MATH-0313-50 - Introductory Algebra
Lamar State College - Port Arthur
House Bill 2504
Spring 2018 Course Syllabus
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| Semester | Spring 2018 | ||||||||||||
| Instructor | McIntire, Darren Philip | ||||||||||||
| Phone | (409) 984-6141 | ||||||||||||
| darrenm@lamarpa.edu | |||||||||||||
| Department |
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| Office |
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| MyLamarPA | Be sure to check your campus E-mail and Course Homepage using MyLamarPA campus web portal (My.LamarPA.edu). When you’ve logged in, click the email icon in the upper right-hand corner to check email, or click on the “My Courses” tab to get to your Course Homepage. Click the link to your course and review the information presented. It is important that you check your email and Course Homepage regularly. You can also access your grades, transcripts, and determine who your academic advisor is by using MyLamarPA. | ||||||||||||
| Course Information | |||||||||||||
| Course Number | 11831 | ||||||||||||
| Course Description | Concepts of basic algebra. Operations on real numbers and polynomials, solving equations, inequalities and systems, graphing, factoring polynomials and problem solving are included. Prerequisite: MATH 0312 or placement examination. |
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| Course Prerequisites | Students are allowed to register and remain in this course when they have passed the previous developmental math course or by direct placement through the TSI Assessment Test. | ||||||||||||
| Required Textbooks | ALEKS course software (required, provided free of charge), Beginning & Intermediate, 5th ed., Miller, O’Neill, Hyde (Not required, Speak with instructor if you want a copy of the text), Notebook/Binder, paper, pencils | ||||||||||||
| Attendance Policy |
Regular attendance and participation will help you succeed in this course. If you miss class, you may be missing important announcements, notes, and lecture! You are encouraged to attend every class. However, we know that things happen! You can miss a maximum of 3 classes. These absences should be saved for emergencies, illness, etc. If you miss more than 3 classes, your course grade will be negatively affected in the following way: 4 - 5 classes One letter grade 6 - 7 classes Two letter grades 8+ classes Three letter grades Not only should you attend every class, we want you to participate in class! You can actively participate in the following ways: arrive on time, stay for the entire class, be prepared with the proper materials, ask questions, participate in group work and class activities, etc. Be a part of the class! We are learning together. If you choose to not participate in class, it will negatively affect your grade. Three of the following incidents will be equal to one absence: - Arriving to class late - Leaving class early - Sleeping in class - Refusing to participate in group work - Being on your cell phone If you are unable to attend class, it is your responsibility to find out what material you missed. I will not provide copies of notes. Please reach out to a classmate for missed notes. If you are struggling to understand material you missed in class, please see me during office hours. |
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| Course Grading Scale |
AD 90-100 BD 80-89 CD 70-79 DD 50-69 FD Below 50 |
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| Determination of Final Grade |
Assessments 45% Final Exam 20% ALEKS 20% Lab Hours 10% Learning Portfolio 5% Assessments: Assessments are worth 45% of your final grade. There will be 1 knowledge check and 3 tests. The knowledge check is scheduled for Week 3 of the semester. You will not have to study for this. It will be based on the content you have learned in ALEKS. The knowledge check will be taken at home on your own time. Late work will not be accepted. To maximize class time, you will take each test in the Student Success Center outside of class. Each test will be available for one week from the day we finish the material. You will be responsible for finding time to take the test before the due date. - Retest: If you earn at least a 40% or higher on an Exam, you are able to retest. The higher grade will be included in your course grade. Retests will be available until three days following the exam due date. For example, if Exam 2 is due Feb 20, the retest will be due Feb 23. - Make-Up tests: Makeup tests will only be given in special circumstances provided documentation: illness or medical emergency, bereavement, etc. If this is the case, you must contact me via email BEFORE the exam due date to schedule a time for the makeup test. Makeup tests must be taken within one week of the original test due date. ALEKS: We will use the learning system ALEKS in this course. Math is NOT a spectator sport! You have to practice problems and concepts on your own to learn the material. ALKES is worth 20% of your course grade. There are two pieces to ALEKS: - Chapter Goal (10%): Instead of completing a standard set of homework problems, you will work through topics in each Chapter. Each Chapter Goal must be completed by a certain date. Approximate due dates are given below. These dates are subject to change. Due dates are final. Late work will not be accepted. Chapter #1 February 8 Chapter #2 February 20 Chapter #3 March 8 Chapter #4 April 5 Chapter #5 April 24 Chapter #6 (If possible) May 3 - Time Goals (10%): To help you stay on track, you will also have a weekly time goal of 4 hours. That is, you must spend 4 hours each week in ALEKS. Each time goal will be due Sunday night of that week. Your grade will be based on the percentage of time completed. For example, 3 hours of time = 75%. There are 14 time goals throughout the semester beginning Week 