Syllabus for MTH 095.72: Basic Mathematics Instructor: Lora Marks Contact Information: 517-265-5515 or by email at [email protected] Textbook: Basic College Mathematics: Third Edition by Martin-Gay, Elayn Additional supplies: You will also need a highlighter, pencils, 3–ring binder, and notebook paper that’s 3-hole-punched. You may want a ruler that has centimeters and inches on it. You will not need a calculator for this class. Please do not use your cell phone in class; it is a distraction for the other students. 1► Course Outcomes: Students will be able to: Compute basic arithmetic operations with whole numbers. Compute basic arithmetic operations with fractions. Compute basic arithmetic operations with decimals. Demonstrate a basic understanding of metric measurement. Compute basic arithmetic operations with signed numbers Note: This course does NOT count toward degree requirements at JCC. The Board of Trustees has determined that all JCC graduates should develop or enhance certain essential skills while enrolled in the college. ADO 3 (Computational skills and understanding appropriate to the program of study) is the primary outcome of this course. 2► Course Topics and Assigned Homework – See Class Calendar for timeline of topics covered and outline of assignments. You will be able to practice and learn by: o Reading each section in your textbook – especially before you come to class. o Taking notes in class. o Using your notes and textbook to complete the homework. o Checking your answers in the back of the book, ONLY AFTER you have attempted the problem. o Working with other students or a tutor to complete homework. It is important to attempt your homework as soon as possible after class so that you can recall the information more easily. o Reviewing prior material! Since math concepts “build” on each other, it is important to practice the concept, and then continually review it. o You should always be looking behind and ahead while studying the current material. Don’t assume that once you’ve completed a section you are done with it! 3► Course Requirements and Grading System Homework: 10% of your final grade (100 points maximum) o Please note that it is YOUR responsibility to contact me if you are absent! o You will receive a homework grade for the chapter by completing assigned homework (see assignment calendar), correcting mistakes, and showing it to me BEFORE the chapter exam. o DO NOT GET BEHIND IN DOING YOUR HOMEWORK OR ELSE IT WILL BE EXTREMELY DIFFICULT (IF NOT IMPOSSIBLE) TO CATCH UP! o Completed homework is due before you take each chapter test. I do NOT accept late homework. If you are absent or forget on the day it is due, you may turn it into the office BEFORE the next class period, but it WILL NOT be accepted after that!Attendance and Classwork Participation: 10% of your final grade (maximum 100 points) o Please note that it is YOUR responsibility to contact me if you are absent! o During class, I will sometimes ask someone to go to the board to show how to work a problem. I prefer to have a person volunteer so that I don’t have to call on someone and make them uncomfortable. This is NEVER a time to ridicule or belittle a student. It is the opportunity for all of us to encourage a fellow classmate. This is a learning time and is not an assessment. o Please participate in discussions by raising your hand to answer questions. o During homework time, you are encouraged to work with other students and to ask questions of your instructor. This is primarily a learning time, not an assessment. o You will receive an Attendance and In-Class Participation grade by o Completing short math facts sheets (points vary.) o Participating in small group activities in class (points vary.) o Practicing your math facts on-line (points vary.) o Completing “unquizzes” in class. Like a quiz, these are unannounced. They are used for me to assess what topics I need to review. They are not graded for content but are part of your participation grade (points vary.) o Completing “handouts” or “worksheets” in class (points vary.) o Completing Cumulative Reviews as noted on your assignment sheet. If you are absent on the day they are due, you may turn it into the office BEFORE the next class period; they WILL NOT be accepted after that! (Each one is worth 15 points, for a total of 60 points.) Unit Exams (Chapter Tests): 60% of your final grade (maximum 600 points) o Please note that it is YOUR responsibility to contact me if you are absent. o These are closed-book tests taken in class. o No books or notes may be used. o I will give you a review sheet for each unit exam (chapter test) that will help you practice the skills that are to be tested. In addition, on the assignment calendar I have listed additional, optional resources for you to study in order to prepare for the unit exam. o There are five unit exams (chapter tests) as noted on the syllabus. If you must miss class on an exam day, please notify me in advance by phone or e-mail. If you must make up a test, you will do it with the office staff - when it is convenient for them. This prohibits you from asking any questions during the exam, therefore I STRONGLY URGE YOU NOT TO MISS A TEST! If you are absent on the day of a test, I will automatically leave one in the office for you. Once an exam is returned to the class, I will remove the original test from the office and will leave a make-up exam which can be taken during the next two weeks. At that point, I have the option to deduct up to ten percentage points from your score. o Unit exam scores will count as 60% of your final grade therefore each test will have a possible score of 120 points. Final Exam: 20% of your final grade (maximum 200 points) o The Final Exam will count as 20% of your final grade, or 200 possible points. o The Final Exam can not be made up. If you are absent on the day of the final and have not contacted me in advance, you will receive a “0” for the final exam. o I will give you a review sheet for the final exam that will help you practice the skills that will be tested. In addition, you can study the unit exams that you have completed over the semester to prepare for the final exam. About extra credit….“The mathematics department strongly recommends that extra credit not be offered