Syllabus

Fall 2006 – Class Number 19970

Math 335 – Trigonometry with College Algebra                                                                            

Disclaimer:                 All information in this syllabus is subject to change if the instructor finds it           necessary. Any change will be announced during a class session. Absent students           are responsible for any announced changes to the syllabus. It is always the student’s responsibility to determine what they missed in class due to an absence.

Course Hours:            MWF   8:00am – 9:25am @ EDC – Room A211

Prerequisite:               Minimum “C” in Math 112 or Geometry AND Math 120 with a grade of “C”

or better OR placement by FLC/EDC assessment. You must provide me with

                                    proof that you have met the prerequisite by Friday, August 25.

Text:                           Trigonometry, Eighth Edition, by Lial, Hornsby, & Schneider.

Instructor:                  Tim Curran

                                    Phone and voice mail: (530) 642-5673     email: currant@flc.losrios.edu

Office Hours:             Monday and Wednesday from 3:30pm-4:45pm in EDC – Room 251

                                    Tuesday and Thursday from 12:45pm-2:00pm in EDC – Room 251

                                    *** Other times by appointment!

                                    *** Important: If I’m not there when you visit during office hours,

                                                             please leave me a note.

The Course:               This is a five-unit course. Credit for this course is degree applicable and,

                                    possibly, transferable (see your counselor). This course will introduce you

                                    to trigonometric functions, their graphs, inverses, and applications. In addition,   some algebra topics appropriate to the course, such as the exponential and   logarithmic functions, will be explored. You should expect to spend a minimum                    of ten hours per week outside of this class in order to be successful in learning the          material. Memorization of important relationships and identities will be     necessary at various places throughout the course. Use of graphing or non-           graphing calculators with trig functions will also be         required.

The Goals:

1.      To help students develop an understanding of the concepts of trigonometry and gain confidence in their ability to apply this understanding to real world problem situations.

2.      To prepare students to successfully continue in the further study of mathematics, science, medicine, business, computers, engineering, architecture, or other fields that require trigonometry.

3.      To help students develop problem solving strategies and teamwork techniques through cooperative efforts and group work or study.

Grading

Grades will be calculated on a percentage basis and rounded to the nearest tenth of a percent:

            A:  90+ %          B:   80-89.9 %          C:   65-79.9 %          D:   50-64.9 %          F:  below 50 %

Assessment

Mini-Quizzes (MQ)                  175                  Thirty-five at 5 points each.      

Homework (HW)                     175                  Thirty-five at 5 points each.

Tests                                        700                  Eight tests at 100 points each with worst dropped.

Midterm                                   200                  Date to be announced about two weeks prior.

Final Exam                               250                  8:00-10:00am in EDC-A211 on Friday, December 15.

Attendance

You are expected to attend class regularly, to arrive on time, and to stay until the end of each session. Unless special circumstances arise, for which I receive appropriate documentation, you should not be absent from class more than four times. Each absence results in a deduction of 5 points from your grade via a missed mini-quiz. Arriving late and/or leaving early will cost you 1-3 points from the “punctuality and early exits” portion of Test 8.

Mini-Quizzes (MQs)

Mini-quizzes are 5-point assessments designed as a means to provide immediate feedback on what was learned and/or retained during the previous session. They will be administered at approximately the halfway point of a session. Unless stated otherwise, each will be open notes, open book, and contain about 2 to 5 problems for credit. MQs cannot be made up as the “extra credit pre-test” is intended to replace points lost due to absences.

Homework (HW)

Homework assignments will be due at the start of the session designated on your course outline. HW due on a day you are absent must be turned in immediately upon return. A penalty will not be assessed. You are responsible for turning in HW when it is due even if it is officially lectured upon, and assigned on, a day you are absent. Email or phone your instructor if you are struggling with trying to learn the material on your own. HW will be penalized 2 points for each session that it is late.

Tests

A 100-point test covering lectures and homework will be administered at the end of each unit. You must take each test during the time allotted for that test. Bear in mind that you cannot make up the first test missed. As compensation though, your lowest test score, out of the eight that will be administered, will be dropped. You do have the privilege of making up the second test missed, however, a 20 point penalty will be assessed. You also have the privilege of making up the third test missed, however, a 30 point penalty will be assessed. For tests missed thereafter, you will receive a score of zero. Test 8 is unique in the sense that it consists of participation, an assessment quiz, homework, mini-quizzes, punctuality, and early exits. See the backside of your grade sheet for more information pertaining to Test 8.

Final Exam

The 250-point final exam is comprehensive and it will cover what we cover in chapters 1-9.