2. Lab Hours: It is critical that you spend time on this course every week and we want to help you form a positive study habit! So, we require that you spend at least one hour a week in the Student Success Center (SSC) Lab working on this course. You can work in ALEKS, review notes, watch helpful videos, etc. Just take one hour a week and work on this course in the SSC Lab. Tutors will be available 9-3 weekdays to help you with any questions you may have. Lab hours are worth 10% of the final course grade. The lab grade breaks down as follows: Lab Hours Grade < 11 hours 0% 11 hours 70% 12 hours 80% 13 hours 90% 14 hours 100% Learning Portfolio: Not only is it important that you practice math regularly, it is important that you keep a record of notes and practice problems. You must maintain a binder and/or notebook complete with the syllabus, course handouts, lecture notes, problems worked on ALEKS, and graded exams. You will hand in the Learning Portfolio on the day you take the final exam. The Learning Portfolio is worth 5% of your final course grade. You will earn a 0 if you do not turn in the learning portfolio. |
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| Final Exam Date | May 8, 2018 - 8:00 AM Through May 8, 2018 - 5:00 PM | ||||||||||||
| Major Assignments |
Approximate Due Dates: (subject to change) Scheduled Knowledge Check: 2/2 Test 1: 2/20 Test 2: 3/8 Test 3: 4/5 Chapter Goals: Chapter #1 February 8 Chapter #2 February 20 Chapter #3 March 8 Chapter #4 April 5 Chapter #5 April 24 Chapter #6 (If possible) May 3 |
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| Calendar of Lecture Topics and Major Assignment Due Dates |
Week 1: Syllabus, 1.1 Week 2: 1.2 - 1.3 Week 3: 1.4 - 1.7 Week 4: 2.1 - 2.3 Week 5: 2.4 Week 6: 3.1 - 3.3 Week 7: 3.4 - 3.5 Week 8: 4.1 Week 9: 4.2 - 4.3 Week 10: 4.4 - 4.5 Week 11: 5.1 Week 12: 5.2 - 5.6 Week 13: 5.7, 6.1 - 6.2 Week 14: 6.3, 6.5 - 6.6 Week 15: Review |
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| General Education/Core Curriculum Student Learning Outcomes |
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| Program Student Learning Outcomes |
PSLO 1: Critical Thinking Skills – Uses creative thinking, innovation, inquiry and analysis, evaluation and synthesis of information. Creatively identifies problem, argument, or issue (to determine extent of information needed); differentiates the facts from opinions as relates to situation; constructs possible solutions or prediction or consequences; uses logical, sound reasoning to justify conclusion. PSLO 2: Communication Skills – Demonstrates effective development, interpretation and expression of ideas through written, oral and/or visual communication. Expresses a strong thesis; organizes information with effective transitions & sequencing of ideas; uses substantial, logical & specific development of ideas; details are relevant, original, credible and correctly documented when appropriate to show an effective development and interpretation of ideas; and presents ideas in appropriate mode of expression for the task. PSLO3: Empirical and Quantitative Skills – Applies the manipulation and/or analysis of numerical data or observable facts resulting in informed conclusions. Identifies mathematical or scientific principles needed to complete task; uses mathematical or scientific principles needed to complete task; analyzes how to use the principles; and applies problem-solving skills in mathematical or scientific principles needed to complete task with correct informed conclusions. PSLO 4: Teamwork Skills- Shows the ability to consider different points of view and to work effectively with others to support a shared purpose or goal. Helps the team move forward by discussing merits of alternative ideas; Treats team members respectfully; uses positive facial, vocal or written tone, or language to convey a positive attitude; Motivates teammates by expressing confidence about the importance of the task; Provides assistance/encouragement to team members; Completes all assigned tasks by deadline; Addresses conflict constructively; or helps the group avoid conflict completely. PSLO 5: Social Responsibility Skills - Expresses intercultural competence, knowledge of civic responsibility, and the ability to engage effectively in regional, national, and global communities. Identifies cultural characteristics (including beliefs, values, perspectives and/or practices); demonstrates knowledge of civic responsibility; provides evidence of experience in civic- engagement activities; and describes what she/ he has learned as it relates to a reinforced and clarified sense of civic identity in local, regional, national, or global communities; and shows awareness of one’s own culture in relation to others. PSLO 6: Personal Responsibility Skills – Integrates choices, actions and consequences in ethical decision-making. Recognizes ethical issues when presented in a complex, multilayered (gray) context; recognizes cross- relationships among the issues; discusses in detail/ analyzes core beliefs; the discussion has greater depth and clarity showing the independent application of ethical perspectives/ concepts to an ethical question accurately; and is able to consider full implications of the application. |
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| Course Student Learning Outcomes |
MATH 0313 INTRODUCTORY ALGEBRA (PSLOs 1,2 and 3) Course objectives (CSLOs): - Students will determine the slopes, intercepts, equations and graphs of lines - Students will solve systems of equations in two and three variables by substitution, addition and determinants - Students will add, subtract, multiply, divide and factor polynomials - Students will translate, develop a strategy and solve related application problems - Students will utilize an online learning system to demonstrate math proficiency |
