LAMAR STATE COLLEGE-ORANGE Mathematics Department Arts and Science Fall 2010 Syllabus for DMTH 0301: College Prep Math Introduction to Algebra Instructor: Elias M. Jureidini Office Phone: 409 882 3351 Home Phone: 409 670 9014 E-Mail Address: elias.jureidini@lsco.edu Office Hours: MWF10:00-11:00, MW1:00-2:00, MW 5:30-6:00, TTh 8:00-11:00 Course: Section 5: 12:00-12:50 AC134 Section 6: 12:30-1:45 AC134 Section 7: 11:00-12:15 AC135 Course Description: Catalog: This course addresses basic skills, ratio and proportions, signed numbers, exponents, word problems, polynomials, solving and graphing linear equations and system of equations. Credit does not apply to any degree plan. Prerequisite: DMTH 0300 or appropriate math placement score. General: Topics emphasized are signed numbers, variables, equations, inequalities, factoring variable expressions; solving applied problems, fractional algebraic expressions, equations; graphing and geometry. Credit Transfer: There is no guarantee of transferability for developmental courses. Students who are planning to transfer should check in advance with the college to which they will be transferring. Prerequisites: The student must have one of the following: 1. ASSET Elementary Algebra test score of 30 to 37 2. COMPASS Algebra test score of 30 to 39 3. Successful completion of DMTH 0300 Required Textbook: Lial, Hornsby, McGinnis ( 2010). Introductory Algebra: Ninth Edition. Boston: Pearson/ Addison Wesley. Supplementary Materials: Four-function calculator (required). Course Objectives: 1. To develop problem-solving skills. 2. To provide the student a basic foundation in beginning algebra. 3. To enable students to learn or review the basic ideas and skills necessary to continue a study of mathematics beyond beginning algebra.
4. To prepare the student for the mathematics needed in their course of study. 5. To enable students to evaluate, formulate and solve resulting mathematical problems using real data. Course Measurable Objectives: At the successful conclusion of this course the student will be able to complete the following at seventy percent (70%) mastery: 1. Operations with Real Numbers 2. Solving Linear Equations 3. Solving Applied Problems 4. Graphing Linear Equations 5. Solving Systems of Linear Equations 6. Rules of Exponents 7. Demonstrate critical thinking skills as evidenced by the ability to analyze facts, synthesize factual information, and evaluate opinions in light of the facts presented throughout this course. Course Outline: See course calendar at the end of the syllabus. Critical Thinking Critical thinking is a process involving higher order thinking skills. These skills include, but are not limited to, application, analysis, synthesis, and evaluation of factual information. Lamar State College Orange Advances Critical Thinking Skills (LSC-O ACTS) through assignments of varying natures within the course that are designed to challenge and improve the student s critical thinking processes. Example : Although specific examples have not been chosen in the assignment list in the back of this syllabus, it is impossible to teach an algebra course without teaching critical thinking in every chapter. Evaluation Method: 1. Tests -- 4 during semester 60% 2. Quizzes and/or Homework Assignments 10% 3. Comprehensive Final Examination 20% 4. ASSET/COMPASS test 10% To successfully complete this course you must have a course average of 70% or receive a score of 38 or higher on the ASSET or a score of 39 or higher on the COMPASS test. A higher grade is recommended for a stronger foundation for the next math class. The grades are computed as follows: Average Final Grade 90-100 A 80-89 B 70-79 C 60-69 D Below 60 F S F Students who have passed the ASSET may request a grade of S and stop attending the class. The math department does not recommend using the ASSET to advance to the next course. unsatisfactory completion of course for any one of the following reasons: 1. Student has not completed all course requirements. 2. Student is disruptive. The student must repeat and F will be computed with GPA. 2
