Sample Syllabus: MATH 171/171A - PRECALCULUS ALGEBRA Fall 2008
INSTRUCTOR: Ms. Valerie Melvin OFFICE: S – 602F OFFICE HOURS:
EMAIL: vmelvin@cfcc.edu PHONE: 362-7139 MW 12 - 1
TTH 10 - 11
F 8 - 9
TEXT: Precalculus Algebra and Trigonometry, 4th Edition, Bittinger, Beecher, Ellenbogen, Penna. Addison, Wesley Longman Publishing. You must have a TI-83 or TI-84 graphing calculator. You will also need a student access code to complete the online component of this course. The access code is included in a new book purchase from the CFCC bookstore. If you purchase a used text you will need to purchase the student access code separately during the online registration process.
COURSE DESCRIPTION: This is the first of two courses designed to emphasize topics that are fundamental to the study of calculus. Emphasis is placed on equations and inequalities, functions (linear, polynomial, rational), systems of equations and inequalities, and parametric equations. This course also includes a laboratory. Emphasis in the lab is placed on experiences that enhance the materials presented in the class. Upon completion of the course, students should be able to solve practical problems and use appropriate models for analysis and predictions. Upon completion of the lab, students should be able to solve problems, apply critical thinking, work in teams, and communicate effectively.
CLASS HOURS/WEEK: 3 SEMESTER CREDIT: 3 LAB HOURS/WEEK: 2 SEMESTER CREDIT: 1
PREREQUISITES: Completion of MAT 080 or MAT 090. COREQUISITES: MAT 171A (lab)
EVALUATION: There will be 5 chapter tests worth 100 points each. Each test represents 12% of your final grade. THERE WILL BE NO MAKE UP TESTS! IF YOU MISS A SCHEDULED TEST THAT WILL BE THE GRADE OF ZERO. NO STUDENT WILL BE ADMITTED INTO THE CLASSROOM LATE ON TEST DATES! TESTS WILL BE COMPLETED IN PENCIL! Homework will be assigned daily. You are expected to complete the assignments. Calculator labs and online homework will be assigned weekly. The cumulative calculator lab/online homework grade will weigh 20% of your final course grade. NEITHER LABS NOR ONLINE HOMEWORK WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED LATE! There will be a cumulative final given. This final will weigh 20% of your final course grade. The grading scale is as follows:
92 - 100 A
84 - 91 B
76 - 83 C
68 - 75 D
67 - below F
ATTENDANCE: Attendance will be taken at the beginning of each class period. Students absent any part of class (beginning or end) will be marked absent. All cellar phones and/or beepers should be turned off prior to entering the classroom. If your cell phone or beeper rings during class you will be marked absent for that day. You must be in attendance 80% of the class hours, anything less will result in a grade of “F”. We will be covering chapters 1 – 5 and 9.1, 9.2 and 10.7. We will review whenever necessary.
CAMPUS CRUISER STATEMENT: Every student has an official CFCC-provided email account that is to be used for all email correspondence with your instructors and with the CFCC staff. Some information (such as TRAC registration info) from CFCC will ONLY be emailed to this address, and not sent through postal mail as in the past, so it is very important that you check this account periodically. To access this account, please visit the CFCC website www.cfcc.edu and click on the Campus Cruiser link at the very top of the page, then follow the directions on the Campus Cruiser website to log in. You will use your log in ID as part of your email address (yourloginID@email.cfcc.edu). This email account is provided to you as long as you are enrolled in classes (summer will not count), and may be used for personal email as well as academic email.
DISCLAIMER: Information contained in this syllabus was, to the best knowledge of the instructor, considered correct and complete when distributed for use at the beginning of the semester. The instructor reserves the right, acting within the policies and procedures of Cape Fear Community College, to make changes in course content or instructional techniques without notice or obligation.