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| Academic Honesty | Academic honesty is expected from all students, and dishonesty in any form will not be tolerated. Please consult the LSC-PA policies (Section IX, subsection A, in the Faculty Handbook) for consequences of academic dishonesty. | ||||||||||||
| Facility Policies |
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| Additional Information | I will not discuss your grades over the phone or by email. If you want to discuss your grades, you must come to my office, in person. | ||||||||||||
| Important Information | |||||||||||||
| ADA Considerations | The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is a federal anti-discrimination statute that provides comprehensive civil rights for persons with disabilities. Among other things, this legislation requires that all students with disabilities be guaranteed a learning environment that provides for reasonable accommodation of their disabilities. If you believe you have a disability requiring an accommodation, please contact the Special Populations Coordinator, Room 231, in the Madison Monroe Building. The phone number is (409) 984-6241. | ||||||||||||
| Copyright Violations |
Some material in this course may be copyrighted. They may be used only for instructional purposes this semester,
by students enrolled in this course. These materials are being used fairly and legally.
No one may distribute or share these copyrighted materials in any medium or format with anyone outside this class,
including publishing essays with copyrighted material, uploading copyrighted material to Facebook or YouTube, or
painting or performing copyrighted material for public display.
Copyright violation is not the same thing as plagiarism. Plagiarism is intellectual dishonesty. Offenses of plagiarism result in lower grades or failing scores, and professors and the college strictly enforce plagiarism rules. There is never any acceptable use of plagiarism. Copyright violation is a legal offense, punishable by large fines and penalties. Copyrighted material can be used if permission from the material’s creator is obtained, or if its use meets the standards of fair use in an educational setting. For example, a student can quote a line from Shakespeare’s Hamlet in a report without violating copyright but still be guilty of plagiarism if the quotation is not properly documented. If you are in doubt about what material can be freely used, ask your professor or contact the Dean of Library Services, at (409) 984-6216. |
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| Assessment Statement |
Assessment is a process by which LSCPA can help you learn better and gauge the level of progress you have made to
attain knowledge, skills, beliefs, and values. It also helps your professors understand how to improve teaching
and testing methods in your classes, and it helps each department understand and improve degree and certificate
programs.
Periodically LSC-PA will collect assessment data for research and reporting purposes, including statistical data and sometimes copies of your work. Be assured that all material the college uses for assessment purposes will be kept confidential. To ensure anonymity, your name will be removed from any material we use for assessment purposes, including video-recorded performances, speeches, and projects. If you object to allowing LSC-PA to use your material for assessment purposes, submit a letter stating so to your professor by the 12th class day. You will still be required to participate in whatever assessments are being done; we just won’t use your data. What’s the difference between assessment and grades? The grades you get on papers, projects, speeches, and assignments are specific types of focused assessment. LSC-PA’s assessment efforts include class grades, surveys, standardized tests, and other tools. |
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| Privacy Notice |
Federal privacy laws apply to college students. This means that college employees, including instructors, cannot
divulge information to third parties, including parents and legal guardians of students. Even if the students are
minors, information about their college work cannot be shared with anyone except in very limited circumstances.
Anyone requesting information about a student should be referred to the Registrar. Instructors will be notified in writing by that Office about what information may be released and to whom. Please remember that releasing private information about a student, however innocuous it may seem, can be a violation of federal law, with very serious consequences. Circumstances under which information may be released:
An adult student may submit, to the Registrar, a handwritten, signed note granting permission for release of
information. The note must specify what information may be divulged, and it must specify the name of the person
to whom the information may be given.
The Registrar’s office is located in the Student Center room 303B, and can be reached at (409) 984-6165. |
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| College-Level Perspectives |
This course helps add to the students’ overall collegiate experience in the following ways:
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| Degree Plan Evaluation |
A Degree Plan Evaluation will help you determine which classes you need to complete your program.
All of the classes that you have taken that apply to your declared major will be listed on the right. If you have a class that still needs to be completed, a “NO” will be listed on the right next to the required class. |
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| HB 2504 | This syllabus is part of LSC-PA’s efforts to comply with Texas House Bill 2504. | ||||||||||||
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