Course Repetition: A student who enrolls for a second time in a developmental course, after failing the first, must enroll in a study skills course concurrently. If a student fails a developmental class twice, the student is required to meet with a tutor on a weekly basis during his/her third enrollment. If a student fails a developmental class a third time, he/she will not be allowed to enroll again. Policy on a Grade Incomplete: Incomplete grades (I) are not generally given for developmental courses. The grade of "I" may be given when any requirement of the course, including the final examination, is not completed. Arrangements to complete deficiencies in a course should be made with the instructor. Incomplete work must be finished during the next long semester. If not, the Office of Admission and Records must change the "I" grade to the grade of "F." The course must then be repeated if credit is desired. An "I" grade also automatically becomes an "F" if the student registers for the course prior to removing the deficiencies and receiving a grade change. The instructor may record the grade of "F" for a student who is absent from the final examination and is not passing the course. An I will not be given if a student Is failing the course Has not completed at least 75% of the course. Is unable to provide sufficient verification of a major disruption in his/her ability to finish a term so that his/her grade can be assessed. Procedure for Review of Test Grades: If the student has an issue about his/her grade, the instructor must be contacted no later than three (3) days after receiving the grade. Exam Schedule: There will be four major examinations and a comprehensive final examination. See attached expanded course schedule for dates of these tests. Make-up Policy: Missed Exams: A grade of zero will be recorded for each missed exam. The grade on the comprehensive final will replace one missed exam. Missed Quizzes: Quizzes cannot be made up. If the instructor drops the lowest quiz, the zero from an absence will be dropped. Classroom Policies: No food, drink, tobacco, cell phones, or any other disruptive items are allowed. Cell phones and pagers must be turned off during class. Disruptive behavior will not be tolerated. Disruptive behavior may result in ejection from the lecture and referral to the Vice President of Student Services. Examples of disruptive behavior include but are not limited to talking while the instructor is lecturing, discussing non-mathematical issues during class assignment time, using profane language. Attendance: Students enrolled in a developmental course are expected to attend regularly and to complete all assignments and testing. Instructors may drop a student from a developmental course for failure to do assigned work and/or testing. 3
Withdrawals and Drops: Typically students are not allowed to drop DMTH0301 because of TSI constraints. Any student wishing to drop a developmental class is responsible for checking his/her own eligibility. A student who wishes to drop any class is responsible for getting the proper signatures on the appropriate drop slip. The student must take the completed drop slip to the admissions office by the last day to drop. Drop slips should not be left at the switchboard or deposited under the instructor's door. Never attending or ceasing to attend classes DOES NOT constitute a withdrawal or drop. You remain registered until you file a Drop/Withdrawal Form at the Registrar's Office by the appropriate deadlines. Failure to act in a timely manner will result in an "F" grade for the course. It is the student's responsibility to turn in all Drop/Withdrawal Forms and follow up to ensure that they were processed as desired. Instructor-Initiated Drop: Due to Texas Success Initiative (TSI) requirements, the following procedures are departmental policy: 1. Students who are repeatedly disruptive will be dropped from class with an F. 2. Students who have not passed all sections of the ASSET/COMPASS test, and who are not enrolled in another developmental class, WILL BE REFERRED TO THE ASSET/COMPASS COORDINATOR AND WILL BE WITHDRAWN FROM SCHOOL. 3. The division chair will handle any appeal individually. Academic Honesty: LSCO will not tolerate cheating or plagiarism. Plagiarism is defined as "taking and using as one's own the writings or ideas of another." Any student caught cheating or plagiarizing, or aiding another student in cheating or plagiarizing on a quiz, test, individual assignment, or examination will receive a zero for the assignment for a first offense and an F for the course for a second or extreme offense. Students subject to penalty due to academic dishonesty have e right to appeal to the department chair and eventually to the dean and/or academic vice president before imposition of the penalty. Student with Disabilities: A request for special accommodations must be made through the ADA Counselor and the appropriate form submitted to the instructor two weeks in advance of need. Any student with a verifiable learning or physical disability who requires special accommodations is encouraged (but not required) to speak to the instructor in private regarding his/her special accommodations need. Children in the Classroom: The LSCO Student Handbook specifies that no children under the age of 15 are allowed in the classroom or the hallways. Attention Students: The support system for your course is Desire2Learn (D2L). On this site you will be able to access your syllabus and any other documents your instructor wishes for you to access. You can also use the Email system within D2L; although your primary email system remains MyLSCO. 4
