MATH 120-02
Pre-Calculus
Syllabus for Fall 2017
MTHF 11:00am –
11:50am in 324 Gildemeister Hall
Instructor: Dr. Eric Errthum Winona Email Username: eerrthum Office: 205 Gildemeister Hall Office Hours: See homepage. Or by appointment on any day.
Text: Open Stax Pre-Calculus Calculator: Preferably a TI graphing
calculator, at least some sort
of
scientific calculator
ALEKS.com 18-week Access
Course Website: http://course1.winona.edu/eerrthum/math120
Prerequisite: MATH 050, MATH115, or a qualifying score on the mathematics placement exam
About This Course: This course is intended to provide the student with an understanding of the ideas leading up to calculus. Rational, exponential, logarithmic, and trigonometric functions are all considered, especially in solving equations and working with graphs. These topics compose a solid mathematical basis from which to build on in future math courses. As a terminal class, the topics contained in this course are meant to be a broad survey of the mathematics you may need or encounter in various fields of study.
Expectations: Students who complete this course with a passing grade are expected to be able to demonstrate the following skills: (i) Mastery of prerequisite material, (ii) Solve various algebraic, exponential, logarithmic, and trigonometric equations, (iii) Analyze and graph the basic behavior of those functions, (iv) Use the correct mathematical tools and problem-solving skills in a given situation.
Grading: Attendance
and Participation 100
points---- 11%
ALEKS Checkpoints (10 @
10 points each) 100 points---- 11%
Quizzes (10 @ 15 points each,
drop lowest) 135 points---- 14.8%
ALEKS Objectives (263
topics, scaled) 125
points---- 13.7%
Midterms (4 @ 75 points) 300
points---- 33%
Final 150
points---- 16.5%
--------------
910 points total
Grades: A = 90% (819 pts), B = 80% (728 pts), C = 70% (637 pts), D = 60% (546 pts)
Attendance and Participation: About half of the class periods will be spent working in groups on a set of problems. Participation in your group (e.g. explaining to others how to do a problem, challenging the know-it-all in your group to explain it to you, etc.) will be essential to your learning and your grade. Attendance will also be taken on lecture days. If you show up late, you may not be counted. All group work that is unfinished in class is due at the beginning of the next class.
ALEKS: Homework in this class will be through the ALEKS website. The course code for this class is T4FG3-TFDDW. You can purchase an ALEKS access code online through the website or from the WSU bookstore. (Note: ALEKS Access is for 18 weeks. If you’re reading this before the first day of class, do NOT begin your access early.) You must complete the “Tools Tutorial” and “Initial Knowledge Check” by the beginning of class on Thursday, August 24th. Note: DO NOT USE A CALCULATOR unless ALEKS gives you one on-screen. While taking the “Initial Knowledge Check”, questions will be asked from throughout the course. Do not feel bad if you don’t know how to do a question: that’s what you’re taking this class to learn! At the same time, don’t brush off questions that you should know how to do from a previous course. Doing so will cause you to have more prerequisite topics to complete in ALEKS. After completing the “Initial Knowledge Check”, ALEKS will create an individualized path for each student to follow in order to achieve the common course objectives.
ALEKS Checkpoints: Each unit of class corresponds to an Objective in ALEKS with a set number of topics. As you work in ALEKS, you will earn completion of those topics or the prerequisite material needed. As indicated in the calendar below, on quiz days you should have completed either: 8 hours of ALEKS time since the last checkpoint or the benchmark number of topics indicated. You can check your progress and time spent on an objective by going to menu icon in the top right corner of ALEKS and selecting “Reports”. Click “View Full Report” for even more details.
Quizzes: There will be quizzes periodically throughout the semester (see schedule below). Each quiz will count for 15 points and the lowest quiz score will be dropped from your grade. Quizzes will cover lecture material and material done in your groups. It may or may not include topics you’ve been working on in ALEKS. The first half of quiz periods will be open for questions on lecture material and/or group activities. Questions from ALEKS material will be allowed if pertinent to the topics of the quiz.
ALEKS Objectives: Before each unit exam, the corresponding ALEKS Objective should be completed. If you complete them early, you will be allowed to work ahead on material for later in the course and/or on Bonus Material. Each bonus topic completed will earn 1 point in the final computation of the grade.
