Math 370 – PreCalculus
Fall 2006 (McFaul)
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 still responsible for any announced changes.
Text: Precalculus, 7th Edition, by Sullivan
FL1 144 Email: mcfauls@flc.losrios.edu
Web Site: www.flc.losrios.edu/~mcfauls
Office Hours:
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Monday |
Tuesday |
Wednesday |
Thursday |
Friday |
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1 – 2:30 pm |
11 am – 12 pm |
1:30 - 3 pm |
11 am – 12 pm |
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or by appointment
Prerequisite: Minimum “C” or better in Math 335 (Trigonometry) or successful completion of the placement test. Proof of the necessary prerequisite is required for continued enrollment beyond the first week. The instructor will check for proof that you meet the prerequisite during the first week of class.
You can meet the prerequisite in two ways: providing a copy of a college transcript with grade of C or better or by taking an assessment test that places you Math 370. Nothing else constitutes having met the prerequisite. In the case of providing a college transcript if the transcript is outside of Los Rios, a list of equivalent courses is listed at the math homepage www.flc.losrios.edu/~flcmath.
The Course: Math 370 is a five-unit course. Credit for this course is AA degree applicable and transferable. This course is designed to prepare students for calculus 400, 401, and 402.
Course Content: Course content includes a brief review followed by an in-depth extension of the properties of polynomial, rational, exponential, logarithmic, and trigonometric functions. Additional topics include systems of linear and non-linear equations and inequalities, conic sections, sequences and series, binomial theorem, analytic geometry, vectors, parametric, and polar equations. A graphing calculator may be required for this course. A more specific breakdown of topics can be found in the college handbook. It is highly recommended that you see a counselor as part of your college planning.
Grading: Letter grading will be calculated based on the following percentages:
90% - 100% A 80% - 89% B 70% - 79% C
60% - 69% D less that 60% F
Points are weighed as follows:
Homework: 20%
Exams / Quizzes 60%
Final Exam: 20%
Exams graded on a 100 points basis, quizzes on a 10 point basis, homework on a 10 point basis, and class assignments on a 5 point basis. “In progress” grades will be made available throughout the semester.
“In progress” grades will be made available throughout the semester.
Homework: Homework will be assigned for each section. A homework assignment sheet will be given at the beginning of the course. This will mainly be comprised of exercises from the textbook and will be supplemented with worksheets. Homework will be collected every Friday unless otherwise announced. Late homework can be turned in for half credit (5 points) at the beginning of the next class session. See the Homework Guidelines for complete directions and grading criteria.
Class Assignments: Class assignments will be assigned as needed. This will mainly be comprised of exercises from the textbook and handouts. These assignments will be assigned and due during one class session. You will be encouraged to work in groups.
Attendance: If you have three unexcused absences, you may be dropped from the class at my discretion. It is the student’s responsibility to know the material covered in the class. Examples may often be used in class that are not included in the text. In addition unannounced quizzes may be given during class time. These quizzes cannot be made up. If you miss a class, you miss the quiz. .
Exams: Four exams will be given during the semester. They will be announced in advance about 1 week before the exam. All exams will be closed book, closed notes unless otherwise instructed. Pencils must by used on exams. Missed exams cannot be made up. However, if you miss an exam the final may be used to replace the missed exam. The final may be used to replace ONE missed exam. If more that one exam is missed then a zero will be assigned to each missed exam beyond the first. If you choose to use the makeup privilege, there will be a 10% penalty. A comprehensive final exam will be given Wednesday, December 20, 2006 from 9:00 to 11:00 am.
Quizzes: Quizzes are open note (including homework) but closed book and will be given during most class sessions. Quizzes will usually be EXACT problems from the homework due during that particular class session or problems done in class. These are essentially free points as long as you do your homework, ask questions about problems you don’t understand, and take notes. They may or may not be announced in advance. Missed quizzes cannot be made up.
Class Participation: Students will benefit from class participation in borderline cases. A borderline case is defined as any student within 2% of the next grade. At the end of the semester the grade of a borderline student MAY be raised to the next highest grade if ALL work has been completed and class participation has been noted. Class participation will be noted by the instructor during most class sessions for those students that answer questions posed and those students that present problems on the board when asked. Class participation may be an individual or group activity.
Resources: Your classmates are your best source for assistance. Make a point of meeting with some of them on a regular basis to help fill in missing gaps in your knowledge. Please make use my office hours and the free tutoring available (the schedule is posted around campus). I am available by email should you have questions. I rarely check voice mail. Don’t wait until it’s too late. GET HELP!
Class Policies: I expect courteous behavior at all times. I will not tolerate profanity or rudeness. Cell phones are not allowed in my class (or must be turned off before you enter the room). If you must enter or leave the classroom at any time during class, please do so quietly and with minimum disruption. If you are disrupting the class by talking, I will ask you to leave. Before you leave each day, please pick up any refuse and dispose of it. Leave the classroom as neat as when you came in.
PLEASE GET TO CLASS ON TIME. I MAY LOCK THE DOOR.
Cheating will be punished swiftly and severely. Anyone caught cheating will receive a zero on the exam and lose all makeup privileges. It is your responsibility to protect yourself from cheating accusations by protecting your work on an exam as well as keeping your eyes focused on your own paper at all times.
How to Succeed: This class is extremely fast-paced and many students find themselves quickly overwhelmed. What do you need to do to be a “Math 370 survivor”?
· You should plan to spend at least 2 hours out of class studying for every hour in class in order to pass this class. It is extremely difficult to overcome a bad start so I encourage you to set good study habits the first few weeks of the semester.
· Take the time to read the section(s) we’re covering in class that day before you come to lecture. It will seem confusing at first but it will make class time much more productive for you.
· Do the homework right away. You should always have the homework done before the next class period. As I said, we move fast and skipping even one day’s homework will make it hard to catch up. Put aside time to study for this class every day. If you have a question/problem on homework, take care of it right away…call a classmate, find a tutor, or come see me, but don’t let your questions go unanswered!
· Start studying for exams about a week ahead of time, setting a schedule for yourself so that you don’t cram. If you come to class prepared every session, take the time to do your homework well, and are proactive about getting help, you’ll be well on your way to success in Math 370.
Homework Guidelines
Homework will be graded on a twenty-point scale. Only perfection will receive 10 points.
What do I look for in your homework assignments? Each problem should have complete, clearly written solutions (not just an answer). Most problems assigned will have answers in the back of the book, however I want to see the process of solving the problem reflected in a step-by-step solution.
The following are some specific criteria. Points will be deducted if these criteria aren’t followed completely.
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I, _____________________________________, have read the syllabus for Math 370 (instructor: McFaul) and accept responsibility for understanding its content.
Signature: __________________________________ Date: ___________________