Lamar State College-Orange has moved to this system to provide continuous support and communication should the College be required to close campus for any length of time (hurricane evacuation, health-related emergencies such as an H1N1 outbreak, etc.). The D2L system is located OFF-CAMPUS and outside of Texas. Therefore, even when our system is down you can still access this course. To access this course when our site is down, you will go to http://lsco.desiretolearn.com. To log in to D2L directly, you should use your MyLSCO username and your date of birth (MMDDYY) as the password. Important Dates: August 2010 8/23 First class day for fall semester and 8-week Session I 8/23-25 Schedule revisions and/or late registration with penalty fee 8/27 Application process for December 2010 graduation begins September 2010 9/6 Labor Day - No Classes (buildings closed) 9/8 12th Class Day - no penalty for dropping Last Day to apply for Grade Replacement 9/20 Last day to drop or withdraw from 8-week Session I with a Q or W 9/27 Last day to drop or withdraw from 8-week Session I with academic penalty Last day to drop or withdraw from fall semester without academic penalty Last day to petition for No Grade October 2010 10/15 Last class day for 8-week Session I Last day to register for 8-week Session II 10/18 First class day for 8-week Session II 10/28 Early advisement begins November 2010 11/1 Last day to drop/withdraw from fall classes with penalty 11/2 Last day to apply for December graduation 11/8 Registration for Spring 2011 begins 11/13 Last day to pay for diploma, cap and gown 11/15 Last day to drop or withdraw from 8-week Session II with a Q or W 11/22 Last day to drop or withdraw from 8-week Session II 11/24 Thanksgiving Holiday recess begins after evening classes (buildings closed 25-28) 11/29 Classes resume at 7:00 a.m. December 2010 12/7 Last class day for fall semester and 8-week Session II 12/8 Final Exam Review Day (no exams or assignments); Finals begin at 5
5 p.m. 12/9-14 Final examinations ***Final Exam Monday December 13, 2010 from 8-10am 12/15 Last day to register and pay for winter mini-session 12/16 Winter mini-session begins--9 class periods 12/17 Commencement 12/22-31 Holiday Break (buildings closed) Syllabus Content: The instructor reserves the right to make changes to this syllabus. All changes will be provided to the students orally and in writing before the implementation of the change. Week Lesson Topics Sections My Math Lab Exercises Aug 23 Preliminaries and welcome TBA TBA Exponents, Order of Operations, and 1.1 Inequality Variables, Expressions, and Equations 1.2 Aug 30 Real Numbers and the Number Line 1.3 Adding Real Numbers 1.4 Subtracting Real Numbers 1.5 Multiplying and Dividing Real Numbers 1.6 Sept 6 Properties of Real Numbers 1.7 Simplifying Expressions 1.8 Review Sept 13 Chapter 1 Test I The Addition Property of Equality 2.1 The Multiplication Property of Equality 2.2 Sept 20 More on Solving Linear Equations 2.3 An Introduction to Applications of 2.4 Linear Equations Formulas and Applications from 2.5 Geometry Sept 27 Ratio, Proportion, and Percent 2.6 Solving Linear Inequalities 2.7 Reading Graphs, Linear Equations in 3.1 Two Variables Oct 4 Graphing Linear Equations in Two 3.2 Variables Slope of a Line 3.3 Equations of Lines 3.4 Oct 11 Graphing Linear Inequalities in Two 3.5 Variables Review Chapter 1, 2 & 3 Test Test II Solving Systems of Linear Equations by Graphing 4:1 6
Week Lesson Topics Sections My Math Lab Exercises Oct 18 Solving Systems of Linear Equations by 4:2 Substitution Solving Systems of Linear Equations by 4:3 Elimination Applications of Linear Systems 4:4 Oct25 Solving Systems of Linear Inequalities 4:5 Chapters 1,2,3,& 4 Test III Adding and Subtracting Polynomials 5.1 Nov 1 The Product Rule and Power Rules for 5.2 Exponents Multiplying Polynomials 5.3 Special Products 5.4 Nov 8 Integer Exponents and the Quotient Rule 5.5 Dividing a Polynomial by a Monomial 5.6 Dividing a Polynomial by a Polynomial 5.7 Nov 15 An Application of Exponents: Scientific 5.8 Notation Chapters 1,2,3,4 &5 TEST IV Factors; The Greatest Common Factor 6.1 Nov 22 Factoring Trinomials 6.2 Factoring Trinomials by Grouping 6.3 Factoring trinomials Using FOIL 6.4 Nov 29 Special Factoring Techniques 6.5 Solving Quadratic Equations by 6.6 Factoring Applications of Quadratic Equations 6.7 Dec 6 Review and Asset. Final exam December 13, 2010 (Monday) 8-10am 7