MA 153 Fall 2004
 



 

          Instructor:   John LaMaster
                              home page: http://www.ipfw.edu/math/lamaster

 

Class Meetings:   MWF: 2:30 p.m. – 3:20 p.m. Kettler G43

                             

                Office:   Kettler 264

 

     Office Hours:   Tuesday and Thursday: 12:00 noon - 1:00 p.m.
                              Wednesday: 3:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.
                              Also by appointment or chance.

 

         Reachable:   481-5430 (office/voice mail)

                              481-6821 (Math Dept)

                              481-6880 (FAX)

                              email: lamaster@ipfw.edu

 

    Prerequisites:   MA 113 with C or higher or placement by departmental exam. This course is

                              primarily intended for students who have completed two years of high school algebra.

 

        Objectives:   This course serves both as a preparation to the calculus sequences and as a terminal course for

students who need only this level of mathematics. 

 

             Content:   This course presents the concepts of precalculus from four points of view:

geometric (graphs), numeric (tables), symbolic (formulas), and written (verbal descriptions). The emphasis is on the mathematical modeling of real-life problems using linear, exponential, and rational functions. Students develop their reading, writing, and questioning skills in an interactive classroom setting.

 

           Required:   Functions Modeling Change, 2nd Edition  by Connally, Hughes-Hallett, Gleason, et al.

 
e-Grade learning software (available behind the counter in the bookstore)

 

You will be required to use a graphing calculator for activities and assignments in and out of class. The Assistance with Graphing Calculators Web Page (http://www.ipfw.edu/math/graphcalc.html) can help you obtain and use a grapher.
I will be using the TI-83 Plus.

Note: You can rent a TI-83 Plus for $10 at Walb Student Union 225 (481-6586).

 

            Optional:   Student's Study Guide by Cannon

                              Graphing Calculator Guide for the TI-83/82 by Carl Swenson

 

Important Dates

 

Labor Day Holiday: Monday, Sept. 6

Fall Break: Monday, Oct. 11- Tuesday, Oct. 12

Last Day to Withdraw Without a Letter Grade:  Friday, Oct. 29

Final Exam: Monday, Dec. 13, 2004  3:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.



Attendance and Participation: Since much of the learning in this course occurs interactively during class time, attendance is vital and is part of the course grade (roughly 5%). You cannot earn your attendance credit if you are not here for the entire class meeting, which means that you are in your seat at 2:30 and staying until class ends at 3:20.  You are expected to not only attend all class meetings, but participate in your group and contribute to the learning environment of the class as a whole. You cannot earn your attendance credit if you are not here for the entire class meeting. If you are blatantly not participating in class (such as doing homework for other classes, reading the newspaper), you may be physically here, but this is cause to be marked absent.  You may be given a brief attendance quiz over the assigned reading to earn your attendance credit. A missed class may be made up by attending two 1 hour SI sessions (documented).

 

Your group sinks or swims together. It is important that all members of the group participate and learn the material.  If all members of your team score 90% or above on a chapter test, each will receive 5 bonus points.

 

Internet Access: Part of your semester fees went toward giving you Internet access.  Make sure your account is activated by next week. Call the Help Desk at 481-6030 if you have questions or need assistance.

 

Assignments: Homework problems from the text will be regularly assigned, but not collected each day.. These problems are to be prepared for discussion during the next class period. Completion of the assignments is essential for understanding the material. Assignments will be posted on the course Web Site found at http://www.ipfw.edu/math/lamaster/courses.htm so if you miss a class, you can come prepared the next day. However, to be safe, get the phone number of someone else in the class and just call them to see what you missed!

 

In addition, assignments must be completed over the Internet off the course Web Site using eGrade. A tutorial is available at this Web site as well. See the General Course Information for more details about using this.

 

Quizzes: Occasional section quizzes worth 25 pts. each will be given, usually announced a day in advance. There will be no make-up quizzes; however, you can drop all but the top four quizzes.

 

Attendance & Participation

40 pts.

Internet (e-Grade) Assignments

80 pts.

Quizzes (your highest 4 scores at 25 pts. each)

100 pts.

Test 1

100 pts.

Test 2

100 pts.

Test 3

100 pts.

Comprehensive Final Exam

200 pts.

Total Points Possible

720 pts.

 
 
Exams: There will be three chapter exams, worth 100 points each. The final exam is comprehensive. Mark your calendars now:  Monday, Dec. 13, 2004  3:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.   Unexcused absences from exams shall result in a score of zero.  If an absence is unavoidable and deemed legitimate, you must contact me within 24 hours of the exam (if possible, in advance) in order to schedule a make-up.  Each student is allowed one make-up exam.
 

90% -100%  (648 pts. or more)

A

80% - 89%   (576 to 647 pts.)

B

70% -79%    (504 to 575 pts.)

C

60% - 69%   (432 to 503 pts.)

D

<60%           (Below 432 pts.)

F

 
 
Grading:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

If you have or acquire a disability and want to find out about what special services and accommodations are available, you may contact Services for Students with Disabilities in Walb 118, telephone 481-6557 (voice/TDD)