Elements of Algebra and Its Application

003:102:02 MWTh1, Conklin Hall 237

Education and Academic Foundations Department

Spring Semester 2004

 

Instructors:  Dr. Arthur B. Powell                                            abpowell@andromeda.rutgers.edu

 

Office: 156 Bradley Hall                                                                   Phone: 973/353-3530 or 3527

                                                                                                                                                           

Office hours:                               M: 1:00 - 2:00, T: 11:30-12:50, W: 1:00 – 2:20, & Th: 10 – 11:10

 

Download Syllabus as a PDF

 

Course Description...And So On

 

Text:  Beginning Algebra with Applications, 6th Edition, by Aufmann, Barker, and Lockwood (Houghton Mifflin, 2003).

 

This course will assist you in preparing for entry and successful completion of College Algebra (640:111, 112, or 113).  To pass this course, you must pass the final examination.  Furthermore, you must earn a final grade of "C" or better in this course to place into College Algebra.

To do well in this course, as in any other college course, you must take direct and full responsibility for you learning:  participate in class, do daily and long-term assignments on time, use out-of-class resources for assistance, obtain assignments when absent, and so on.  I will assign readings and practice material from the text as well as supplement these with additional materials.

Often during class, you will engage in mathematical problem-solving activities both individually and collaboratively, in small groups of two to four students.  To facilitate your work on problem and projects beyond class time, I will provide with a schedule of problem-solving workshops.  I encourage you to attend these workshops, where you may work on problem sets with the assistance of a workshop leader.  I will determine your course grade by assessing your ability to solve problems working alone as well as in groups.

 

I have listed my office hours above.  During those times, I am available to discuss mathematical questions and problems as well as study skills and strategies.  In addition, the Learning Resource Center offers free tutorial help.  Naturally during class, I will provide you with opportunities to present discoveries and inventions and to express your questions and concerns.  I will structure lessons to explore discoveries and inventions presented, to answer questions raised, and to respond to other expressed needs.

 

In disciplines such as political science, communications, philosophy, and so on, many fundamental ways of working are similar.  We will draw explicit attention to these:

 

1)   changing frames of reference (points of view),

2)   generalizing,

3)   specializing,

4)   conjecturing

5)   justifying

6)   "imaging," and

7)   reflecting upon internal mental processes.

 

Expectations, attendance, lateness, assignments, and make-ups

 

Your classmates and I expect you to arrive before class begins, to attend regularly, and to complete all assignments on time.  When you acquire four or more unexcused absences, I will advise you to drop the course.  Expect in extraordinary cases, I neither accept late assignments nor give make-up quizzes, tests, or examinations

 

Criteria for Final Evaluation (not in order of importance)

 

1.   In-class work and participation (questions, board work, group work,ˆâ)

2.   Research problems

3.   Quizzes, tests and midterm examination (middle of March) and final examination (Friday, 7 May 2004, from 11:45 to 2:45, Conklin Hall, Room-237)

4.   Completion of assignments

5.   Discoveries, mathematical writing, and progress as a mathematician

6.     Self-evaluation