Spring 2010 Course Syllabus
Course: 2196.001.
Course Title: Basic Concepts of Mathematics.
Time: TR 9:30-10:50.
Place: Barton B-407.
Instructor: Conrad, Bruce P.
Instructor Office: Wachman 616.
Instructor Email: bruce.conrad@temple.edu
Instructor Phone: 215-204-2896.
Office Hours: TR 8:30-9:20 or W 10:40-11:30 or by appointment.
Prerequisites: Calculus 2 (Math 1042) with a grade of at least C-.
Textbook: How to Read and Do Proofs: An Introduction to Mathematical Thought Processes, fifth edition, by Daniel Solow. Pub. by Wiley, ISBN 978-0470392164.
Course Goals: To teach you to read and do proofs.
Topics Covered: Logic, proof writing, various topics from mathematical areas of interest.
Course Grading: Class participation, 10%; writing project 35%; Test 1, 5%; Test 2, 10%; Test 3, 15%; Final Exam 25%.
Exam Dates: Test 1, February 4; Test 2, March 4; Test 3, April 1; Final Exam, May 11 (8:00-10:00).
Attendance Policy: Attendance is very important, as is participation in class. Students who do not attend regularly will receive 0 for class participation.
Blackboard: This class is on Blackboard. You should check the site regularly for announcements.
Writing intensive course: Math 2196 has been designated by the Department of Mathematics as a WI-course. To fulfill the requirements that this entails, there will be a writing assignment. I will give assignments to groups of three students (the groups to be designated on Jan. 26). Each group will research the topic of the assignment, and divide the writing responsibility among its members. Class on Feb. 12 will be devoted to discussing with each group individually the planning for the assignment. On March 18, first drafts of reports are due. Class on March 23 will be devoted to individual discussion of the drafts with each group. The reports are due in final form on April 15. Each student will make an oral presentation based on his/her report, starting on April 15.
Incompletes: As noted in the boiler plate below, the "I" grade is meant for situations beyond the student's control that prevent him or her from finishing the course, although significant progress bas been made. A student who has not shown commitment to the course by passing the tests, participating in class discussion, and completing the writing assignment cannot expect to be given and "I" grade, no matter what the circumstances.
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 19.
- The last day to drop/add (tuition refund available) is Monday, February 1.
- Spring recess is the week of Monday, March 8.
- The last day to withdraw (no refund) is Monday, March 29.
- The last day of classes is Monday, May 3.
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.