| Instructor Information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Name: | Patrick L. Villa | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Biography: | Patrick has a BA in Mathematics and an MA in Mathematics from California State University, Fresno in Fresno, California (GO BULLDOGS!). He has been teaching full-time at the College of Southern Nevada since 2004 |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Home Page: | http://www.nevada.edu/~villap2/ | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| E-Mail: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Phone & Voice Mail: | (702) 651-7513 Note: Although you may leave a message, the most expeditious way to reach the instructor will be by email. |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Fax: | (702) 651-5881 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Office: | CSN Charleston Campus, Building H, Room 101, Office Q | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Office Hours: | In Office: Tuesdays & Thursdays 7:30am - 8:00am, 9:30am - 11:00am, & 12:30pm - 1:00pm Additional Hours: Available By Appointment |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Course Information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Title/Number: | Elementary and Intermediate Algebra, Math 97 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Section(s): | DED03 (#53234) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Dates: | Monday, August 31through Tuesday, December 15, 2009 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Description: | Topics include fundamental operations of real numbers, solving of first-degree equations, polynomials, exponents, applications, functions and graphs, systems of linear equations, linear equations and inequalities, radicals, absolute value equations and inequalities, and quadratic equations. Prerequisite: Placement Test or MATH 093 or equivalent. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Method of Instruction: | Students will be expected to read the text and Course Notes, do the suggested homework problems, and study the indicated web site materials. Students will also be expected to ask questions and initiate communication with the instructor and/or other students. |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Location(s): | Internet mostly with an in-person proctored final exam. Students are required to have Internet access. To enter the course, go to http://coursecompass.com/ and log into the CourseCompass by following the instructions available on that page.
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Special Note to AOL users: |
AOL users
have reported many difficulties with the class management system. If you
are intending to use AOL to access the course materials, you will either
want to use the latest version of AOL, or a different browser. Nearly
every computer sold in recently contains a copy of Internet Explorer.
After you log onto AOL, you can simply open Internet Explorer and use
it instead of AOL's browser. |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| CSN Computer Labs: | Most of you will probably do your assignments/quizzes at home or at work. Technical problems on your behalf will NOT serve as a valid excuse for missing due dates. If you are having problems with your computer or do not have the required software, feel free to use any of the on-campus Computer Labs. The locations, contact numbers, and the hours of operations for the CSN Computer Labs can be found online at http://www.csn.edu/pages/444.asp. |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Textbook | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Required: | CourseCompass Access Code Must be purchased in order for you to take the quizzes! Official Textbook (But not required): Beginning and Intermediate Algebra, 4th Edition, Lial, Hornsby and McGinnis |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Purchase Information: |
In Person: CourseCompass Access Code is available at any CSN Bookstore. Order online Direct from Pearson with no markup: http://coursecompass.com/html/student_buy_access.html |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Course ID | Will be revealed to you when you enter WebCT. Zip Code = 89146 Coll of S. Nevada - Charleston |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Course Objectives | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Goals: |
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Policies | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Calculators: | Calculators are allowed in this course, but not required. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ADA Notice: | Any student who qualifies for "reasonable accommodations" in accordance with the American with Disabilities Act must notify the instructor in writing of such by the end of the first week of class. If you have a documented disability that may require assistance, you will need to contact the Disability Resource Center located on each campus. Please visit http://www.csn.edu/pages/544.asp for more information. |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Honesty: | Academic
dishonesty of any kind will not be tolerated. Any incident of academic
dishonesty will be reported to the Vice President of Academic Affairs,
and the most serious course of action will be recommended. |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Withdrawals: | If you stop logging into the course or completing the required quizzes, you will not be assigned an automatic "W" or "Withdrawal" grade. If you wish to be withdrawn from this course, it is your responsibility to officially drop the course by the date listed in the college catalog. If an unavoidable, yet documented problem forces a student to miss an excessive amount of class time and corresponding Quizzes/Exams, then the student should withdraw from the course and apply for an Exception to the Refund policy. Contact the College Admissions and Records Office for more information. |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Missed Quizzes or Exams: | There are no acceptable excuses for failing to complete a quiz or exam by the deadline. This includes technical difficulties (or other computer problems), children, illness, deaths in the family, traffic court, vacations, or any other problems. The quizzes and the exams are available for an extended period of time so that students can make appropriate arrangements to complete the work. Thus, any missed quiz or exam will be scored as a zero, and no make-up work of any kind will be offered. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Changes: | The instructor reserves the right to change the course syllabus, schedule, and policies as necessary. Students will be given appropriate notification in the event of any corresponding changes. |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Grading | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Homework (Study Plan): |
