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Mastery Pilot CATALOG
DESCRIPTION: College
Algebra I (3:3:0). Quadratic equations; equations in quadratic form; word
problems, graphing; algebraic fractions; negative and rational exponents;
radicals. PREREQUISITE:
Math 4 or satisfactory
performance on the mathematics proficiency examination. Students who do not
meet the prerequisite may have great difficulty in the course. INSTRUCTOR INFORMATION:
TEXT:
Intermediate Algebra, 8th
edition, by J. E. Kaufmann and K. L. Schwitters,
published by Thomson, Brooks/Cole. An
electronic version of the text (e-text) is available chapter by chapter
through http://pennstate.ichapterssites.com
COURSE FORMAT: There are three
50-minute lectures each week. The sections covered in these lectures are
listed at the end of this syllabus. MATH
021 LEARNING OBJECTIVES: Upon
successful completion of Math 021, the student should be able to:
LATE-DROP: Students may add/drop a course without academic
penalty within the first ten calendar days of the semester. A student may
late drop a course within the first twelve weeks of the semester but accrues
late drop credits equal to the number of credits in the dropped course. A
baccalaureate student is limited to 16 late drop credits. The late drop
deadline for Spring 2009 is April 10, 2009. GRADES: Your course grade will be determined based on
your outcomes on the twelve “mastery quizzes” and a comprehensive final examination which cover the course
content. Each quiz will consist of 10 multiple-choice questions
and cover the textbook sections as follows:
Notes
On any particular quiz, correctly answering at least eight (8) of the ten (10) problems will constitute “mastery” of the content. Such mastery will earn two (2) "value" points for the course. If a student's highest score on a particular quiz is either six (6) or seven (7) out of the ten (10) problems, the student will earn one (1) "value" point for that quiz.
Thus, a student may earn a maximum of twenty-four (24) "value" points for the course via the mastery quizzes. Note that an additional eight (8) "value" points may be earned via the final exam for a total of thirty-two (32) "value" points for the course.
As noted in the table below,
your course grade is based solely on your mastery of the quizzes and your grade on the final exam; course
letter grades will be determined as follows:
Completion of all twelve quizzes in the course is mandatory to receive a course grade. This does not mean mastery of all twelve quizzes, simply completion of all twelve quizzes. Moreover, the final exam must be completed as well in order to receive a course grade.
Your grade will be based EXCLUSIVELY on the outcomes of your mastery quizzes and the final exam. There is no "extra-credit" work in this course. Note also that the above cutoffs may be adjusted later in the semester (for the benefit of the students) if the coordinator of the course deems this necessary.
QUIZ "RETAKES":
During the week of March 2-6, each student will be allowed one
additional re-take on one of the first six mastery quizzes with the
goal of raising their course grade. During the week of April 27-May 1, each student will be allowed one additional re-take on one of the last six mastery quizzes as well. Decisions
about which quizzes this will entail will be made based on the instructor’s
discretion. DEFERRED
GRADES: Students who are unable to
complete the course because of illness or emergency may be granted a deferred
grade which will allow the student to complete the course within the first
six weeks of the following semester. Note that deferred grades are
limited to those students who can verify and document a valid reason for not
being able to take the final examination. For more information see, DF grade. 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. Academic
dishonesty includes, but is no limited to, cheating, plagiarizing, […],
facilitating acts of academic dishonesty by others, having unauthorized
possession of examinations, submitting work of another person or work
previously used without informing the instructor, or tampering with academic
work of other students. […] A student charged with academic dishonesty will
be given oral or written notice of the charge by the instructor. If students
believe that they have been falsely accused, they should seek redress through
informal discussions with the instructor, the department head, dean or campus executive officer. If the instructor
believes that the infraction is sufficiently serious to warrant the referral
of the case to Judicial Affairs, or if the instructor will award a final
grade of F in the course because of the infraction, the student and
instructor will be afforded formal due process procedures. From
Policies and Rules, Student Guide to the University Policy 49-20. 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. CALCULATOR
POLICY: Calculators
will NOT be allowed during mastery quiz testing. QUESTIONS,
PROBLEMS, OR COMMENTS: If you
have questions or concerns about the course, please consult your instructor
first. If further guidance is needed, you may contact the course coordinator whose
address is given below. COURSE
COORDINATOR: Dr.
James Sellers, Director of Undergraduate Mathematics 104
McAllister Building |
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