Technology: Graphing
calculators are highly recommended, preferably a Texas Instrument. Some exams
and quizzes will allow the use of calculators, and some will not. (They are
NEVER allowed while working on ALEKS.) You MAY
NOT use your cell phone, laptop, PDA, or other device capable of electronic
communication in place of a calculator. Contact the instructor if you are
having difficulties obtaining a calculator.
Exams: There will be four in-class exams and one comprehensive final exam, see schedule below. The final exam is Thursday, December 7 at 8:00am.
Extra
Credit: Frequently quizzes and exams will contain bonus problems where students
will have the chance to earn extra credit points. Also, as mentioned above, each
bonus topic completed in ALEKS will earn 1 point in the final computation of
the grade
Resources: Tutoring Services is located in the library and provides free one-on-one
tutoring. See www.winona.edu/tutoring
for more info. Of course, you can also come see the instructor during office
hours or by appointment.
Desire2Learn: Some course materials and approximate grades can be found on D2L.
Late/Missed
Work: Missed quizzes will result in a score of zero. There are no make-up
quizzes. Make-up exams will be given at the discretion of the instructor. If
you miss class, it is your responsibility to obtain notes and assignments from
fellow students. If you have an unavoidable absence, please inform the
instructor beforehand.
Academic Dishonesty: Any type of academic dishonesty (cheating, copying, etc.) will result in failure and will be reported to school authorities. If you are having trouble with an assignment, please see the instructor first.
Note: This syllabus is subject to change if deemed necessary by the instructor.
Tentative Schedule of Events – Math 120
(subject to change)
|
Week |
Monday |
Tuesday |
Thursday |
Friday |
|
8/21 |
Introductions |
Review Chapter 1 |
ALEKS Checkpoint: Review Chapter 2 |
Quiz 1: Review |
|
8/28 |
3.1 |
Group Work 3.1-3.2 |
3.3 |
Group Work 3.3-3.4 |
|
9/4 |
NO CLASS |
ALEKS Checkpoint: Quiz 2: 3.1 – 3.4 |
3.5 |
Group Work 3.5-3.6 |
|
9/11 |
3.7 |
Group Work 3.7-3.8 |
ALEKS Checkpoint: Quiz 3: 3.5 – 3.8 |
Review Session |
|
9/18 |
ALEKS Objective Due EXAM I |
4.1 |
Group Work 4.1-4.2 |
4.3 |
|
9/25 |
Group Work 4.3-4.4 |
ALEKS Checkpoint: Quiz 4: 4.1-4.4 |
4.5 |
Group Work 4.5-4.6 |
|
10/2 |
4.7 Innate Numbers
Podcast |
Group Work 4.7 |
ALEKS Checkpoint: Quiz 5: 4.5-4.7 |
Review Session |
|
10/9 |
ALEKS Objective Due EXAM II |
NO CLASS |
5.1 |
Group Work 5.1-5.2 |
|
10/16 |
5.3 |
Group Work 5.3-5.4 |
ALEKS Checkpoint: Quiz 6: 5.1-5.4 |
6.1 |
|
10/23 |
Group Work 6.1-6.2 |
6.3 |
Group Work 6.3 |
ALEKS Checkpoint: Quiz 7: 6.1-6.3 |
|
10/30 |
Review Session |
ALEKS Objective Due EXAM III |
7.1 |
Group Work 7.1 |
|
11/6 |
7.2 |
Group Work 7.2-7.3 |
ALEKS Checkpoint: Quiz 8: 7.1-7.3 |
NO CLASS |
|
11/13 |
7.5 |
Group Work 7.5 |
7.6 |
Group Work 7.6 |
|
11/20 |
ALEKS Checkpoint: Quiz 9: 7.5-7.6 |
8.1 |
NO CLASS |
|
|
11/27 |
ALEKS Checkpoint: Quiz 10: 8.1-8.2 |
Review Session |
ALEKS Objective Due EXAM IV |
Final Review, cont. |
Final Exam: Thursday, December 7,
8:00am.
Welcome to college math!
If this is your first math class taken in college, there are some important things you need to know. College math classes are run very differently from high school math classes. On the surface it may seem they are similar as you listen to the lecture and take notes, but there are significant underlying differences. Knowing these ahead of time can help you make the most of this coming semester.
