Instructor: Dr. Xueqing Chen
Office: . Baker Hall 237
Phone: 262-472-5171
Email:  chenx@uww.edu

Math Dept Office: Baker Hall 205 (262-472-1313)

Class Begin: Tuesday, September  5th, 2006
Class End: Wednesday, December 13th, 2006

Class Location & Time: HE 215 on M-T-W-H, 7:45AM-8:35AM

Office Hours:

DAY	TIME	LOCATION
Monday
Tuesday	10:00AM-12:00Noon	BK237
Wednesday
Thursday	10:00AM-12:00Noon	BK237
Friday	10:00AM-11:00AM	BK237

I am also available immediately after class for questions. Feel free to send me email if you cannot make these times to set up another time.

Course Homepage:

Updated information,  such as course news, assignments and solutions, test information, will be available from the course homepage,  http://facstaff.uww.edu/chenx

Course Objectives and Prerequisites:

The purpose of Intermediate Algebra is to enable students to learn and master critical thinking skills beyond the Beginning Algebra level that are needed in real life as well as for success in future mathematics courses (in particular - Mathematics for the Elementary Teacher, Finite Mathematics, Elementary Functions, Calculus and Statistic). There are many topics that must be covered in Intermediate Algebra to provide adequate preparation for these future courses, so the pace of this course will be fast. (See the Assignment Schedule.) I will assume that you already possess arithmetic and basic algebra skills. Students needing additional help on these skills should see me outside class.

Prerequisite: C or better in Math 041 or the equivalent (as determined by your ACT or placement exam score; students not meeting this requirement must drop this course.)

Textbook:  (Required)  “Intermediate Algebra", 1st ed., by Sullivan and Struve (rental) – Chapters R – 10.1

Attendance  Policy:

Attendance is mandatory. Regular attendance is required. It is your responsibility to sign the attendance sheet on a random  basis. Please notify me in advance of a planned absence. Come see me in my office if medical or other serious problems will prevent you from attending class on a regular basis. A student will be marked excused (rather than absent), if missing due to the following: 1)  a sincerely held religious belief, if this instructor is notified within the first three weeks of class:  2) a university sponsored event, if the student presents an official participant's list from sponsor (verifying Provost's approval) or a card indicating an intercollegiate athletic contest in advance of the event. 3) an unavoidable absence, such as a doctor’s appointment or funeral. Students with good attendance, 5 or less absences, will be rewarded with 5% of the final mark.

Students missing class should obtain class notes from another student and do the homework for the next day, since all students are responsible for material covered or assigned, whether absent or not.

I suggest you get the name and phone number of at least one other student in class.  Students missing several classes will find that assignment and test scores will start dropping as material gets increasingly more difficult.
 

Tests:

There will be FOUR 50-minutes tests  on September 28, October 19, November 9, and December 5. I will confirm these dates  at least 3 days before testing. You are expected to take all the tests. Students must be prepared and plan to test on these days. A student missing class on a test day for a valid excuse, other than what was listed above, must contact me personally or email me either in advance or no later than 24 hours after that class with an explanation. Only under these conditions will a different time be scheduled for you to take a make-up test, if scheduled for the missed class period.  Otherwise, any missing test will be counted as zero. Make-up exams are usually harder. The average of best three tests out of four tests will count for 30% of your final mark.

Assignments:

Seven assignments will be assigned in class. Approximately, you will have 4 to 7 days to finish the assignment. Assignment must be turned into me by 8:35AM during the class at the due date. Of course, you can  hand in your assignment before the due date. Each assignment will count 20 points. The late assignment must be turned into me by 4:45PM that same day, to receive partial credit ( 5 late points will be deduced), unless receiving permission otherwise. Generally grading will be based on work shown, not just answers, so get used to showing all steps needed in problem solving, as demonstrated in the book or in class.  Be prepared to lose points for sloppy work as well as for missing or incorrect steps, even if the answer is correct.  The best 5 assignment marks will be counted in the final mark . The assignment will count 35% of your final mark.

Homework:

Selected exercises, mainly from the text, will be assigned in class. These exercises are not to be handed in and will not be graded. However, to succeed in the course it is absolutely essential that you do the exercises on a regular basis.

Final Examination:

This is a two hour comprehensive final exam on Monday, December 18 from 7:45AM-9:45AM. It is the responsibility of each student to be available at the time of the examination. In particular, no travel plans for the examination period in December.

Course Work Evaluation: 

• Class Attendance: 5%

• Assignments (Best 5 out of 7): 35%

• Tests (Best 3 out of 4):  30%

• Final Examination: 30%

Grading Scheme:

A	B	C	D	F
90-100	80-89	70-79	60-69	<59

Supplies:

Pencils and erasers are needed for tests. Scientific (non-programmable) calculators may generally be used on tests and final exam, but use of graphing calculators will be limited starting in Chapter 3. A notebook should be used for the following: 1) notes and examples given in class; 2) individual notes when symbols or terminology is unfamiliar when reading assigned sections; 3) to practice harder example problems worked out in the sections (be sure to cover-up work shown by the author). You can do homework in this notebook, but make it a thick notebook or just use loose-leaf paper or a different notebook.

Comments:

College math courses demand more time and effort than high school courses, so plan to spend around 8 hours a week on math outside of class. Along with problems due each class, students will need to read the section assigned for the next class period, so that you have a partial understanding of problems being discussed during lecture. Class time will be used for answering questions on assignment, homework, problem solving, testing, as well as lecture. Force yourself to keep up with assignments and remember to review notes and examples outside of class at your own pace, keeping them in front of you for reference when doing homework. Be ready at the beginning of class with anything in the readings or assigned problems that you would like to ask questions on. Answers to odd problems are in the back of the book, so you can check your accuracy. Students will sometimes be asked to volunteer and show work to some of the harder homework problems due that class period on the board.

Tutoring Help:

Come see me for help whenever possible, but also remember tutoring help is offered in Baker 240 and Tutorial Learning Center in the basement of McCutchan Hall (472-1230), starting the 2nd or 3rd week. Please be courteous and turn cell phones and pagers off while in class.
 

Important Dates:

Notes: Students earning a low D or F in the course as of October 13 may wish to consider dropping, if they cannot afford to get an F in this class.  If these students apply for late drops after October 13, I cannot give my recommendation.

UWW Policy Statement:

The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater is dedicated to a safe, supportive and non-discriminatory learning environment.  It is the responsibility of all undergraduate and graduate students to familiarize themselves with University policies regarding Special Accommodations, Misconduct, Religious Beliefs Accommodation, Discrimination and Absence for University Sponsored Events. (For details please refer to the Undergraduate and Graduate Timetables; the “Rights and Responsibilities” section of the Undergraduate Bulletin; The Academic Requirements and Policies and the Facilities and Services sections of the Graduate Bulletin; and the “Student Academic Disciplinary Procedures” [UWS Chapter 14}; and the “Student Nonacademic Disciplinary Procedures” [UWS Chapter 17]).  Academic honesty and integrity are fundamental to the UW System.  Students are responsible for the honest completion and representation of their work, and for respect of others' academic endeavors. Engaging in plagiarism, cheating on an examination, or intentionally helping someone else cheat will be penalized.