Fall 2015 Course Syllabus - Mathematics 0824.'000

Course: Mathematics 0824.'000.
Course Title: Mathematical Patterns.
Time: MWF 10:40 - 11:50.
Place: Gladfelter Hall L013.
Instructor: Gimenez, Jose.
Instructor Office: Wachman Hall, Room 1044.
Instructor Email: jose.gimenez@temple.edu
Instructor Phone: 2152043976.
Office Hours: MW 1:00-2:00.
Prerequisites: Placement Exam or having taken Math 701 (Elementary Algebra) or an equivalent.
Textbook: Using and Understanding Mathematics, 6th Edition, Bennett & Briggs.
Course Goals: Math 0824 is designed to improve the level of quantitative awareness of students using familiar situations that provide a sense of purpose for studying mathematics. The objective is not to make mathematicians of the students, but to help gain a mathematical perspective and deal as comfortably as possible with an environment that increasingly makes use of quantitative reasoning.
Topics Covered: We will cover financial planning including compounding, savings plans, loan payments and mortgages; exponential growth and decay; statistics; counting techniques and probability with expected value; and voting techniques.
Course Grading: 5 tests at 10% each. Attendance 5%. Biweekly quizzes 5%. Weekly online assignements 20%. Participation and suplemental instruction 20%.
Exam Dates: Exam 1: 9/11 Misconceptions in Mathematics and Approaches to Problem Solving Exam 2: 10/2 Exponential growth and decay and Thinking Critically. Exam 3: 10/23 Managing Money. Exam 4: 11/13 Probability Living with the Odds. Exam 5: 12/14 (10:30-12:30) Bitcoins.
Attendance Policy: Attendance is 5% of the total grade. If a student comes to class on time, she will get 10 point. If she is late, even if it is only a minute, she will get 5 points. If the student does not show up, she will get 0 points. At the end of the semester the grade on attendance wil be computed this way: 420 - 430 points …. 100 410 - 419 points …… 90 400 - 409 points ..…... 80 390 - 399 points ….... 70 380 - 389 points ….... 60 Less than 380 points ... 0.
Grade Scale: 93-100 A, 90-92 A-, 87-89 B+, 83-86 B, 80-82 B-, 77-79 C+, 73-76 C, 70-72 C-, 65-69 D+, 55-64 D, 50-54 D-, 0-49 F.
Supplemental Instruction: Supplemental Instruction (SI) is an academic assistance program that utilizes peer-assisted study sessions. SI sessions are regularly-scheduled, informal review sessions in which students compare notes, discuss readings, develop organizational tools, and predict test items. Students learn how to integrate course content and study skills while working together. The sessions are facilitated by “SI leaders”, students who have previously done well in the course and who attend all class lectures, take notes, and act as model students. There will be a weekly or biweekly quiz. Proctored by leaders. Leaders will attend the big lecture. They will keep attendance of their section. All sections will sit together in the main classroom. Leaders will grade the participation of the students weekly. In the following fashion: Completed assignments …. 10 points Pariticipation …. 5 points (only 10% of the class can get this points).
Make Ups: No make up exams will be given except under extraordinary circumstances with DOCUMENTED emergencies. In those cases the student is supposed to contact the instructor ASAP. Make up exams will be done online using Examity, which will cost the student $25 approximately.
Coaching: All students are required to schedule an appointment with an academic coach in the first four weeks of the semester to take the Lassi examination and to asses the need to improve your time management techniques. Please email Bikem Ayse Polat (bikem.polat@temple.edu).
Calculators: During any exam, students can use a scientific calculator. A graphing calculator or any “sophisticated” calculator will not be accepted. Students are supposed to bring a scientific calculator to all classes. Some calculators have a counter intuitive system of introducing. I recommend TI-30X IIS Scientific Calculator.

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 dropped by the Drop/Add deadline date given below.

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.