Syllabus -- Precalculus -- Spring, 2008

Math 2312 Section 03

Text: Functions Modeling Change, 3rd Edition, by Connally et al.

Instructor: Dr. Edward Early

E-mail: edwarde@stedwards.edu

Phone: 637-5639 (email preferred)

Office: Andre 213A

Office Hours: MW 3:30-4:30, TR 3-4:30

Home Page: http://myweb.stedwards.edu/edwarde/
See BlackBoard for all necessary course materials.

Course Content: This course focuses on the ideas central to the theory of functions and stresses conceptual understanding along with multiple ways of representing mathematical ideas. The course is technology based and students will be expected to use Maple and/or a graphing calculator in solving problems.

Course Structure: Students should read the topics assigned before coming to class. Three exams and a comprehensive final exam will be given. If you have to miss an exam, you MUST email the instructor before the exam is over to request a make-up test. Note that family vacation is not a valid excuse, even around holidays. Anyone missing a test without a valid excuse will have their BlackBoard access suspended.
This is a very fast-paced course. You should expect to spend several hours on each homework assignment. You should expect to struggle with the material, as homework questions will often go beyond what we covered in class. There will be times when it is difficult to keep up, especially if you aren't reading ahead. You've been warned.
Homework is due in class. A short quiz may be given at the start of class in lieu of collecting homework, without notice, and count for that homework score. There will be an open-book group quiz before each test to help everyone review together, in addition to the homework due that day.
If you cannot make it to class, you can turn homework in early, have someone else bring it to class, or slide it under my office door. Your lowest two homework grades will be dropped. Under no circumstances will any assignments be accepted late.

Grades: A student's grade will be determined by a weighted average as follows:
Three Exams: 45%
Final Exam: 25%
Homework/Quiz: 25%
Attendance/Participation: 4%
Free Point: 1%
Course grades will be assigned based on the weighted average:
90-100% is an A, 80-89% is a B, 70-79% is a C, 60-69% is a D, and 0-59% is an F.

Attendance: On days when homework is due, attendance will be taken based on whether or not you turn in anything. Anyone with at least 5 absences may be WA'd from the course.

Honesty: All exam answers must be the product of an individual student's own thought and effort. Homework may be discussed and worked in groups, but solutions must be written individually. Copying or trading entire solutions to homework problems is cheating and will be penalized when detected. The standard penalty for a first offense is a 0 on the tainted assignment. A second offense will result in failure of the course.

Academic Planning and Support: Academic Planning and Support Services wants each student to perform to the best of their ability academically. To assist students in their efforts, we offer individual academic counseling appointments. These meetings can allow for discussion of the structured academic skills, training in such topics as time management, reading skills, goal setting, test preparation, etc. All St. Edward's students are encouraged to utilize these appointments through their entire college career. By doing so, you are increasing your chances of doing well not only in this course, but in your overall experience here at the University. To make an appointment, call APSS at 448-8660 or stop by Moody Hall 155.

Special Circumstances: If you have a medical, psychiatric or learning disability and require accommodations in this class, please let your instructor know early in the semester or as soon as you are eligible. You will first need to provide documentation of your disability to the Student Disability Services office located in Moody Hall 155 in the office of Academic Planning and Support Services. Exams taken in the testing center should be scheduled a week in advance. Under no circumstances can testing arrangements be changed without 24 hours' notice.

See the registrar's web page for important dates, including the final exam schedule. The final exam MUST be taken during finals week, with absolutely no exceptions. No, not even for that.