Once you enter the Course, you will find a link on the left side to Study Plan. This is a series of online practice problems which are essentially homework. When studying for particular quizzes, this is what you should use to prepare. In addition to the Study Plan, you may also do homework problems from the textbook. No textbook assignment will be submitted for grading. |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Graded Quizzes: |
There will be twenty-one, 10-point online quizzes (numbered Q1-Q21) to be completed by the corresponding deadlines listed in the Course Schedule. Any quiz not taken by the specified deadline will be scored as a zero. Absolutely no make-up quiz will be offered for any reason. Each quiz will have a posted time limit, and all answers must be submitted within that time limit. At the end of the semester, the lowest quiz score will be dropped, and the remaining twenty quiz scores will be added to compute the Quiz Total (QT), which will be used in your course grade computation. |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Midterm Exams: | There will be two 100-point Midterm Exams (E1 & E2) given online during the semester. No exam scores will be dropped, and no make up exams will be given for any reason. The Midterm Exams must be completed by the corresponding deadline listed in the Course Schedule. If a Midterm Exam is not completed by the specified deadline, it will be scored as a zero. Absolutely no make-up Midterm Exams will be offered for any reason. All answers for the Midterm Exams must be submitted within the posted time limit. |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| IN PERSON Final Exam: | There will be a cumulative 100-point Final Exam (FIN) given ON CAMPUS at the end of the semester on Tuesday December 15, 2009. If you live outside of the city, you must make arrangements with the instructor on how this final exam will be taken.The Final Exam must be completed by the corresponding deadline listed in the Course Schedule. If the Final Exam is not taken by the specified deadline, it will be scored as a zero. Absolutely no make-up Final Exam will be offered for any reason. All answers for the Final Exam must be submitted within the posted time limit. The exact time period and location(s) will be announced shortly. |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Computer Grading: | The method you use when formatting your responses to questions on quizzes and the Final Exam is very important. Instructions for formatting answers are provided at the top of the page where the quizzes and exams are listed, and some are also provided in this syllabus. You are required to enter all responses in accordance with those instructions. Additional instructions may also be given with individual questions. All of the quizzes and exams will be graded by the computer, which, unfortunately, sometimes fails to recognize alternate forms of correct answers. That being the case, it will be in your best interests to review every quiz & exam after it has been graded. If you have an answer you believe was incorrectly marked wrong, it is your responsibility to contact the instructor via email within the course for a possible adjustment to your score. The results for each quiz and exam that you take will be available after the corresponding due date in the Course Schedule. |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Extra Credit: | Absolutely
no extra credit work will be offered in this course. |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Calculation: | Course Grade = Quit Total (200)+ Exam 1(100) + Exam 2(100) + Final (200) 600 Total Points |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Grading Scale: |
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Tips For Success | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Study: | If you want to succeed in this course (or any course), you must attempt the assigned and suggested work in both the The Study Plan. For each hour of class time, you should spend an additional two hours studying each week. During a regular semester for a 3-credit hour course, you should be spending approximately 9 hours per week studying the material for this course. During an abbreviated Summer term, these times should be doubled or even tripled. |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Don't Procrastinate: | Don't wait until the last minute to begin a quiz or exam. You are strongly advised to complete each quiz and exam at least a day or two before the deadline. That way, if you run into a technical problem, there will be enough time to resolve the issue before the actual deadline. Remember, no make-up work will be offered, for any reason. Generally, you will be better off if you stay ahead of the schedule. |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Ask for Help: | If you find yourself falling behind or become even the slightest bit confused, seek help immediately! Feel free to call or e-mail your instructor at any time. You should receive a response within 24-48 hours. Each student receives 12 free hours of tutoring for each class in which they are registered. The Tutorial Center on the Charleston Campus is located in the lobby of the D Building. Also, there is an open Science & Mathematics Resource Center on each of the Charleston, Cheyenne, and Henderson Campuses. These Resource Centers are staffed with tutors and instructors, and their use is free of charge. Visit http://www.csn.edu/pages/1558.asp for more information. |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rework Examples: |
Pay close attention to the examples found The Study Plan. After reading through them, write down the problem and try to work it without looking at the book or the Notes. |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Connections: | When doing The Study Plan problems, try to identify the process and point of doing the problem. If all you do is crunch out a numeric answers, you won't get very much from them. Many of The Study Plan exercises are intended to enforce concepts. If you can see the intended connections, you may find that you need only work a few problems before you understand them. |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Affirmations: | Stop saying "I am not good at math." The more you say it, the more likely you are to fail. Instead, start telling yourself "I can do this." Also, Don't get discouraged by mistakes; profit by them. Always take the time to review your work and graded quizzes. The best way to start reducing the number of careless mistakes is to identify the kind of mistakes you are prone to making. That way, you know what to look for when working future problems. |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Important Dates | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| September 6 | Final date to receive a 75% refund for withdrawal for this session. Last day to drop without a grade of "W" |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| November 8 | Final date for withrdrawing from the class. After this date, no W grades will be issued. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||