SOUTH PLAINS COLLEGE MATHEMATICS AND ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT COURSE POLICIES AND PROCEDURES MATH 0315 BEGINNING ALGEBRA INSTRUCTOR: Mr. Moffett OFFICE: M110 Ph: 894-9611 EXT 2528 or 716-2528 E-MAIL: [email protected] OFFICE HOURS: MW: 09:45 – 10:45 TR: 09:15-10:15 Fri.: 09:00 – 12:00 COURSE PURPOSE: To provide a solid foundation in algebra for the students who have had little or no algebra background. 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, Sullivan/Struve/Mazzarella, 2007, Second edition, Prentice Hall/Pearson Education. SUPPLIES: You will need a scientific or graphing calculator, pencils, graph paper and a three ring binder for notes. ATTENDANCE: Attend class. If a student sleeps in class, he may be counted absent at the discretion of the instructor. Tardy students are considered disruptive. Two tardies will count as an absence. Leaving before class is dismissed may be considered an absence. If you are absent four times throughout the semester you may be dropped with either an X or F as determined by your instructor. If you decide to drop the class, please do it before being dropped by your instructor with an X or an F. HOMEWORK (HW): HW and Quizzes will be assigned on My Math Lab. The due dates will be posted on My Math Lab (MML). HW and Quizzes on MML are due the Sunday before a major exam. Late HW and Quizzes will not be accepted. 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 to be viewed in room 116 or you may check them out. These tapes are also available through webCT. The user name is mvideos and the password is also mvideos. Tutoring resources are also available online via MML. EXAMINATIONS: There will be 4 major exams. You must show your work on the test. Tentative dates for the exams will be on the class schedule. Please correct the exams as they are returned in partial preparation for the final. Exams may not be made up. If you are absent on the day an exam is given, you will receive a grade of zero for that exam. At the discretion of your instructor, the final test grade may be used to replace one zero for a missed exam. Subsequent zeros will stand.GRADING: Homework and quizzes on My Math Lab (MML) online will count as 20% of your overall grade. There will be four exams and a final. Each exam will count 15% and the final will count 20%. Exams MAY NOT be made up. Therefore, you should make every effort to be in class on exam days. Final grades will be awarded on the following scale: A 90-100; B 80-89; C 70-79; D 60-69; F below 60. STUDENT RESPONSIBILITIES: 1. READ YOUR SYLLABUS! 2. Attend class. Avoid being tardy. Be aware of announcements made in class. 3. Read the sections assigned before class. 4. Do online assignments. 5. Work extra problems, as required, to understand each topic. 6. Turn cell phones OFF (not on silent) prior to entering the classroom. Behavior and Discipline: “It's nice to be important, but it's far more important to be nice” ~Jimmy Stewart Please keep a positive attitude and come to class desirous to learn. Treat yourself and others with respect. Any student not doing so will be asked to leave. Please assist in maintaining a classroom environment that is conducive to learning. Turn off all cell phones and pagers before entering the room and refrain from reading newspapers, chewing tobacco products, or otherwise being disruptive in class. A student is considered absent for disruptive behavior. Keep cell phones OFF and out of sight. Do not take your cell phone out to clean it or for any other reason. A violation of cell phone rules is considered disruptive behavior. You may be dropped from the class for any disruptive behavior. COURSE OBJECTIVES: Successful completion of this course should reflect mastery of the following objectives: (Chapter and section numbers are indicated in parentheses.) 1. Add, subtract, multiply and divide real numbers. (1.5) 2. Use the order of operations to simplify an expression. (1.7) 3. Simplify algebraic expressions. (1.8) 4. Solve linear equations. (2.1, 2.2, 2.3) 5. Translate and solve word problems. (2.5, 2.6, 2.7) 6. Solve linear inequalities. (2.8) 7. Graph equations in two variables by the intercept method and the slope intercept method. (3.1, 3.2, 3.3, 3.4) 8. Evaluate expressions using exponent rules. (5.2, 5.4) 9. Add, subtract, multiply and divide polynomials. (5.1, 5.3, 5.5) 10. Factor polynomials, (6.1, 6.2, 6.3, 6.4, 6.5) 11. Solve quadratic equations by factoring. (6.6) The two main course objectives are: solve a linear equation and be able to factor. Students will be expected to be able to factor well when they finish Math 0315.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. 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