SOUTH PLAINS COLLEGE

MATHEMATICS AND ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT

COURSE POLICIES AND PROCEDURES

MATH 0315

BEGINNING ALGEBRA

 

INSTRUCTOR: Dr. Anderson        OFFICE:  120A          PHONE:  894-9611 ext 2738

OFFICE HOURS: Before and after class.

EMAIL:  panderson@southplainscollege.edu

PURPOSE OF COURSE:  This course is designed to furnish the algebraic background necessary for enrollment in Math 0320.  Exposure to some concepts present on the Accuplacer/THEA placement test will be presented.

                                   

TEXTBOOK:  Elementary and Intermediate Algebra  , (2nd ed.) by Hutchison, Bergman

 and Hoelzle. McGraw – Hill Publishers.

 

OBJECTIVE: Provide a solid foundation in algebra for students who have had no previous experience in algebra and for those who need a review of basic algebraic concepts.

 

SUPPLIES:  You will need a scientific calculator or graphing calculator, pencils, graph paper and two large spiral notebooks.  One of the notebooks will be used for homework (HW) and the other will be used for class notes.

 

ATTENDANCE:  Attend class and seek help when needed. Attendance and effort are extremely important for success in this course.  If lack of attendance has put you at risk of failing and you do not fill out a student initiated drop, you may be dropped at the discretion of your instructor with an X or an F. If you miss four accumulative days you may be dropped from the class.

 

HOMEWORK:  HW will be assigned daily and will be due in a spiral notebook on the day of a major exam. YOU are responsible for keeping up to date and prepared. Late HW will not be accepted. Use pencil and skip a line between each problem. Please be neat.

 

LAB SESSIONS:  The lab time is part of class. There will be a daily lab activity or quiz. Lab assignments are designed to reinforce the lecture and ensure that you understand the material before attempting HW. There will be NO make-up quizzes or lab activities. The two lowest quiz or lab grades will be dropped at the end of the semester.

 

TUTORING:  Free tutoring is available in room 116 of the Mathematics-Engineering Building.  (Please remember to sign in when you seek the help of a tutor.)  Videotapes for this course are also available.  Students are encouraged to view these tapes in room 116, check them out, and/or duplicate them with the equipment available in the Lab.

 

EXAMINATIONS:  There will be 4 major exams. Exams MAY NOT be made up. Therefore, make every effort to be in class on exam days.  If you are absent on the day an exam is given, you will receive a grade of zero for that exam. To prepare for the comprehensive Final Exam, correct major exams and quizzes as they are returned.

 

GRADING: The homework score will be derived by averaging homework grades with weekly quizzes and lab exercises.  Final grades will be awarded on the following scale:  A: 90-100; B: 80-89; C: 70-79; D: 60-69; F: below 60.

Final Average = (4 major exams + homework score + final exam score) / 6

The homework score is derived as follows: 100 all complete, 50 not all complete, 0 no notebook.  Quizzes may be given as often as the instructor believes is necessary.

 

STUDENT RESPONSIBILITIES:

            1. READ YOUR SYLLABUS!

2. Attend class and be aware of announcements made in class.

3. Do homework problems early enough to seek help if needed.

4. Work extra problems, as required, to understand each topic.

5. Read and know the attendance policy.

6. Turn off cell phones before entering the room. (Cell phones are disruptive.   

    Show respect for the class by turning them off before entering the room.)

BEHAVIOR AND DISCIPLINE: Students are expected to participate in class. When students arrive they should open their book and begin reading the section. Second, when the instructor begins the introduction of the material, students may ask questions and take notes. Third, when students are working on the assignment, they may talk quietly to one another or to the instructor. Students who do not comply may be asked to leave.

COURSE OUTCOMES:  Objectives for Math 0315:

Upon completion of the course, the student will be able to:

1.      Add, subtract, multiply, and divide real numbers. (0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4)

2.      Use the order of operations to simplify an expression. (0.5)

3.      Evaluate an algebraic expression given a replacement set. (1.2)

4.      Solve linear equations and linear inequalities. (2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 2.4, 2.5, 2.6)

5.      Identify and evaluate functions. (5.1, 5.2)

6.      Add, subtract, multiply, and divide polynomials. (4.3, 4.4, 4.5, 4.6)

7.      Apply the laws of exponents to simplify an algebraic expression. (4.1, 4.2)

8.      Factor polynomials. (6.1, 6.2, 6.3, 6.4, 6.6)

 

DROPPING A COURSE:  To drop the course, return a completed official drop to the registrar’s office. Follow the official Drop/Withdrawal Policy & Procedures in the class schedule. Return the official drop to the registrar’s office by:

            April 27th : you will receive a W (no grade penalty)

           

 

 

CALENDAR: The class calendar (weekly topic outline below) is tentative. It will be updated throughout the semester. 

 

Math 0315: Spring 2006 (Subject to change)

 

WEEK

TOPICS COVERED

1

0.1    0.2    0.3    0.4

2

0.5    1.1

3

1.2    1.3

4

Test 1 (no calculator)   2.1    2.2

5

2.3    2.4    2.5

6

2.6    3.1    3.2

7

3.3    Test 2

8

4.1    4.2    4.3

9

SPRING BREAK

10

4.3    4.4    4.5

11

4.6    5.1    5.2

12

Test 3    6.1    6.3

13

6.3    6.3*

14

6.2

15

6.6    6.4

16

Test 4    Review

17

Final

“Inch by inch it’s a cinch.

Yard by yard it’s hard.”

 

DISABILITY STATEMENT:  Students with disabilities, including but not limited to physical, psychiatric, or learning disabilities, who wish to request accommodations in this class should notify the Special Services Office early in the semester so that the appropriate arrangements may be made.  In accordance with federal law, a student requesting accommodations must provide acceptable documentation of his/her disability to the Special Services Coordinator.  For more information, call or visit the Special Services Office in the Student Services building, 894-9611 ext 2529.

 

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY:  South Plains College strives to accommodate the individual needs of all students in order to enhance their opportunities for success in the context of a comprehensive community college setting.  It is the policy of South Plains College to offer all educational and employment opportunities without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, gender, disability or age.

 

DIVERSITY STATEMENT:  In this class, the teacher will establish and support an environment that values and nurtures individual and group differences and encourages engagement and interaction.  Understanding and respecting multiple experiences and perspectives will serve to challenge and stimulate all of us to learn about others, about the larger world and about ourselves.  By promoting diversity and intellectual exchange, we will not only mirror society as it is, but also model society as it should and can be.