MAT 117: COLLEGE ALGEBRA .edu



MAT 117: COLLEGE ALGEBRA

Fall 2007 Syllabus

The Instructor reserves the right to make changes to this syllabus as needed.

|SLN: 79814, 79815, & 79836 |Instructor: Dave Heckman |

|Office Phone: |Office Hours: Mon, Wed 1 – 3 PM |

|480-965-0267 |Thursday 2 – 3 PM |

|E-mail: heckmath@ |Webpage: math.asu.edu/~dheckman |

|MAT117 URL: | |

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Tentative Schedule

|Week |Topics |Comments |

|8/20 – 8/24 |Orientation, 3.1 | |

|8/27 – 8/31 |3.2, 3.3 | |

|9/3 – 9/7 |3.4, 3.5 |9/3 Labor Day Observed |

|9/10 – 9/14 |3.6, 4.1 |Test 1 – 9/11 or 9/12 |

|9/17 – 9/21 |4.2, 4.3 | |

|9/24 – 9/28 |4.4, 4.5 | |

|10/1 – 10/5 |4.6, 4.7 | |

|10/8 – 10/12 |5.1, 5.2 |Test 2– 10/11 or 10/12 |

|10/15 – 10/19 |5.3, 5.4 | |

|10/22 – 10/26 |5.5, 5.6 | |

|10/29 – 11/2 |5.7, 5.8 | |

|11/5 – 11/9 |7.1, 7.2 |Test 3– 11/6 or 11/7 |

|11/12 – 11/16 |8.1, 8.2 |11/12 Veteran’s Day Observed |

|11/19 – 11/23 |8.3 |11/22, 11/23 Thanksgiving |

|11/26 – 11/30 |Selected Topics |Test 4– 11/29 or 11/30 |

|12/3 – 12/4 | |12/5 Reading Day |

Text: College Algebra, Seventh Edition; by Sullivan, Pearson/Prentice Hall Publishing Company

Prerequisites: Students entering MAT 117 are expected to have completed Intermediate Algebra or its equivalent with a grade of A, B, or C. If the Placement Test Results showed that a lower level course MAT 106 is recommended, then the student should take this course prior to taking MAT 117. The URL for the Placement Test is



Graphing Calculator: A graphing calculator is required for this course. A Ti-83 or Ti-83 plus or Ti-84 is recommended.

Calculators that perform symbolic logic are not permitted. (Ti-89, for example)

Graphing Calculator Workshops – It is very important that you attend either of these sessions:

|                              |Date |Time |Place |

|TI-Calculator | | | |

| |8/27/07 |4:40-6:30 PM |MUR 101 |

| |8/28/07 |4:40-6:30PM |MUR 101 |

|                              |Date |Time |Place |

|Casio-Calculator | | | |

| |8/27/07 |3:05-5:00 |PSH 135 |

| |8/28/07 |3:05-5:00 |PSH 153 |

Final Exam: The final exam will be given according to the ASU Final Exam Schedule; the link is shown above. There will be no make ups given for the final, and no finals will be rescheduled for personal reasons, including non-refundable airplane tickets. (Refer to the last page of this syllabus.)

Exams: You will take four exams during the semester. Each will involve a mix of mechanical skills and conceptual reasoning.

• The best possible preparation of them is regular attendance and completion of assigned homework.

• These exams are to be completed outside of regular class time in the Mathematics Department Testing Center in PSA 21 (basement)

• To be admitted to the Testing Center each student must have a valid ASU Sun Card.

• The testing center is open 8:00 a.m. - 6:30 p.m. M-Th and 8:00 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Friday. Make sure you arrive before 6:30 p.m. M-Th or 3:30 p.m. Friday. The Testing Center will not allow for late entry. Arrival before the door closes allows the student one hour and twenty-five minutes to complete the test.

• Students should complete exams as early as possible during the allotted time frame, since the Testing Center can get extremely busy in the afternoons.

• Your calculator memory may be viewed during any exam and will be cleared if anything suspicious is noted. The instructor has the right to regard finding suspicious material in your calculator memory as cheating.

Makeup exams: The instructor is not required to give a make-up exam. If a make-up exam is given for any reason, it will be more difficult than the original. Make every effort to take each exam on time.

(Below 60% is an E)

Attendance:

• Attendance will be taken on a regular basis as studies have shown that students that attend class regularly are more likely to complete their courses successfully.

• For classes that meet three days a week (MWF, for example), the maximum number of allowed absences is six (6). For classes that meet two days a week (TT for example) , the maximum number is four (4). For classes that meet once a week, the maximum number is two (2).  For classes that meet on other schedules, the number of absences allowed should reflect a similar ratio (two weeks worth of class meetings).

