Spring 2009 Course Syllabus
Course: 1012.101.
Course Title: ELEMENTS OF MATHEMATICAL THOUGHT.
Time: Monday & Wednesday: 6:00-7:15 PM.
Place: Widener Hall, Room #210.
Instructor: Shuman, Charles H.
Instructor Office: Widener Hall, Room #217.
Instructor Email: charles.shuman@temple.edu
Instructor Phone: (215) 204-7588.
Office Hours: Monday & Wednesday: 5-6 PM. Also by appointment.
Prerequisites: MATH-1011 [Old course number: C055].
Textbook: Bennett and Briggs: "Using and Understanding Mathematics" [3rd Edition].
Course Goals: Introduction to the usage of mathematics in the visual arts, politics, voting, and business, using fundamental statistical tools.
Topics Covered: Statistical reasoning, Geometry, Voting, Apportionment, and Business; Sections in text: 5ABCE, 6AB [Mean, Median, Mode; 5-number summary] (Test #1, Feb 10, 11); Sections 6BCD [Stan. Dev., Normal dist., Stat. Inference] (Test #2, Mar 4,5); Sect. 10A, 11C, 12AB [Geometry, voting] (Test #3, April 6th); Sections 12C, 13AB [Apportionment, Networks] (Test #4, April 29th).
Course Grading: Four tests, 60%, (3 top scores 54%, lowest score 6%), Final 40%.
Exam Dates: TEST #1: February 11th (Covers 5ABCE, 6AB); TEST #2: March 4th, (Covers 6BCD); TEST #3, April 6th (Covers 10A, 11C, 12AB); TEST #4: April 29th (12B, 13ABC). FINAL EXAM: Wednesday, May 13th. (Coverage: entire syllabus).
Attendance Policy: Attendance expected. No make-up tests. The FINAL exam score wil be substituted for any missing score or (if higher) the lowest test; and it will count 6% (besides the 40%).
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 20.
- The last day to drop/add (tuition refund available) is Monday, February 2.
- Spring recess is the week of Monday, March 9.
- The last day to withdraw (no refund) is Monday, March 30.
- The last day of classes is Monday, May 4.
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.