Welcome to
MA 004, Basic Algebra
Fall 2005
MLC Hours
|
MA 004 Coordinator:
|
Ms. Shelley Lenahan
|
Sunday
|
2:30 – 5:00
|
Office:
|
LIB 205 (MLC)
|
Mon & Wed
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10:15 – 6:30
|
Phone:
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824-6524 / 6353 (no voicemail)
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Tues & Thurs
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9:00 – 8:00
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E-mail:
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lenahas@uah.edu
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Friday
|
9:00 – 3:00
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Office Hours:
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MW 3-5, TR 9-12, F By Appt.
|
Course
Objectives
MA 004 is a course in basic algebra for
students with a deficiency in high school algebra or who need an algebra
review. The goal is to prepare students to take one of the entry, college-level
math courses at UAH:
- MA
107, Algebra with Applications
- MA
110, Finite Mathematics
- MA
112, Precalculus Algebra
More specifically, a
student who successfully completes MA 004 should
- have
a basic understanding of the real number system, including major classes
of numbers (integer, rational, irrational), and the geometric
representation of the real number system as a number line
- understand
the basic rules of the arithmetic operations, the rules of precedence and
proper notation.
- be
able to perform standard algebraic operations on polynomial and rational
expressions, and transform algebraic expressions into various equivalent
forms, depending on the purpose intended.
- understand
functions and expressions from contrasting but complementary points of
view: algebraic, geometric, procedural.
- be
able to recognize basic functions (linear, quadratic) from both an
algebraic and geometric point of view.
- be
able to solve linear and simple quadratic equations
- understand
the function concept and the standard ways of combining functions using
the arithmetic operations and composition.
- be
able to translate simple applied problems into algebraic language.
- recognize
common algebraic fallacies, particularly those that involve the improper
interchange of operations.
- make
progress towards the general goal of being able to learn, use, and
communicate mathematics independently.
Format
MA 004 is taught in
a computer-assisted format. Students attend two classes per week on a
regular schedule with a dedicated instructor, and also work in the Mathematics
Learning Center on their own schedule with the help of instructors and other
graduate assistants. Graded homework assignments, quizzes, and tests are
computer-based.
Prerequisites: Placement
Credit Hours: No credit
Grading System
This course is officially graded S, U.
Students who complete the course successfully will be given an informal grade
of A, B, or C to help with advising and placement into other mathematics
courses.
Instructors
- Ms.
Shelley Lenahan, Coordinator and Instructor for sections 01 and 04
- Ms.
Siroj Kansakar, Instructor for sections 02 and 05
- Ms.
Stephanie Laster, Instructor for section 03
Course Materials
Intermediate Algebra, 9'th edition, by Lial, Hornesby, and McGinnis with
the MyMathLab, published by Addison Wesley. MyMathLab is
part of the CourseCompass course management system.
Graded Items
|
Item
|
Points
|
|
Tests (4)
|
400 (100 pts
each)
|
|
Final Exam
|
300
|
|
Quizzes
|
120 (15 x 8 pts each)
|
|
Homework
|
96 (16 x 6 pts each)
|
|
Class Attendance
|
75 (3 per meeting)
|
|
Syllabus AcK Form
|
4
|
|
Total
|
995
|
|
Grade
|
Points
|
|
S
|
A
|
875 – 995
|
|
B
|
776 – 874
|
|
C
|
676 – 775
|
|
U
|
0 – 675
|
Grading
Scale
Attendance Policies
- Each section of MA 004 will meet
with the instructor two times per week for 55 minutes, on either a
Monday-Wednesday schedule or a Tuesday-Thursday schedule. A student earns 3 points for attending each class. Lecture classes
do not meet on the Wednesday or Thursday test days.
- In
addition, each student is required to work in the Math Learning Center at
least 3 hours per week. It is
the student’s responsibility to keep record of MLC hours each week
to assure compliance with this requirement.
- The
3 hour requirement is waived upon completion of all assignments for the
given week.
Quiz and Homework Policies
- All quizzes must be taken in the
Math Learning Center.
- Homework assignments may be done at the MLC or at home; however,
we recommend that students do homework assignments at the MLC. The proper
plug-ins must be downloaded on the student's computer. (The necessary
plug-ins may be found on the announcements page in CourseCompass. Click on
the Installation Wizard link.). Please
note that if a malfunction occurs at home while doing homework, students
will not be able to make up homework assignments that are not successfully
received, completed, or graded by the due date because of technical
problems.
- There will be one quiz and one homework for each lecture. Each quiz and homework assignment
must be completed by the expiration date and time given on the schedule. No
extensions will be given.
- There will be no help on quizzes or tests except for clarification
or computer issues.
- Two quizzes and one homework will be dropped at the end of the
semester.
- No makeup quizzes or makeup homework will be allowed. The policy
of dropping two quiz grades and one homework grade is intended partly to
accommodate illnesses or other circumstances.
- After finishing an assignment, the student should press the
“Submit” button and record the score.
