Fall 2019, The Citadel
Syllabus Schedule Homework videos Exams
Instructor
Dr. Sybil Nelson
Thompson Hall 311
Office Hours: MWF 11:00am – 12:00pm, R 11:00am-1:30 and by appt. Email me at sprincen@citadel.edu
Study Hall Office Hours: Thursday 1:30-2:30
Office Phone: 843-953-6983
Course Description: This course is designed to give you a good working knowledge of functions and their graphs as well as some basic skills in algebra and trigonometry. These fundamental mathematics skills are necessary for future Calculus and Applied Math courses. To proceed to Calculus I, a grade of C or higher is required.
Required Materials:
Text: From Stewart/Redlin/Watson’s: Precalculus Mathematics for Calculus, 7E
Using Chapters 1-7, 10, Appendix and Index
ISBN: 9781337695619
Calculator: TI-83 or TI-84. Bring your calculator to class everyday.
Class website: Our class website can be found at http://sybilnelson.com/Math119/index.html . Check here for homework help, practice tests, schedule and other course materials.
Grading: Grades will be determined on a ten-point scale as follows:
A: 90-100
B: 80-89
C: 70-79
D: 60-69
F: Below 60
The final grade break down is as follows:
Tests : 50%
Homework and Participation: 10%
Quizzes: 10%
Gateway Exam: 10%
Final Exam: 20%
Final Exam: There will be a cumulative final exam given at the end of the course. Failure to take the final exam will result in failure of the course.
Homework: You must complete homework to be successful in this course. Do NOT delay in doing your homework. There is TOO MUCH homework to save if all for the night before the test and the material builds on itself. If you do not complete your homework one evening, you will be lost the next day in class. Not only will homework enable you to test your understanding of the material you have seen in class, but you will also learn through practice
Homework assignments will come from your textbook and will be due every day by 12:00 am electronically. If you miss the midnight deadline, you can submit it in writing under my door before I come in at 7am. The homework assignments and the schedule can be found here.
Guidelines for homework assignments: Write your name, class, date and sections covered on the assignment clearly at the top of each page. If you are not stapling or paper-clipping the pages, then put your name on each page. Use standard sized paper, with no fringe on the edge of your paper. Clearly indicate the section and problem number that you are working on. Work the problems in the same order that they are assigned. Homework should be done in pencil. Cleanly erase any mistakes. Do not cross out or scratch out your mistakes. Write legibly. If I cannot read your work, the answer is wrong. Show all work for each problem in an orderly fashion. Circle your final answer. Keep your work within the margins. Do not squeeze problems together. You may scan your homework or take a picture and email it to me. Please put your name and the section in the subject line of the email.
Quizzes/In-Class Assignments: Quizzes will be given daily at the beginning of class and will be based on the reading from the night before.
Participation: You will receive a participation grade based on daily iClicker quizzes at the end of class. Be sure to download the app on to your phone or laptop.
Tests: Six tests are tentatively scheduled. If you are unable to attend a test because of an emergency, you must notify the instructor to make arrangements to take the test before the next class meeting. You have 3 days to make up a test or you will receive a grade of zero for that test.
Gateway Exam: The gateway exam will be 10% of your final grade. The gateway exam contains 8 problems on topics covered during the first half of the semester. To pass the gateway, it is required to complete at least 7 of the 8 problems perfectly. This means if you get 6 or fewer problems correct, you will have 0% as part of your final grade. The gateway exam can be taken as many times as necessary up to three times a day during the scheduled hours. More information will be announced in class. If you have accommodations for exams, they apply to the Gateway exam. Please see me for details. The gateway exam will be available for you to take starting Sept 17 and will be due on Nov 9.
Participation/Notes: You are expected to be in class and prepared to learn. Every student needs to have a notebook in class everyday and is expected to take notes. You should also have a folder to keep handouts and graded assignments. You should have a notebook, pencil with a good eraser and a calculator in class everyday. You should come to class awake and prepared to actively participate. You should read your textbook and take good notes during class to be successful in this course.
Attendance: Attendance is crucial in any college level class. We will cover a lot of material everyday and it will be very difficult to catch up on your own. Attendance will be taken at the beginning of class everyday. If you are more than 15 minutes late, it will count as an absence. Please note that you must be present when attendance is taken in order to be marked present – your book bag will not be counted. If you are sleeping during class or using an electronic device, you will be asked to leave class and will be marked as absent. A total of 12 absences will result in an F in the course. 3 instances of tardiness count as one absence. Homework extensions will not be given even if you are absent. If is your responsibility to go to the SI sessions and read the textbook to keep up with the material.
Classroom Rules and Expectations: Please respect your fellow students, instructor and the classroom. The following are not allowed because the are disruptive and detrimental to the learning experience of yourself and others:
Sleeping, texting, talking, reading or working on unrelated material, leaving the room, use of any electronics such as cellphones and tablets, students are not allowed to eat, drink or chew tobacco in any o the classrooms.
Honor code violations will be reported- cheating will not be tolerated.
Take care of any personal needs outside of class time. Bathroom and water breaks will be given approximately once every hour.
Math Lab
Math tutoring is offered for FREE during the following hours:
Monday – Thursday: 1pm-4pm
Sunday-Thursday: 7pm-10pm
You are required to go to Math Lab 10 times during the semester for a grade. I recommend you go for help with your written homework or the Gateway. Your Math Lab attendance will be counted toward your homework and participation grade.