this class, causing you to routinely enter late or leave early, I will drop you.

You are responsible for all course content, notices, and assignments, absent or not.



GRADING

In calculating your grade, three components are weighed as follows:


Tests
65%

Quizzes (HW & other)
15%

Final Exam
20%



I will update your grade on MicroGrade after each test. Don’t count on the final exam to save a low grade. The final exam score is likely to be closer to your test average than to your quiz average.

During the semester, projected grades will weigh tests at 85% and HW/Quizzes at 15%.

To compute your own grade as we go along, use the formula:

0.85 x (Test Average) + 0.15 x (HW/Quiz score)

To find your test average, simply add all the test scores and divide by the number of tests. To find your HW/Quiz score, divide the total points you earned by the number of points available. These averages are available at the grades link on the web site.



Letter grades are assigned as follows:

A = 90 – 100

B = 80 – 89

C = 70 – 79

D = 60 – 69

F = 59 and below



WHERE TO GET HELP

To strengthen your overall performance, join a study group, or form one with your classmates.

If you are having trouble with a particular problem or set of problems:


TLC (Tutoring, Learning, Computing) in BONH-209 offers free tutoring in an environment conducive to study.


MESA in Aliso Lab also offers tutoring, in a more intimate setting.


SIGMA offers excellent supplemental instruction workshops.


If you are having trouble in general, keep getting low scores, or feel lost, swallow your pride and go to an instructor, preferably me. An instructor can diagnose your confusion, and possibly uncover a mistake or two that you have been making consistently. Also an instructor can make helpful suggestions about study. These services will save great amounts of time in the long run.

Whatever you do, act quickly. Waiting to get help, for whatever reason, magnifies the difficulty.