#1: College math classes generally stay on the schedule in the syllabus. If there is one day allotted to the topic that is probably all of the class time that will be spent on it, even if “most” of the students “don’t get it.” If you have difficulty with the subject, please see the instructor during office hours.
#2: It is expected that you will read the text and do the problems in order to learn the material, even if no one checks up on you. The instructor might never collect the homework, but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t affect your grade.
#3: You will sometimes be responsible for material in the textbook that is not covered in class. If there is a text reading and/or homework problems covering a concept that was not discussed in class, you are still expected to learn it. If you don’t understand it, make an appointment with your instructor for help.
#4: Some material is covered only in class, is not in the textbook, and may not have any homework problems on it. If you miss class, you may miss content that you are responsible to know. If you have an unavoidable absence, be sure to get the notes and any announcements from a classmate. If you still don’t understand the material, make an appointment with your instructor for help and come with specific questions about the lecture and/or material in the book.
#5: There will be test questions that don’t look “just like the homework.” In college, you are expected to focus on learning the concepts, not just memorizing how to do certain types of problems. These concepts can – and will – appear in very different forms on tests and quizzes. If you don’t understand why you solve a problem in a particular way, make an appointment with your instructor for help.
#6: At times you will be expected to be able to explain why a problem is done a certain way in addition to being expected to do the problem. As you work on problems in class and on homework, don’t be satisfied with getting the correct answer; ask yourself why that method is logical, and how you could explain that logic to someone else.
#7: Most importantly, you are responsible for your own learning. If you attend class faithfully, get the notes and announcements if you have an unavoidable absence, read the text, do the homework and question yourself (as in #6), and still don’t understand something, it is up to you to get the extra help you need. Visit the instructor during office hours or make a special appointment to ask questions, form a study group, etc. There are many resources and people willing and happy to help, but you need to take the initiative and seek out the help you need.
Good luck on a happy and successful semester!
Commitment to Inclusive Excellence
WSU recognizes that our individual differences can deepen our
understanding of one another and the world around us, rather than divide us. In
this class, people of all ethnicities, genders and gender identities,
religions, ages, sexual orientations, dis/abilities, socioeconomic backgrounds,
regions, and nationalities are strongly encouraged to share their rich array of
perspectives and experiences. If you feel your differences may in some
way isolate you from WSU’s community or if you have a need of any specific
accommodations, please speak with the instructor early in the semester about
your concerns and what we can do together to help you become an active and
engaged member of our class and community.
Campus Resources
Details
about Campus Resources
·
Two good places to help you find resources of all kinds on
campus are Student Support/Campus Services and the Inclusion
and Diversity Office. Both offices are dedicated to helping students of all
racial, ethnic, economic, national, sexual, and gender identities. They can
facilitate tutoring and point you to a wide range of resources.
·
If you have a mental, physical, or learning disability,
the Access Services office can document it for your professors
and facilitate accommodations. If you have a documented disability that
requires accommodation, please contact Access Services as soon as possible.
·
College can be very stressful. Counseling offices
on both campuses are here to help you with a wide range of difficulties, ranging
from sexual assault, depression, and grief after the loss of a loved one to
stress management, anxiety, general adjustment to college, and many
others.
·
The KEAP-Diversity-Resource-Center Faculty Liaison can direct
people to multicultural resources on and off campus.
·
To find out about web registration, placement tests, program
requirements and support tools to help students succeed, visit the Advising
Services office and website for answers to all your questions!
·
For help with understanding the concepts of a particular class
or understanding the requirements of an assignment, Tutoring Services offers
three types of tutoring: drop-in appointments, 1-on-1 tutoring, and group
sessions. You can visit them in Krueger Library 220 or go on-line and use TutorTrac to schedule a session, https://tutortrac.winona.edu/TracWeb40/Default.html.
·
For help specifically with writing and the development of papers,
the English department has a Writing Center that is staffed by
trained graduate students pursuing their Master’s degree in English. The
Writing Center is located in Minné Hall 348.
You can make an appointment on the sign-up sheet on the door or call 457-5505.
The Standard Disclaimer
applies.
© Eric Errthum, August 2017, all rights reserved.