MATH
120 – Intermediate Algebra
Spring 2012
Class Meetings: MTuWTh 9:15 am - 10:20 am FL4-137
Text: Intermediate
Algebra,
8th edition, by Bittinger & Ellenbogen
Instructor: Joy Fuson Phone: 608-6504 Office: FL1-142
Text: 530-362-8405
E-Mail: fusonj@flc.losrios.edu
Web Page: www.flc.losrios.edu/~fuson
Office Hours: Mon & Wed 6:15 – 7:05 am
Mon & Wed 8:45 – 9:15
am** **in
FL4-137
Tues & Thurs 11:35
am – 12:40 pm
And by appointment
Office
hours are not designed for repeating a lecture. Office hours should be
used to ask for assistance on specific homework problems or questions from the
text.
Pre-Requisite: You must have completed Math 100 with a C
or better or placed into Math 120 via the assessment process. Please
note: self-assessment does not constitute placement via the assessment
process nor does a sheet signed by a counselor. You must provide proof of
pre-requisite no later than
Classroom Expectations:
Arrive on time and leave when class is over. Bring a pencil, paper and your textbook to class
every day. If you fail to bring these things to class, you may be penalized.
Act
like you are in an institution of higher learning. You are expected to behave in a courteous
manner both toward your classmates and me at all times. Profanity and rudeness are unacceptable. If you must enter or leave the classroom at
any time during class, please do so without disrupting the rest of the class.
I do not allow any electronic devices such as laptops,
calculators, cellular phones, pagers, headsets, etc. in the classroom. If I see one in class, hear a phone ring or
vibrate, or become aware of you using one, you will be asked to apologize to
the class for the disruption by bringing donuts (bagels, cookies, etc.) for the
class at the next class meeting. If your
cell phone rings a second time or during a test, you will lose the ability to
turn in any extra credit assignments as well as the opportunity to use the
final to replace an exam grade (if you have earned it).
If you are behaving in a
manner that inhibits me from teaching or anyone around you from learning, you
will be asked to leave. Not paying attention will be considered a disruption
and you will be asked to leave. Before
you leave each day, please pick up any refuse and dispose of it. Leave the classroom as neat, or neater, than
when you came in.
I will be communicating with
the class via email at numerous times during the semester. Please make sure that the school has a
current email address for you and that you check it at least a few times each
week. If I ever need to cancel class, I
will notify the class via email.
Course Objectives/Requirements:
This
is a five-unit course that meets for 5 hours each week. Credit for this course is not transferable
(for questions about degree applicability, please see a counselor). This course
reviews and extends some concepts of elementary algebra and introduces numerous
new topics, with problem solving skills emphasized throughout. Topics which are
reviewed and extended include: linear and quadratic equations, factoring
polynomials, rational expressions, exponents, radicals, equations of lines, and
systems of equations. New topics include: absolute value equations and
inequalities, rational exponents, translations and reflections of graphs,
function notation and function operations, exponential and logarithmic
functions, graphs of quadratic and simple polynomial functions, quadratic
inequalities, non-linear systems of equations, and an introduction to conic
sections and emphasizes fundamental operations on polynomials, integers,
decimals, and fractions. Calculators will not be allowed in this course.
Student
Learning Outcomes: The
Student Learning Outcomes (SLOs) for this course are available online at www.flc.losrios.edu/~flcmath. Simply click on the Student Learning Outcomes
link and then Math 120.
Grading: All work done
in this class must be done in pencil.
Letter
grades will be calculated based on the following percentages:
A: 90% - 100% B: 80% - 89% C:
70% - 79%
D: 60% - 69% F: below 60%
Scores
will be weighted as follows:
Exams & Quizzes 60%
Homework 15%
Final
Exam 25% Tuesday, May 15th 10:00 am – 11:50am
You will find grades
posted on my website. You should know
where you stand in the course at all times.
Every student will begin
the semester with 5 “Good Citizen Points” (GCP) as part of their
grade. If you fail to follow directions
(like finding your posting number) or come to class unprepared, you will lose
those points.
Homework: Homework assignments will be assigned each lecture and, generally, will
be due once a week. Homework is due at the beginning of class: 9:15 am. I assign both odd and even problems. It is expected that you are checking the
answers to all of the odd problems and correcting your own work. For the even problems, I will scrutinize your
work more carefully when I go over your homework. I will not be able to answer
homework questions during class. Late homework (after 9:15 am) will be
accepted until 9:20 am. After that time, no homework will be accepted. See the “Homework Guidelines”
handout for grading criteria. When
grades are tabulated, the total points possible will be decreased by one
homework score (there is built in forgiveness since I only accept homework for
5 minutes after class starts).
Calculators will not be allowed in class under any circumstances and
should not be used on homework.
