An introduction to the notion of algebra and its uses. Includes integers, equations, and polynomials as well as topics from arithmetic. Designed as a transition from arithmetic to elementary algebra. Welcome to Pre-Algebra Instructor: Janet Frewing Office: IT 200-O Phone: (909)372-7174 Office Hours: MW 1:15-2:15 T 10:00-11:00 Pre-Algebra Spring 2010 Grade Distribution: Area Percent Homework 10% In Class Activity 15% Tests 55% Final Exam 20% 100% Textbook: Prealgebra, Robert H. Prior Email address:[email protected] Course Website: faculty.rcc.edu/frewing Course Requirements Upon successful completion of the course, students will be able to: 1. Apply the four basic operations to integers and rational numbers. 2. Apply the fundamental laws of algebra to simplify basic algebraic expressions. 3. Perform the four basic operations on polynomial expressions. 4. Solve linear equations. 5. Derive and solve basic linear equations from elementary applications. 6. Use the symbols and vocabulary of pre-algebra to communicate mathematical concepts. Student Learning Outcomes Attendance Attendance to the lectures is very important. You are expected to attend all classes. If you must miss a class, you will be responsible for obtaining all missed ma-terial. Homework Each class will begin with a review of home work questions. You are encouraged to make corrections and clarify any topics that are not understood. Several problems will be assigned from each section. Refer to the course website for a list of assigned problems and due dates. Homework needs to be given to me in in a pocket folder with your name at the upper right outside corner. Make sure that each section is easily found in the pocket folder….be neat and organized. Late homework: Homework can be turned in up to one week from it’s posted due date, otherwise you will get no credit for the homework. To earn full credit, you need to show all your work on the paper. In Class Activity Every class session will include an in-class activity. In class activities are designed to help the student apply the material prior to leaving class. In class activities must be turned in at the end of class. No make up activities will be given. Tests We will have five tests throughout the semester. There will be a cumulative final exam at the end of the course. Grade Scale: 100% - 90% A 89.9% - 80% B 79.9% - 70% C 69.9% - 60% D 59.9% - 0% F Course ExpectationsCourse ExpectationsCourse ExpectationsCourse Expectations: We will move along through the material at a determined pace. It is imperative to your learning that you keep up with the class schedule. Should you begin to fall behind, please make use of the many resources available to you by myself and the college. Make-up Exams: If you miss an exam I do make one exception. If it is an EMERGENCY and you contact me by the end of the day of the exam and leave a detailed mes-sage as to the reason for you missing class. You can makeup the missed exam. The exam must be taken prior to me hand-ing it back to the class. This option can only be exercised one time per student.Last Day to add classes: March 5, 2010 Last Day to drop without a “W”: March 15, 2010 Last Day to drop with a “W”: May 19, 2010 Spring Break (no class): April 12-16 Memorial Day (no class): May 31, 2010 Important Dates: Important Resources Office Hours: Located in my office! I have time set aside for you to come in for help. Please use this time. Math LAB: Located in ST 101, the math lab is an invaluable resource for students who would like extra help from both math tutors and math in-structors. The Math LAB is available to all students enrolled in a math course. Tutorial Services: RCC offers up to three hours per week of free tutoring to each student. Often a tutor makes all the difference in your understanding. Please call (951) 372-7143 to make an appointment early. Special Needs Retention of Assignments Riverside Community Col-lege offers a comprehen-sive program of support services to students with a documented disability. If you wish to utilize these services, it is your responsibility to sign up with DSPS. Without your registration, I cannot pro-vide any of the services you may qualify for. It is the student’s responsibility to keep all assign-ments, quizzes and exams for the duration of the se-mester. All grades are entered by hand and the possi-bility of an incorrect entry is very real. I will always assume that I am perfect and make absolutely no mis-takes entering scores unless you can prove to me that I have made a mistake. Your only proof that a grade has been entered incorrectly is the assignment itself, with my handwritten score on it. As you already know, or soon will figure out, I am far from perfect; there-fore I will happily change any grades in my gradebook I have entered incorrectly. Acedemic Dishonesty Academic integrity is something I take very seriously. Cheating of any kind will not be accepted or ignored! Anyone caught cheating on any assignment will be given a zero for the assignment and will be reported to the College for possible further disciplinary action. It should be noted: letting someone copy your work (homework/quiz/exam) or the use of electronic devices during an exam are just some examples of cheating. If you are caught letting some copy, you will receive the same treatment as the person copying. Cell Phones Ringing cell phones and beeping pagers and PDA’s are very disrup-tive to class. Please have enough respect for your fellow students to set them in such a manner that they are not heard or seen. If it should become a problem, you will be asked to leave the class and be held responsible for everything you miss. During an exam or quiz, turn off your cell phones, pagers, PDA or other electronic devices and do not use headphones of any kind. Failure to comply with this request may result in your dismissal from the exam, which would result in fail-ing the exam. Dropping Procedure If you are unable to complete the course for any reason, you must com-plete the drop procedure by phone or Webadvisor to be officially re-moved from the course. Drops are not automatic and if a student leaves the course without completing the official drop procedures, their name will appear on my final grade roster. This student will receive an F in the course. Page 2 Pre-Algebra Final Exam Monday, June 7