Fall 2007 Course Syllabus
Course: 1012.201.
Course Title: Elements ofd Math Thought.
Time: 330-610 Thursdays.
Place: Tyler ... Penrose 108.
Instructor: Covitz, Howard.
Instructor Office: TBA.
Instructor Email: hhcovitz@temple.edu
Instructor Phone: 215-635-5368.
Office Hours: TBA.
Prerequisites: Math 1011/55/or equiv.
Textbook: Text: Bennett and Briggs, Using and Understanding Mathematics, Addison-Wesley, 3rd Edition, 2005 (ISBN 0-321-22773-5) or 2nd Custom Edition (ISBN: 0-536-83573-X).
Course Goals: Purpose of Course: Math 1012/1912 (aka 65 & 91) is a second level course in quantitative literacy that builds on the foundation established in Math 1011/1911. Please be aware that successful completion of Math 1011/1911 (aka 55/90) is a prerequisite to Math 1012/1912 (aka 65 & 91). Math 1012/1912 is not intended for an audience of students whose major areas of concentration have specific mathematical requirements. As part of Temples undergraduate Core Curriculum, this sequence contributes to the general education of generalists. Students in Math 1912 (aka 91) have the additional requirement of an honors paper. The topic and boundaries of this paper will be discussed with the instructor before the 4th week of class. Please make appointment to do so.
Topics Covered: Content: The course content comes from Chapters 5, 6, 10, 11, 12, and 13 of our primary textbook. The suggested time division below accounts for about 36 of the 42 total hours of instruction. The remaining six hours are for quizzes, reviews, additional topics, etc. Chapter 5 Statistical Reasoning 5A Fundamentals of Statistics (2 hours) 5B Should You Believe a Statistical Study (2 hrs) 5C Statistical Tables and Graphs (2 hrs) 5E Correlation and Causality (3 hours) Chapter 6 Putting Statistics to Work 6A Characterizing a Data Distribution (3 hrs) 6B Measures of Variation (2 hours) 6C The Normal Distribution (3 hrs) 6D Statistical Inference (3 hours) Chapter 10 Mathematics and the Arts 10A Fundamentals of Geometry (2 hrs) Chapter 11 Mathematics & Art 11C The Golden Ratio Chapter 12 Mathematics and Politics 12A Voting: Does the Majority Always Rule? (3 hrs) 12B Theory of Voting (3 hours) 12C Apportionment: The House of Reps (3 hrs) Chapter 13 Mathematics and Business 13A Network Analysis (3 hours) 13B The Traveling Salesman Problem (2 hrs).
Course Grading: Exams and Grading There will be three tests during the term and a cumulative final. Test #1 will take place approximately during 4th week of class; test # 2 will occur during 8th week of class; test #3 during 11th week (specific dates will be announced) Each of those exams will count for 20% of the final course grade. The final exam will be given during final exam week during usual class-time and will count for 30% of the grade. The remaining 10% represent attendance, participation and an optional paper. You may bring one piece of paper into an exam on which you may pen any notes that you wish.
Exam Dates: Exams and Grading There will be three tests during the term and a cumulative final. Test #1 will take place approximately during 4th week of class; test # 2 will occur during 8th week of class; test #3 during 11th week (specific dates will be announced) Each of those exams will count for 20% of the final course grade. The final exam will be given during final exam week during usual class-time and will count for 30% of the grade. The remaining 10% represent attendance, participation and an optional paper. You may bring one piece of paper into an exam on which you may pen any notes that you wish.
Attendance Policy: Since each class represents some 8% of the full course, missing more than one class significantly reduces the likelihood of passing.
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:
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.