Spring 2008 Course Syllabus
Course: 1021.101.
Course Title: Math 1021 College Algebra.
Time: Tuesdays and Thursdays from 8:20 to 10:00.
Place: Widener Hall, room 210.
Instructor: Nathan, William D.
Instructor Office: Room 7 Cottage Hall.
Instructor Email: william.nathan@temple.edu
Instructor Phone: 267-468-8515.
Office Hours: 1:00 to 2:00 Tuesdays and Thursday, and by appointment.
Prerequisites: An appropriate Math Placement Exam score or a C or better in Math 1001 (previously Math 045).
Textbook: College Algebra & Trigonometry - Basics through Precalculus, Schiller & Wurster.
Course Goals: College Algebra is designed to teach the fundamentals of algebra that are essential for future mathematics courses.
Topics Covered: This course covers polynomial, rational and algebraic expressions, equations, and functions; solving linear equations and inequalities; and the algebra and graphics of quadratic expressions.
Course Grading: There will be a Review Quiz early in the semester to help determine if you've been placed in the right class. We will have three exams, one each in February March, and April; there will be a comprehensive final exam; and there will be periodic quizzes during the semester. (No calculators can be used during the exams or during class.) The three exams will count approximately 20% each in the computation of the final course grade, the final exam will count 30%, and the quizzes wil count the remaining 10%. These numbers are all approximate: excessive absences, latenesses, or failure to complete homework assignments may also affect your grade.
Exam Dates: The Review Quiz will probably be on Tuesday, January 29. Exam #1 will be on Thursday, February 21; Test 2 will be on Thursday, March 27; and Test 3 will be on Thursday, April 24. The Final Exam will be on Thursday, MAY 8, from 11:30am - 1:30 p.m. in a room to be announced.
Attendance Policy: Attendance is mandatory. As noted above, excessive absences may adversely affect your grade. There will be no make-up exams or quizzes for unexcused absences.
Any student who has a need for accommodation based on the impact of a disability should contact me privately to discuss the specific situation as soon as possible. Contact Disability Resources and Services at (215) 204-1280, 100 Ritter Annex, to coordinate reasonable accommodations for students with documented disabilities.
Freedom to teach and freedom to learn are inseparable facets of academic freedom. The University has adopted a policy on Student and Faculty Academic Rights and Responsibilities (Policy # 03.70.02) which can be accessed here.
Students will be charged for a course unless a withdrawal form is processed by a registration office of the University by the Drop/Add deadline date given below. For this semester, the crucial dates are as follows:
- The first day of classes is Tuesday, January 22.
- The last day to drop/add (tuition refund available) is Monday, February 4.
- Spring recess is the week of Monday, March 10.
- The last day to withdraw (no refund) is Monday, March 31.
- The last day of classes is Monday, May 5.
During the first two weeks of the fall or spring semester or summer sessions, students may withdraw from a course with no record of the class appearing on the transcript. In weeks three through nine of the fall or spring semester, or during weeks three and four of summer sessions, the student may withdraw with the advisor's permission. The course will be recorded on the transcript with the instructor's notation of "W," indicating that the student withdrew. After week nine of the fall or spring semester, or week four of summer sessions, students may not withdraw from courses. No student may withdraw from more than five courses during the duration of his/her studies to earn a bachelor's degree. A student may not withdraw from the same course more than once. Students who miss the final exam and do not make alternative arrangements before the grades are turned in will be graded F.
The grade I (an "incomplete") is reserved for extreme circumstances. It is necessary to have completed almost all of the course with a passing average and to file an incomplete contract specifying what is left for you to do. To be eligible for an I grade you need a good reason and you should have missed not more than 25% of the first nine weeks of classes. If approved by the Mathematics Department chair and the CST Dean's office, the incomplete contract must include a default grade that will be used in case the I grade is not resolved within 12 months.