Test Schedule
The test schedule is given below. For each
registration period, the deadline is MLC Closing on the last day.
|
Test
|
Test Dates
|
Registration Period
|
|
Test 1
|
Wednesday 9/21 or Thursday
9/22
|
Friday 9/9 to Friday 9/16
|
|
Test 2
|
Wednesday 10/12 or Thursday
10/13
|
Thursday 9/29 to Wednesday
10/5
|
|
Test 3
|
Wednesday 11/2 or Thursday
11/3
|
Friday 10/21 to Friday
10/28
|
|
Test 4
|
Wednesday 11/30 or Thursday
12/1
|
Wednesday 11/16 to Tuesday
11/22
|
|
Final Exam
|
Monday 12/12, Tuesday
12/13, or Wednesday 12/14
|
Friday 12/2 to Wednesday
12/7
|
The following test times are available:
|
Regular Test Times
|
Final Exam Times
|
|
Wednesday
|
Thursday
|
Monday
|
Tuesday
|
Wednesday
|
|
·
9:00am –
10:15am
|
·
10:00am –
11:15am
|
Dec. 12
|
Dec. 13
|
Dec. 14
|
|
·
11:00am –
12:15pm
|
·
12:00pm –
1:15pm
|
|
·
8:30am –
11:00am
|
·
8:30am –
11:00am
|
|
·
1:00pm –
2:15pm
|
·
2:00pm –
3:15pm
|
·
11:30am –
2:00pm
|
·
11:30am –
2:00pm
|
·
11:30am –
2:00pm
|
|
·
3:00pm –
4:15pm
|
·
4:00pm –
5:15pm
|
·
2:30pm –
5:00pm
|
·
2:30pm –
5:00pm
|
·
2:30pm – 5:00pm
|
|
·
5:00pm –
6:15pm
|
·
6:00pm –
7:15pm
|
·
5:30pm –
8:00pm
|
·
5:30pm –
8:00pm
|
|
Test Policies
- The
tests are 75 minutes long. The final exam is 150 minutes long.
- The tests and the final exam must
be taken in the MLC.
- You
must reserve a test or final exam time by completing the Test Registration
Form, available at the MLC website, by the deadline given. If you miss the
deadline, you can reserve a time by coming in person to the MLC by 7:00 PM
Tuesday, the day before the first test day.
- Show
up on time for tests. Any tardiness will cost you working time on the
test.
- Failure
to show up at your reserved test time will result in a 10 point deduction
from your test score.
- Because
each test period is two days long, makeup tests will not be allowed except
for extraordinary and documented emergencies. The student must file
a petition, available at the MLC website to request a makeup test.
- A
student's lowest test score will be replaced by the score on the final
exam, if the final exam score is higher. However, a 0 test score due to an
absence without a corresponding petition on file or academic misconduct
will not be replaced.
- Bring
your Charger Card ID and pencils. The MLC will provide scratch paper. No
other paper is allowed. Place all belongings on the floor.
- You
will be allowed to review your test before you leave the lab. You may not
write down any information pertaining to test questions. You may not share
test information with anyone else until after the test period is over. A
violation of this policy is considered academic misconduct.
- Only
the calculator on the computer is allowed.
General Policies
- The
MLC is a mathematics classroom. Please be quiet during your visit to the
MLC.
- You
must show your Student ID to the monitor upon entering the MLC. You will not be allowed to enter
without a valid ID.
- Eating,
drinking and sleeping are not allowed in the MLC.
- No
work other than mathematics is allowed in the MLC. In particular, talking,
surfing the web, reading and sending e-mail (except e-mail related to MA
004), playing computer games, and working on non-mathematical courses are
prohibited.
- Cell
phone use in the MLC is prohibited. Cell phones must be out of sight and
turned off.
- The use of the computers in the MLC
is on a first-come, first-served basis. No reservations can
be made for ordinary course work, homework, or quizzes. (Reservations are
required for tests, as noted above.)
- Please do not hesitate to ask
questions in the MLC. The staff members are there to help you!
Accommodation for Students with Disabilities
Any student with a disability that will
require special attention or accommodation should inform the instructor as soon
as possible, preferably within the first week of class.
Grievance Procedure
Any problems that you encounter should be
brought to the attention of your instructor. If you are not satisfied
with the decision of the instructor, you may appeal through the administrative
chain given below:
- Course Coordinator: Ms. Shelley Lenahan, Mathematics Learning
Center
- Math Department Chair: Dr. Kyle Siegrist, 205 Madison Hall
- Associate Dean of the College of Science: Dr. Daniel Rochowiak,
207 Materials Science Building
See the Student Handbook for more information
about the grievance procedure.
Academic Misconduct
All acts of dishonesty in any work constitute
academic misconduct. This includes, but is not limited to cheating,
plagiarism, fabrication of information, misrepresentation, and abetting any of
the above. Academic misconduct will not be tolerated and my result in a
failing grade in the course. Consult the Student Handbook for further
description of Academic misconduct and penalties.
Important Dates
- Labor Day Holiday:
September 5
- Last day to withdraw with refund: September 7
- Last day to change from credit to audit: September 21
- Fall Break: October
6-7
- Last day to withdraw:
November 4
- Thanksgiving Holiday:
November 23-25
- Study Day: December 7