Students who exceed the maximum will receive a grade of EN.

Homework, Quizzes & Projects:

• Homework, quizzes, and projects will be graded. Students may work together on homework, but each individual student is required to submit their own work.

• Homework will be submitted online via the internet using the online homework system MyMathLab. MyMathLab requires Windows and Internet explorer. It can be either your own computer or one in any of the ASU computer labs.

• To log onto MyMathLab, go to



• You will need 3 items to register for MyMathLab:

1. course ID - Heckman87956

2. valid access code (from text book or online registration)

3. valid email address

• Further instructions regarding MyMathLab will be given in class.

• Late homework and/or quiz submission will not be allowed.

• Regular quizzes and projects will be given and frequently reflect material that has recently been discussed in class. There will be no make-up quizzes or homework.

• Students are expected to read relevant sections of the textbook prior to attending class.

Students Resources:

• Tutor Center: The Math Tutor Center (free of charge) in PSA 116 will be open with the following schedule:

o Monday-Thursday from 8:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.

o Friday 8:00 a.m. – noon

o Saturday and Sunday noon -4:00 p.m.

Come in for help before it is too late, and several days before an exam day to strengthen your preparation. In order to be admitted to the Tutor Center each student must present their valid ASU Sun Card.

• ASU Learning Resource Center (LRC): The LRC provides counseling, tutoring in math (and many other subjects), supplemental instruction, and other types of support to students.

First Year Mathematics Courses: Fall Semester 2007

Departmental and University Policies and Procedures

|Course Withdrawal Deadline - In Person |October 26, 2007 |

|Course Withdrawal Deadline - ASU Interactive |October 28, 2007 |

|Complete Withdrawal Deadline |December 4, 2007 |

Withdrawal: A student may withdraw from a course with a grade of W during the withdrawal period. The instructor's signature is not required.

The grade of Incomplete: A grade of incomplete will be awarded only in the event that a documented emergency or illness prevents the student who is doing acceptable work from completing a small percentage of the course requirements. The guidelines in the current general ASU catalog regarding a grade of incomplete will be strictly followed.

Instructor-Initiated Drop: At the instructor's discretion, any student who has not attended class during the first week of classes may be administratively dropped from the course. However, students should be aware that non-attendance will NOT automatically result in their being dropped from the course. Thus, a student should not assume they are no longer registered for a course simply because they did not attend class during the first week. It is the student's responsibility to be aware of their registration status.

Final Exam Make-up Policy: The final exam schedule listed in the Schedule of Classes will be strictly followed. Exceptions to the schedule and requests for make-up final examinations can be granted only by the Department Chair, Associate Department Chair, or the Director of First Year Mathematics, and for one of the following reasons:

1. Religious conflict (e.g., the student celebrates the Sabbath on Saturday)

2. The student has more than three exams scheduled on the same day as the math final

3. There is a time conflict between the math final and another final exam.

If there is a last-minute personal or medical emergency, the student may receive a grade of Incomplete and make up the final within one calendar year. The student must provide written documentation and be passing the class at the time to receive an Incomplete. Make-up exams will NOT be given for reasons of non-refundable airline tickets, vacation plans, work schedules, weddings, family reunions, and other such activities. Students should consult the final exam schedule before making end-of-semester travel plans. The Dean of the student’s college must approve any exceptions to these rules.

Honor Policy: The highest standards of academic integrity are expected of all students. The failure of any student to meet these standards may result in suspension or expulsion from the University or other sanctions as specified in the University Student Academic Integrity Policy. Violations of academic integrity include, but are not limited to, cheating, fabrication, tampering, plagiarism, or facilitating such activities.

The grade of XE: A grade of XE is reserved for "failure for academic dishonesty." The XE grade may be petitioned after 1 year.

Ethics: It's highly unethical to bring to your instructor's attention the possible impact of your mathematics grade on your future plans, including graduation, scholarships, jobs, etc. The instructor may exercise an option to withdraw you from the course if they think you are compromising the ability to assess your work independently of any other consideration. Students found to be involved in academic dishonesty will be removed from the class, and a grade of XE for the course will be submitted to the registrar. The student will be advised to repeat the course with another professor, possibly at another institution. This is the least action taken. Further, more serious actions may be taken if the situation indicated that such actions are appropriate. We will act very harshly against cheating during Quizzes or Exams.

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|Grade Assignment |

| A |90 – 100 % |

| B |80 – 89 % |

| C |70 – 79 % |

| D |60 – 69 % |

| E |0 – 59 % |

|Point Distribution |

|4 Semester Exams |40% |

|Final Exam |20% |

|Homework, Quizzes, Projects |40% |

|Problem Solving | |

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