2022 Fall Course Syllabus - Mathematics 0828.002

Course: Mathematics 0828.002.

Course Title: Critical Thinking and Problem Solving.

Credits: 4.

How this course will be taught: in person.

Time: Tu/Th 1:30 - 3:10.

Place: Tuttleman 301.

Instructor: Raymond F. Coughlin.

Instructor Office: WH 1033.

Instructor Email: raymond.coughlin@temple.edu

Instructor Phone: 1659.

Office Hours: Tu/Th 10:00 - 11:30;.

Prerequisites: none.

Course Materials: none.

Course Goals: Course Goals: This course fulfills the Quantitative Literacy area of the program, one of the nine areas in Gen Ed. The goals of the Quantitative Literacy area are to help students: Communicate logical arguments and their conclusions. Understand quantitative models that describe real world phenomena and recognize limitations of those models. Recognize, absorb, and appreciate quantitative reasoning for solving problems that are part of everyday life. Retrieve, organize, and analyze data associated with a quantitative model. Understand the various sources of uncertainty and error in empirical data. Perform simple mathematical computations associated with a quantitative model and make conclusions based on the results. Topics Covered: The course, Critical Reasoning, is a direct consequence of my years as Honors Director and pre-med advisor and what I saw was lacking in our students' development. In a snapshot, national standardized exams such as the GRE, MCAT and LSAT examine students' ability to solve problems posed at Bloom's sixth level of reasoning. Few of our courses get to the third or fourth levels. We get to the fifth level - Synthesis - by having the students answer question such as: How do you combine these three or four ideas to form a new structure? What would you predict or infer from these statements? What ideas must be added to these statements to make the argument valid? How would you create or design a new or similar type of reasoning or argument? What would happen if you combined these ideas or statement in a different order or pattern? We get to the sixth level - Evaluation - by having the students answer question such as: How would you draw a proper conclusion based on these value decisions? How could you resolve the following controversy or difference of opinion? How could you develop a valid opinion, judgment or decision based on these statements? Why is the following argument flawed? What criteria would you use to assess the validity of the following statements? These questions are the specific illustrations of the fifth and sixth levels of Bloom's taxonomy. They are the specific types of questions that appear on national standardized exams. More importantly, when you learn how to reason at this level you are well on your way to mastering the complex material in your major, and to solving the intricate problems you will encounter in your career. Course Grading: A(94%) A-(92%) B+(90%) B(84%) B-(82%) C+(80%) C(74%) C-(70%) D+(68%) D(65%) D-(62%). Exam Dates: Exam1 - TH 2-15: Exam 2 - TH 13-22: Exam 3 - TH 4-19: Final Exam - 5-8 at 1:00. Attendance Policy: Attendance: You are expected to attend every class and you are responsible for all assignments made in class. You are allowed 4 absences. There is no such thing as an "excused" absence. For each absence after the fourth your grade will be lowered by one grade, so store up your absences for "emergencies." (Here is a word to the wise: most "emergencies" occur at the end of the semester, so plan on attending every class, in this course and all your courses.). 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. Check the University calendar for exact dates. During the Drop/Add period, students may drop a course with no record of the class appearing on their transcript. Students are not financially responsible for any courses dropped during this period. In the following weeks prior to or on the withdrawal date students may withdraw from a course with the grade of "W" appearing on their transcript. After the withdrawal date students may not withdraw from courses. Check the University Calendar (Opens in new tab/window) for exact dates. See the full policy by clicking here. (Opens in new tab/window) The grade "I" (an "incomplete") is only given if students cannot complete the course work due to circumstances beyond their control. It is necessary for the student to have completed the majority of the course work with a passing average and to sign an incomplete contract which clearly states what is left for the student to do and the deadline by which the work must be completed. The incomplete contract must also include a default grade that will be used in case the "I" grade is not resolved by the agreed deadline. See the full policy by clicking here. (Opens in new tab/window).

Topics Covered: see course goals.

Course Grading: Course Grading: A(94%) A-(92%) B+(90%) B(84%) B-(82%) C+(80%) C(74%) C-(70%) D+(68%) D(65%) D-(62%).

Exam Dates: Exams: Exam1 - Sept 22: Exam 2 - Oct 27: Exam 3 - Nov 17: Final Exam - 12-8 at 1:00.

Attendance Policy: see course goals.

Attendance and Your Health: To achieve course learning goals, students must attend and participate in classes, according to your instructors' requirements. However, if you feel unwell or if you are under quarantine or in isolation because you have been exposed to the virus or tested positive for it, you should not come to campus or attend in-person classes or activities. Students have the responsibility to contact their instructors to create a plan for participation and engagement in the course as soon as they are able to do so and to make a plan to complete all assignments in a timely fashion when illness delays their completion.

Disability Statement: Any student who has a need for accommodations based on the impact of a documented disability or medical condition should contact Disability Resources and Services (DRS) in Howard Gittis Student Center South, Rm 420 (drs@temple.edu; 215-204-1280) to request accommodations and learn more about the resources available to you. If you have a DRS accommodation letter to share with me, or you would like to discuss your accommodations, please contact me as soon as practical. I will work with you and with DRS to coordinate reasonable accommodations for all students with documented disabilities. All discussions related to your accommodations will be confidential.

Academic Freedom: 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 (opens in new tab/window).

Add/Drop Policy: Students will be charged for a course unless dropped by the Drop/Add deadline date. Check the University calendar (opens in new tab/window) for exact dates.

During the Drop/Add period, students may drop a course with no record of the class appearing on their transcript. Students are not financially responsible for any courses dropped during this period. In the following weeks prior to or on the withdrawal date students may withdraw from a course with the grade of "W" appearing on their transcript. After the withdrawal date students may not withdraw from courses. Check the University Calendar (opens in new tab/window) for exact dates. See the full policy by clicking here (opens in new tab/window).

Incomplete Policy: The grade "I" (an "incomplete") is only given if students cannot complete the course work due to circumstances beyond their control. It is necessary for the student to have completed the majority of the course work with a passing average and to sign an incomplete contract which clearly states what is left for the student to do and the deadline by which the work must be completed. The incomplete contract must also include a default grade that will be used in case the "I" grade is not resolved by the agreed deadline. See the full policy by clicking here (opens in new tab/window).

Student Support Services: The following academic support services are available to students (all links open in a new tab/window):
    The Math Consulting Center
    Student Success Center
    University Libraries
    Undergraduate Research Support
    Career Center
    Tuttleman Counseling Services
    Disability Resources and Services
If you are experiencing food insecurity or financial struggles, Temple provides resources and support. Notably, the Temple University Cherry Pantry and the Temple University Emergency Student Aid Program are in operation as well as a variety of resources from the Division of Student Affairs.