INSTRUCTOR
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NAME:
Karla Williams
Instructor's Office and Class Schedule
OFFICE LOCATION:
Learning Acceleration Division Office #104, move to #211
in September
OFFICE PHONE/ VOICE MAIL:
760-4133
EMAIL:
kwilliams@npcc.edu
WEB SITE:
http://res.npcc.edu/kwilliams
SECRETARY: Danah Wright - 760-4186
(12:30 - 4:30
p.m.) email:
dwright@npcc.edu |
THE
COURSE
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PRE-REQUISITE:
Students enrolled in this
course must have had one year of high school algebra and the
appropriate placement test score OR a "C" or above in
PCLM-0073 Beginning Algebra.
COURSE DESCRIPTION: 3 credit hours, non-transferable. This
course includes the following topics of study: Brief Beginning Algebra
Review in regular course - "On-Your-Own" in Late Start Classes (Real Numbers;
Linear Equations and Inequalities in One Variable; Problem
Solving; Rules for Exponents; Operations with Polynomials; Factoring); Simple and Compound Inequalities; Absolute Value Equations and
Inequalities; Linear Equations in Two Variables; Graphing in the Coordinate
Plane; Systems of Equations; Radicals; Solving Quadratic Equations by factoring,
taking square roots, completing the square, and the quadratic formula.
INSTRUCTIONAL METHODOLOGY: Material will be presented through lecture
with visual aids, discussion, problem solving,
homework questions, computer assisted instruction, collaborative learning, and
out-of-class assignments.
Students may use non-programmable scientific calculators.
Active student participation in and out of class is
essential for success in the course. Students must have a C or above on coursework AND pass the
Departmental Final Exam in order to progress to College Algebra. |
COURSE
OBJECTIVES
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Upon successful completion of
this course, students will demonstrate knowledge of the following skills
necessary to succeed in College Algebra:
1. Rectangular Coordinate System (identify the rectangular coordinate
system; identify slope, x- and y-intercepts of lines; graph linear
equations and inequalities; write equations of lines; identify
functions; work with function notation; graph quadratic equations.)
2. Polynomials (identify and perform operations with polynomials;
factor; solve quadratic equations by factoring.)
3. Compound Inequalities (solve
and graph solution sets)
4. Absolute Value Equations and Inequalities (solve and graph solution
sets)
5. Linear functions (graphing, operations)
6. Solving systems of two linear equations in two variables (graphing,
substitution, elimination)
7. Radical Expressions (rational exponents, operations with radicals,
equations involving radicals)
8. Quadratic Equations (solve by factoring,
taking square roots, completing the square, the
quadratic formula) and equations quadratic in form (substitution using
u)
These objectives will be demonstrated through satisfactory
performance on homework assignments, in-class exercises, quizzes, tests, and the
Departmental Final Exam. |
ATTENDANCE
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NPCC POLICY
1.
Regular attendance is
a critical element in student success.
Therefore, students are expected to attend all
regularly scheduled class sessions and to complete all
assigned class work.
Instructors will provide written attendance policies
that outline how attendance may affect students’ final
grades.
2. Except
for extreme circumstances,
students are not
permitted to be absent from scheduled tests without
prior approval of the instructor.
Make-up arrangements with an instructor are the
responsibility of the student.
3.
Students are required
to attend 85% of all class hours scheduled for a course.
A student who does not meet the 85% standard is
considered to be
excessively absent.
4.
The College reserves
the right to withdraw a student for excessive absenteeism.
Excessive absenteeism may also result in failing
grades, academic probation or suspension and loss of
financial aid.
5.
If a student is judged to be excessively absent,
the instructor will
report this immediately to the
Counseling Center for follow-up action.
6. The
Counseling Center will assume the responsibility of getting
the student to a counseling session
with the instructor as needed.
Every effort
will be made by faculty and staff to help the student
with any academic
difficulty.
7.
Throughout this process, it is recognized that
the instructor is the
judge of the final grade a student receives in any
course.
INSTRUCTOR POLICY
(in addition to NPCC policy)
1.