Exams & Quizzes: Quizzes will be given
frequently during the semester to check your progress. Quizzes may be unannounced and take place at
various times during the class meeting and may be open or closed book, notes
and homework. Quizzes may not be made
up for any reason. You will also be
given class work assignments that may be individual or group assignments. These may be collected and graded.
Exams will be given approximately every three
chapters and will be announced in advance.
Calculators and notes will not be allowed on exams. You
must bring a pencil to class every day.
The final exam will be cumulative. Please note:
Information from this syllabus will be fair game on any tests and
quizzes. You should know and understand
all class policies.
Makeup exams will not be given. However, if you have earned a score of 75%
or higher on the homework portion of your grade at the end of the semester, I
will replace your lowest exam score with your score from the final exam (if it
helps you).
Academic Integrity: Cheating will be punished swiftly and
severely. If you are caught cheating on
an exam, you will receive a zero on the exam and not be allowed to replace your
score or take any kind of makeup. I will
do everything in my power to ensure that your dishonesty becomes part of your
permanent record at FLC and is punished by the college. Further, you will not
be allowed to submit any extra credit work.
When you are
taking a test it is your job to cover your work so that no one else can see
what you are doing. Keep your eyes on
your own paper and make it abundantly clear to me that you are working alone. I may
assign seating during tests or ask you to change seats during exams. During an exam, you should not speak to
anyone other than me. You may not have
any materials other than a pencil and the scratch paper I give you out on your
desk. All notes, books and electronic devices
are prohibited.
Attendance: FLC policy states that you may be dropped after missing 6% (4 class
meetings) of the class meeting time. If
you have missed this much class time (either by being tardy or absent) you may
be dropped from the course at my discretion.
If you reach the 6% absence after the drop date, you will lose the
chance to earn an exam replacement opportunity.
You should be in class ready to learn on time every day.
Please Note: All information in this syllabus is subject to change if the instructor
finds it necessary. Any change will be
announced during a class session and posted on my website. Absent students are responsible for any
announced changes to the syllabus. It is the student’s responsibility to
determine from their peers what they missed in class due to an absence.
Resources: If you have any special
circumstances of which I should be aware, please notify me immediately.
The best resources for any student are
classmates. Make a point of meeting a
few people in class and exchanging phone numbers or e-mail. They can help you fill in a missing point in
your notes, compare homework, study with you for tests and tell you what you
missed if you were absent. There is also
free tutoring. The schedule is posted
around campus (including my office).
Additionally, I am available for assistance, both during my office hours
and by appointment if my office hours are not convenient for you.
How to Succeed: This class is extremely fast-paced
and many students find themselves quickly overwhelmed. What do you need to do to succeed and thrive?
·
Spend at least ten hours outside of class each week
studying and doing homework for this course.
For an A or a B, that number will be at least 20 hours.
·
It is extremely difficult to recover from a poor
start so set good study habits right away and stick to
them.
·
Read the sections in the book that we will cover in
class BEFORE you come to class. It will
seem confusing at first but it will make class time much more productive for
you.
·
Do the homework right away! If you can, work on it right after you leave
class. Even better, make some friends in
class and meet them after class for coffee and to do homework. Always have homework done before the next
class meeting or you will start getting very behind.
·
Set time to study for class every day. Less time more often will result in more
return on your study time.
·
If you have a question, get it answered! Ask me, a classmate, a tutor or hunt down the
answer on the web…just don’t let your questions snowball!
·
Make a study plan and start studying for exams a
week ahead of time. If you know that you
struggle with test anxiety, do some research to find out how you can overcome
it (yes, it is possible). Any time that
you spend to learn how to be a better test taker will pay off enormously during
your college career.
·
Keep in mind that learning is hard work. If you expect to need help and plan for time
to study, attend office hours, and utilize the tutoring services, you will be
ready when you have difficulty.
Important Dates: May
15th Final Exam 10:00 – 11:50 am
Jan
27th Last day to drop and
receive a refund
Feb
12th Last day to drop without a
notation on your record
Feb
10th Last
day to petition for credit/no credit grading
April
15th Last day to drop with a W
(without getting a grade on your transcript)
What should I know about being in college?
Please keep in mind that being a college student SHOULD be really hard
work. Twelve units is a full time load
because it should take you at least 40 hours a week to pass 12 units of college
course work.
College is not all about memorizing things (although you will need to do
this), it is about learning how to think and assimilate new information and viewpoints.
You will not get all the information you need to complete your homework
during class. You will get an
introduction to the key points and hopefully some examples from which to
work. It is impossible for an instructor
to cover each topic to the point where everyone in the class understands. It is your job to go home and work through
the homework and re-read the notes until you do understand. This should be done before the next class
meeting or else you will start class the next day behind.
It is your job to manage deadlines and spend time each day working on
math! If at any point you need help,
please ask. For anyone who is willing to
work, I want to help you succeed. If you
don’t want to work, you’re going to be unhappy in my class.