MATH 36 - Insights Into Mathematics

 

                                                    Fall Semester 2008

 

 

 

 

General Information

 

Instructor:

Mrs. Pat Schulte

Office:

104 McAllister

Office Phone:

(814) 865-7528

E-mail:

schulte@math.psu.edu

Office Hours:

 Tuesdays 11:00AM - Noon

 

 Wednesdays 3:00 - 4:00PM

 

Otherwise by appointment

Textbook:

Excursions in Modern Mathematics, Sixth Edition, by Peter Tannenbaum

Web Site:

http://www.math.psu.edu/schulte

 

Prerequisite:

One unit of algebra or MATH 004

Course Format:

There are three 50-minute lectures each week.  The sections covered in these lectures are listed under

 

Lecture Schedule and Assignments on the web page www.math.psu.edu/schulte

 

Homework:

A list of suggested homework problems appears on the Lecture Schedule and Assignments web page and at the end of this syllabus.  These homework problems will not be turned in for a grade.  The purpose of doing homework is to better understand the material discussed in the lectures and to prepare oneself for quizzes and exams.

 

Quizzes:

There will be 2 types of quizzes given during the semester.

E-quizzes will be unannounced short quizzes given at the beginning of the class period or will be a response to a question answered in class.  The purpose of E-quizzes is to keep you current with the course content and to allow you to assess your knowledge of the concepts being presented in the course and to encourage class attendance.  Each graded quiz will receive a grade of 0 or 1 and will be graded for accuracy, clear writing and clear explanations to support your work. Students who correctly answer a question in class will receive 1 point for the day.  The scores for E-quizzes represent 5% of the grade for the course.

Quizzes will be announced prior to being given in class.  They will be longer in length than the E-quizzes but will not last the entire class period.  The purpose of quizzes is to help you keep current with the course content and to allow you to assess your knowledge of several concepts being presented in the course.  You will be graded for accuracy, clear writing and clear explanations to support your work.  The scores for Quizzes represent 10% of the grade for the course.

 

Exams:

Three in-class examinations will be given.  The dates of these exams are contained in the Lecture Schedule and Assignments  web page and at the end of the syllabus.  If you miss an exam without an official excuse (such as illness or official university business), then you will be allowed to take a makeup exam, but with an automatic 20% deduction from the grade.  To avoid this deduction, you must notify me with your official excuse before the date and time of the exam.  This notification may be performed in person, via e-mail or by telephone.  Each exam represents 20% of the grade for the course.

The final examination in the course will be comprehensive. It will be given during the university's final examination week, December 15 - 19, 2008.  Individualized final exam schedules for students and faculty will be available on eLion under "Final Exam Schedule" Monday, September 29, 2008. Do not make plans to leave the university before the end of final examination week. Travel plans do not constitute an official excuse for missing an examination or for obtaining a conflict or makeup examination. A 20% deduction will be enforced in the event that a student's travel plans conflict with the university's designated final examination period for this course.  The final examination represents 25% of the grade in the course.

 

Grades:

 

        

 

 

Percent

Grade

 

93 - 100

A

90 - 92

A-

87 - 89

B+

Graded Event

Percentage

83 - 86

B

Exam 1

20%

80 - 82

B-

Exam 2

20%

77 - 79

C+

Exam 3

20%

70 - 76

C

Quizzes

10%

60 - 69

D

E-quizzes

5%

0 - 59

F

Final Exam

25%

 

 

 

 

Academic Integrity Statement:

Your work is expected to adhere to the University's standards of academic integrity. "Academic integrity is the pursuit of scholarly activity in an open, honest, and responsible manner." "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 fruit 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." See Policies and Rules for Students, Section 49-20 for Penn State's complete policy on Academic Integrity.

 

 

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