Be present, be
prepared, or you’re absent… bring homework due and all needed materials
with you.
2.
If you’re late, come
in, anyway!
But come in quietly and be sure you are marked present.
3.
Participate!
If you work on
another course, sleep, etc.,
you are absent
4. If YOU miss
class… YOU are
responsible for getting caught up before the next class.
5. Your
financial aid is
affected by YOUR attendance and YOUR satisfactory
academic progress.
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| CELL PHONES |
Cell phone use is not permitted in the
classroom. Phones should be turned off and put away. If your
cell phone becomes a distraction to you, me, or your classmates you will
be asked to surrender the phone and/or leave the class and will be counted absent. |
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TEXTBOOK (not required):
Intermediate Algebra,
2nd Ed; Carson, Gillespie, Jordan; 2007.
INTERNET ACCESS:
If you don't have Internet access, you may work in the
open lab in the Computer Center
ACCESS
CODE:
Course Compass/MyMathLab Student Access Code is required and may be purchased at
the bookstore or ordered online at
www.coursecompass.com
COURSE ID: williams72756
LOOSE-LEAF NOTEBOOK PAPER: No
ragged-edged spiral notebook pages accepted.
PENCILS AND ERASERS: No work done in ink accepted.
CALCULATOR:
Non-programmable scientific Calculator (no graphing
calculators, cell phones, etc.)
RECOMMENDED: 3-ring binder,
dividers, loose-leaf notebook paper, pencils, erasers, colored pencils, highlighter,
ruler and graphing paper. |
STUDENT
RESOURCES
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TUTORING:
Tutoring Center - 2nd floor Fisher Center – Greg Fulton – 760-4228
Addison-Wesley Math Tutor Center Tutoring via
toll-free telephone, toll-free fax, email, and Internet ...online registration required. MyMathLab
access code required.) Instructor is available during office
hours or by appointment. Additional free tutoring will be announced
as it becomes available.
MyMathLab:
http://www.coursecompass.com
contains
online
homework assignments customized by the instructor, examples, tutorials, practice exercises, practice tests,
etc. Course ID and Student Access Code required (see Required
Materials.)
INSTRUCTOR'S WEB SITE: http://res.npcc.edu/kwilliams
COMPUTER RESOURCE CENTER: Mon-Fri 7:00 a.m. - 8:45 p.m.,
Sat 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Closed: Sept.
7, Oct 12, Nov 25-28, and Dec. 1 – Jan. 13, 2009
OTHER: Extra Help |
HOMEWORK
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MyMathLab work counts 400 points of overall course grade.
HOMEWORK:
Math
is a skill and requires LOTS of practice.
You will receive
instruction in the classroom but
learning
occurs only with sufficient practice.
Homework is assigned
for the purpose of giving you that practice. Homework
is found on the Course Compass/MyMathLab website.
See Getting Started
on MyMathLab
and Procedure for completing
MyMathLab Assignments
for details.
Late
assignments receive half credit or less. See
MyMathLab Assignments
for itemized list. For homework
questions you may ask your instructor or go to the Tutoring
Center in the Campus Center.
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EXAMS
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Exams count 1500 points of overall course
grade.
REGULAR EXAMS:
At least five
regular exams will
be given during the semester. The exams are based on the objectives
covered in class and in homework assignments;
therefore, you should complete and understand all homework
assignments before taking exams.
Doing homework is very important; however, homework alone will not
prepare you for exams! You should also ask questions, participate in
class discussions, use the study guide on the instructor’s website, take
the online practice tests and study class notes for each chapter.
**In general there are no make-up exams. However,
arrangements may be made in advance to take an exam at a
different time if you must miss class on exam day. If an
emergency occurs and causes you to miss a scheduled exam, contact
the instructor or secretary as soon as possible on the same day
to make other arrangements. Anxiety due to
failure to prepare for the exam is NOT an acceptable reason to postpone
it. Each exam must be taken before the instructor
begins returning graded exams to students (usually the next class day) .
If a make-up exam is given the student will (1) make arrangements
with the instructor, (2) schedule the exam with the testing center, and
(3) receive only 85% of the score he earns on that test. Any
missed exam receives a grade of zero. No test scores are dropped!
