Spring 2011 Course Syllabus

Course: Mathematics 701.401.
Course Title: Elementary Algebra.
Time: TR 5:30 - 7:10 PM.
Place: TUCC Room 517.
Instructor: Kane, Mamadou.
Instructor Office: 517 Wachman Hall.
Instructor Email:
Instructor Phone: (215) 204-4652 (Office) or (215) 204-8994 (Coordinator).
Office Hours: TR 4:30-5:20.
Prerequisites: Pre-Algebra.
Textbook: Integrated Arithmetic and Basic Algebra, 4th edition, by Bill E. Jordan and William P. Palow.
Course Goals: The goal of this course is to give students a firm foundation in the topics of elementary algebra as a basis for subsequent courses in mathematics and other disciplines. Included in this goal is the development and strengthening of one's skill in interpreting and solving application problems.
Topics Covered: Elementary Algebra begins with a study of some foundational topics of Algebra including variables, exponents, order of operations, absolute value, equivalence between mathematical and verbal expressions, and operations with integers. Further topics include solving linear equations and inequalities, understanding slope, graphing linear equations in two variables, finding the equation of a line, applying the laws of exponents, performing operations with polynomials, factoring polynomials, and solving polynomial equations. The skill of solving equations will be extended to formulating and solving equations of applied problems.
Course Grading: Tests 1 - 3: The higher two tests scores will each be worth 20% and the lowest score will be worth 10%; Quizzes (10%), Homework (10%), Final Exam (30%).
Exam Dates: Test 1 (Thursday, 2/17), Test 2 (Thursday, 3/31), Test 3 (Tuesday, 4/26), Final Exam (Thursday, 5/5, 3:30 - 5:30 pm); Pencils with eraser needed.
Attendance Policy: Attendance is required. Please refer to the Student Guidelines for details. Absences will affect your final grade. Seven absences will result in a failure for the course no matter what the reasons were.
Quiz: A quiz will be given every week except for those weeks for which a test is scheduled. The lowest two quiz scores will be dropped.
Assignments: Students will be given the Course ID so they can gain access to the Course in MyMathLab. They can click on "Study Plan" and work on problems for their own edification. Homework will be collected daily and scored. Remember that homework assignments will be written. Moreover the exercises for the assignments will come from the Assignment List that students will be given. The five lowest homework scores will be dropped. The resulting homework average will be worth 10% of the final grade.
Final Notes: The use of calculators will not be permitted on any of the tests or quizzes in this course. 2. No assignment or quiz can be turned in past the day or time it is due. Therefore, no quiz or assignment can be made up. Tests can be made up within one week of the date of the test, however, you must notify your instructor no later than the date of the test and a valid, documented excuse must accompany the request for a make-up test. 3. Class participation is highly desirable. 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 18. * The last day to drop/add (tuition refund available) is Monday, January 31. * Spring recess is the week of Sunday, March 6. * The last day to withdraw (no refund) is Monday, March 28. * The last day of classes is Monday, May 2. During the first two weeks of the Spring Semester, students may withdraw from a course with no record of the class appearing on the transcript. In weeks three through nine of the Spring Semester 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 Spring Semester, 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.
Communication: I will use Temple mass e-mail to communicate with students. Files will not only be sent as attachments, but they will be posted under Blackboard Files. I will also post Announcements. Course Compass (MyMathLab) will also be used for communication. My E-mail Address is mamadou@temple.edu.

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 18.
• The last day to drop/add (tuition refund available) is Monday, January 31.
• Spring recess is the week of Sunday, March 6.
• The last day to withdraw (no refund) is Monday, March 28.
• The last day of classes is Monday, May 2.

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.