MATH 17 - Finite Mathematics
Penn State University
Fall Semester 2007
General Information - Sections 3, 5 & 7
Instructor: Chris George (czg111@psu.edu)
Office: 404 McAllister
Office Hours: W 2:10-3:00, R 11:00-12:00
Grades
There are a total of 450 points that can be earned in this class, distributed as follows:
Exam I: 100 points
Exam II: 100 points
Final Exam: 150 points
Quizzes: 100 points
Exams. A total of three exams (two midterms and a final) will be given for this course. See the official course syllabus for more information on these exams.
Quizzes. In class quizzes will be given in class every Friday except during exam weeks, for a total of 12 quizzes, and each will be worth 10 points. For each quiz, you will be allowed to use one 8.5"x11" piece of paper as a "cheat sheet". I urge you to keep these cheat sheets, as they may prove to be excellent study guides for the exams. There will be two additional items that will count as quiz scores: the Monty Hall Problem, and a participation grade (counted in Koosh points), each worth 10 points as well. Only your 10 highest quiz scores will count, and there will be absolutely no makeup quizzes given, so plan accordingly.
Suggested Homework
A list of suggested homework problems can be found here. These homework problems will not be turned in for a grade. The purpose of doing the homework is to better understand the material discussed in the lectures and to prepare oneself for quizzes and exams, not to mention the goal of learning.
These problems are considered the minimum amount of exercises necessary to learn the material. It is in your best interest to complete all of these problems (and probably more). As mentioned above, this will help tremendously for the quizzes and exams. You may work together on these problems if you so desire.
I also encourage you to keep up with the suggested homework and not get behind because it may prove difficult to catch up. Much of this material builds upon previous material, so keeping up with the class will be quite beneficial.
Class Atmosphere
Math simply cannot be mastered passively. Hence it is my goal to create a classroom environment that is as interactive as possible. In other words, your participation is important! Please do not hesitate to ask questions at any time; your learning mathematics is my highest priority, and if it’s not happening, we are all wasting our time, regardless of how much material is covered. All of us have a vested interest in making class time as profitable as possible. Although attendance is not mandatory in the strictest sense, you can expect indirect penalties in the form of poor quiz/exam performance if you miss class often. Also, be aware that your effort to attend class is directly proportional to the amount of time I am willing to spend helping you outside of class.
Actively seek help when needed. I take your education very seriously (as I hope you do). If you have any problems or concerns during the course of the semester, please contact me. I will do everything in my power to help you, or direct you to someone who can.
Class Attendance
Although regular classroom attendance will not figure into your grade in a tangible way, I strongly encourage your regular attendance in this class. It should be obvious that attending all classes is extremely beneficial to you. Seeing the material presented in a lecture is extremely helpful as the presentation will often be different than the text in order to clarify and enhance the reading assignments. Having questions answered in class (as well as hearing other students' questions) is also a benefit. Material not present in the text may be presented in class; you will be held accountable for this material on quizzes and exams. Finally, regular attendance demonstrates good stewardship of your time and money. If circumstances cause you to miss class,
you are responsible for material due, concepts covered, and assignments given!
Cell phone policy: Your cell phone should be turned off during class. Any ringing cell phone is subject to confiscation for the class period.
Hopefully Helpful Hints
Learn for the long term . Strive to retain the knowledge that you acquire. Do not simply try to learn material a couple of days before an exam with the goal of forgetting it right after finals. View the learning of the material as an active process, not a passive one. (You are here to learn, not to receive grades.) Learning is a process, not an event.
Strive to know the material , to understand it at a very deep level, rather than a superficial one.
Do the homework with as little help (solutions manuals, friends, etc.) as possible. Balance the use of group learning with individual study so you actually know the material.
Ask questions , either in class or during office hours.
Read the textbook before the planned lecture. The tentative schedule of classes gives you a guide as to what to read in advance.
Carefully study and rework the examples in the text .
Re-read and rewrite your notes .
Study for exams progressively, over a long period of time. Begin the studying process at least one week prior to the date of the exam.
Manage your time wisely . Plan to spend at least two hours outside of class for every hour in class, if not more!
Get plenty of rest . Staying up late every night is usually not a beneficial practice academically.
Academic Integrity
Academic integrity is the pursuit of scholarly activity in an open, honest and responsible manner. Academic integrity is a basic guiding principle for all academic activity at The Pennsylvania State University, and all members of the University community are expected to act in accordance with this principle. Consistent with this expectation, the University's Code of Conduct states that all students should act with personal integrity, respect other students' dignity, rights and property, and help create and maintain an environment in which all can succeed through the fruits of their efforts.
Academic integrity includes a commitment not to engage in or tolerate acts of falsification, misrepresentation or deception. Such acts of dishonesty violate the fundamental ethical principles of the University community and compromise the worth of work completed by others.
Based on the University's Faculty Senate Policy 49-20 , a range of academic sanctions may be taken against a student who engages in academic dishonesty. Please see the Eberly College of Science Academic Integrity homepage for additional information and procedures.