DEPARTMENTAL FINAL EXAM:
The purpose of the Departmental Final is to
ensure that students have acquired the skills needed for success in College
Algebra. Intermediate Algebra students with a "C" or above at the close
of the semester (i.e., the end of the day prior to the final) who
successfully complete the departmental final exam (a score of 60 or
higher) will progress to College Algebra. Students will be allowed two
attempts to pass the final exam (different versions). Students who
do not pass it will receive a grade of "D" for the course and
must take the course again.
Passing the course alone (C or above) or the Departmental Final
alone does not earn a passing grade for the course.
Students must accomplish BOTH.
Points for tests are as follows:
Chapter 2 - 200 points
Chapter 3 - 300 points Chapter 4 -
200 points
Chapter 1, 5, 6 - 200 points Chapter 8
- 300 points Chapter 9 -
300 points |
GRADES
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GRADING SCALE:
The final grade is calculated as a percentage of total points earned
on homework, in-class work, online work, quizzes, other assignments, and
exams.
Course Grade:
1500 points from exams + 400 points from MyMathLab
+ additional points for other assignments
90 - 100% = A (Advanced competencies
present)
80 - 89% = B
(Basic competencies exceeded)
70 - 79% = C (Basic competencies present)
60 - 69% = D
(Basic competencies partially present)
0 - 59% = F (Basic
competencies not present)
A grade of "C" or better is considered a passing grade
and is dependent
on passing the Departmental Final Exam. A grade of zero is given for each missed assignment
/ exam.
YOUR TESTS AND ASSIGNMENTS ARE
YOUR GRADE!
DO YOUR BEST ON EACH ONE!
**No
test grades are dropped. No last-minute extra credit.**
You may access your current grade by going to the NPCC web site, clicking on the
ANGEL link, logging in, and refreshing the Gradebook.
(The grade book in MyMathLab reflects only your online assignments, not
your overall average.) |
Penalties for breaches of
academic integrity may include
receiving an F for the assignment in question, receiving an F for the
course, and/or dismissal from the course. See the Academic Honesty
statement in the NPCC Catalog. |
ADA POLICY
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It is the
intent of NPCC to work toward full compliance with the Americans with
Disabilities Act and to make their facilities accessible to students,
staff and visitors and to make the various instructional programs
accessible to all people, or to provide reasonable accommodations
according to the law. It is the policy of NPCC that no individual shall
be discriminated against on the basis of disability in the full and
equal enjoyment of the goods, services, facilities, privileges, and
advantages or accommodations at the College.
Students having questions about accessibility or requesting reasonable
accommodations as indicated in the ADA or Section 504 should contact Ms.
Audrey Smelser, Student Services.
ANY STUDENT WITH DOCUMENTED SPECIAL NEEDS SHOULD MAKE
THE INSTRUCTOR AWARE OF THEM WITHIN THE FIRST WEEK OF CLASS SO THAT THE
APPROPRIATE ACCOMMODATIONS MAY BE MADE. |
The above schedule, policies, and assignments in this
course are subject to change in the event of extenuating circumstances
or by mutual agreement between the instructor and the students.
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Refer to the current NPCC Catalog, Schedule, and
Student Handbook
for other important information.
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GENERAL EDUCATIONAL OUTCOMES FOR NATIONAL PARK COMMUNITY COLLEGE
GENERAL EDUCATION OBJECTIVES
Students enrolling in a college need to prepare themselves to be
well-informed and responsible citizens for a complex and culturally diverse
world. It is the intent of National Park Community College to provide general
education that will enhance common knowledge, intellectual concepts, and
attitudes that every educated person should possess regardless of their career
paths. The College will ensure that the general education offered is consistent
with its mission and designed to ensure breadth of knowledge and to promote
intellectual inquiry. The College also recognizes the importance of general
education related studies as integral components of technical education.
The College will strive through general education to lead the student to:
*Write and speak clearly, concisely, and coherently
*Reason and think logically and clearly
*Understand world cultures, past and present
*Apply mathematics to solve problems
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