BASIC INFORMATION  MATH 100A  WINTER 2008

 

 

Instructor:  Chris Skov

 

Office:  Instructional Center – 1307 NE 40th St.

 

Phone:  543-4240

 

e-mail address:  skov@u.washington.edu - This is a very good way to get in touch with me.

 

Office hours: To be determined

 

Instructional Center:  I strongly urge that you get in the habit of studying there.  It’s a great place for groups of students to regularly meet and study together.

 

Textbook:  Algebra Discovery Workbook, by Halsey, Partee, Mancer, and Warfield.  Available at the University Bookstore.

 

Class format:  Discussion and discovery – sometimes as a whole class and sometimes in small groups.  Participation is essential to the success of this class.  Mistakes in class are ABSOLUTELY OK.  (I’m sure to make my share of them.)

 

Structure:  There will be homework nearly every night – about an hour and a half’s worth.  There may occasionally be group work to turn in as well.  Quizzes will be assigned every Friday, except when there is a midterm that week.  There will be two midterms, one on Friday, February 1st, and the other on Friday, February 29th.  There will be a 2 hour final exam on Wednesday, March 19th, 8:30 – 11:20 in the usual classroom.  (The exam is written so that it should take no more than 2 hours, but you are given an extra hour.)

 

Grading:            Quizzes – 180 pts. (30 pts each, drop the lowest score)

                        1st Midterm – 100 pts.

                        2nd Midterm – 100 pts.

                        Final Exam – 200 pts.

                        Homework/Attendance – 120 pts.

The course is not graded on a curve.  Following is the grading scale:

<364 pts (52%) – 0.0

364 pts (52%) – 0.7

385 pts (55%) – 1.0

455 pts (65%) – 2.0  CUTOFF for getting into Math 102

560 pts (80%) – 3.0

665 pts (95%) – 4.0

For any point total between 364 and 455, your grade point increases by .1 for every 7 points.  For any point total between 455 and 665, your grade point increases by .1 for every 10.5 points.

 

Homework Details:  Homework should be turned in stapled and folded vertically, with the following:

-         Your name

-         Math 100A

-         Date assigned

-         Assignment #

-         Problems assigned

written neatly on the outside.  Homework must be neat, or the grader may return it uncorrected.  Space the problems far enough apart so that the grader can find them easily, and label each problem.  Grader time is a valuable commodity – we cannot afford to waste it.  Also, you will need to buy graph paper at some time.  Much of the assignments require lots of accurate graphing, so this is a must for those assignments.

 

Homework does count toward your course grade, but almost entirely on a basis of how many problems you seriously tried.  Homework will be graded as follows:

-         If every problem is given a strong effort, you will receive 2 points.

-         If most of the problems are given a strong effort, you will receive 1 point.

-         If the effort on the assignment is considerably lacking, you will receive 0 points.

 

Homework is generally due by closing time at the IC the day after it has been assigned.  This is usually 8pm M-Th, 5pm F, but be aware that the IC is only open until 5pm during the first week of the quarter.  This should be plenty of time, so there is no excuse for turning in late assignments.  Late assignments will NOT be accepted.  (Students athletes must notify me ahead of time which class days they will be missing, and arrangements can be made.)  I will drop the three lowest homework scores, so if you don’t manage to get one in on time, consider it dropped.  This is for your own good as well as the graders.  For one thing, you are a lot better off doing the homework on time, and for another, the grader uses a lot more time on a set he/she graded a while ago than on a current set.

 

Quizzes:  There will be NO make up quizzes. (Again, students athletes need to make arrangements with me beforehand if they will be gone on a Friday.)   I will drop the lowest quiz score, so if you miss one, consider it dropped.

 

Exams:  There will be no make up exams without a written legitimate excuse.

 

Class website:  The class website can be found at http://staff.washington.edu/skov/math100.  There you will find the homework I’ve assigned, answers to homework problems, the syllabus, and other information pertaining to the class.  Please do not abuse this by simply turning in answers to problems without showing work.  If I find that this is a regular occurrence, the answers will be taken off the website.  If used appropriately, I think you’ll find this is a useful supplement to the class.

 

Extra Credit:  In order to receive extra credit following quizzes and exams, here’s what you have to do:

On a separate sheet of paper, redo ENTIRELY every problem you did not get completely correct.  By redo, I mean that your answer must now be EXACTLY correct (at every step of the problem.)  This should be very easy.  You are allowed to come into the IC and get as much help as you need in order to do so.  All we ask for here is that you’ve given it your best shot first.  You must then staple your corrections to your original quiz and turn it in no later than 8pm at the IC on the third class day immediately following the quiz or exam.  If I’m not there, there will be a box on my desk for you to put it in.  One additional MANDATORY step is that you must get it checked over by an IC instructor or tutor, then signed and dated by that person.   They know about this and you shouldn’t feel like you’re inconveniencing them in any way. (If I'm available, I will gladly do it for you.) Having followed these steps exactly, you will get 20% of the points you missed added to your original quiz score.  If not, you get NO extra credit.  It’s ALL OR NOTHING!!!!