MATH 95: Fundamental Mathematical Skills Fall Semester 2011

Lecture Information: Instructor: Diane Rivard Email: rivard@math.wisc.edu MWF 11:00-11:50, Van Vleck B107 Websites: http://portal.mypearson.com/mypearson-login.jsp and http://www.math.wisc.edu/~rivard

Lab Hours:
Monday 7:50-8:50 and 3:15-4:15
Tuesday 7:45-9:45 and 11:00-2:00
Wednesday 7:50-8:50 and 3:15-4:15
Thursday 9:00-2:00 and 3:45-4:45
Friday 7:50-8:50 and 3:15-4:15

All lab hours take place in Helen C. White Library, room 2250. If you would like to meet privately with your instructor to discuss your questions or concerns, please contact me by email.

Required Student Material:

  1. Math 95 Student organizer: Must be purchase at the University Bookstore, ISBN 0321767993. Students will be required to bring this organizer to class.

  2. MyMathLab access code: Students must purchase a MyMathLab access code at the bookstore. It will be bundled with the Student Organizer.

  3. 3-ring binder and loose leaf paper.

  4. Headphones: Headphones are needed to listen to the video lectures at the computers.

  5. Non-graphing calculator: You will need a calculator to work on some problems from the assignments, quizzes and exams. A non-graphing calculator is allowed during the computer portion of exams. For this class any calculator will do, but if you plan on continuing on to Math 112, you will need a scientific calculator that is capable of computing an exponential or a logarithm. (Look for a calculator with a “LOG” or an “LN” button.)

Grading: Your grade for this class will be based on your performance in the following activities, weighted as follows out of 1000 points:

Attendance: 100 points. Please read the attendance policy very carefully. Homework: 100 points. There will be weekly homework, assigned on MyMathLab. Quizzes: 150 points. There will be a quiz, to be done through MyMathLab, every week that we do

not have an Exam. Three Exams: 100 points, 150 points and 150 points. Their dates are below. Final Exam: 250 points.

Time and class organization:

In most three-credit college courses, the average student must devote 9 to 12 hours per week to the class to be successful in the course. In this class, students spend 3 hours in a classroom setting, so expect to spend 6 or more hours per week working at home, completing homework assignments and quizzes, and studying.

Class time will be organized as follows: On Wednesday we will have a focus group, where we will cover certain course material and attend to the housekeeping issues of the course. On Monday and Friday you will work independently on your course material in class. On these days, your instructor will be available to help you with your questions.

To receive help from an instructor in class or during office hours, you will be required to show that you have worked through the relevant Objective in your Student organizer. In addition, for homework questions, you will be required to show the work you have done in your homework notebook. If you have not filled out your Student organizer or if your work in your homework notebook is not neatly written, the instructor will not answer your question.

Attendance policy:

To be considered present in a given class period, you must arrive on time, and stay until the class period is over. In addition to this, you must spend the entire class period working on your mathematics material only. You are not allowed to text-message, check your email, connect to Facebook, etc. After one warning you will be counted as absent.

Each student will be allowed 3 unexcused absences during the semester. After 3 unexcused absences, each unexcused absence will reduce your attendance grade by 10 points.

Absences will be excused only for the following reasons:

  1. Athletic commitments (a letter from the Athletics Department is required)

  2. ROTC or military active duty (with appropriate approvals)

  3. Illness, with a doctor’s note

If you find yourself in any of the above circumstances, bring the appropriate documentation in a timely manner to your instructor. He or she will take it to the coordinator of the program for approval.

Every time you have an unexcused absence, you will receive an email from your instructor notifying you of the impact your absence has had on your grade in the course.

Finally, if you earn an A on an Exam, you will be excused from attending the computer sessions on Monday and Friday, for as long as you get A’s on the weekly quizzes, until the next Exam. If you get a grade lower than an A on a quiz, you will be required to attend computer sessions again. If you are eligible for this dispensation, you will receive an email excusing you from attending computer sessions. When you lose this privilege, you will likewise be notified by email.

If you are uncertain whether you are excused from attending class, ask your instructor. Thinking that you are excused from attending will not earn you an excused absence.

Assignment/Exam extensions: Extension of deadlines and make-up exams will only be granted for the following reasons:

  1. Athletic commitments (a letter from the Athletics Department is required)

  2. ROTC or military active duty (with appropriate approvals)

  3. Illness, with a doctor’s note

Again, if you find yourself in any of the above circumstances, bring the appropriate documentation in a timely manner to your instructor. He or she will take it to the coordinator of the program for approval. Please note that the Exam dates are below, and it is your responsibility to verify right now that you will be able to attend class on Exam days.

McBurney students: If you have a McBurney visa please talk to your instructor right away.

Academic misconduct: Cheating and plagiarism will not be tolerated. If you are unsure whether a particular action is considered cheating or not, do not hesitate to contact your instructor to discuss it.

Course components

  1. Homework: There will be about 14 homework assignments this semester, and your lowest score will be dropped. There will be a homework assignment every week. During non-exam weeks, homework will be due at 3pm on Tuesday. During exam weeks, a review homework will be due on Tuesday at 11:59pm. You will be able to take each homework an unlimited number of times.

  2. Quizzes: There will be about 11 quizzes this semester, and your lowest score will be dropped. There will be a quiz every non-exam week, and it will be due on Thursday at 11:59pm. You will be able to take each quiz 10 times; only your highest score will be recorded. Please note that you must earn at least 80% on the corresponding homework assignment to make the quiz available. On Friday, there will be a short in-class quiz for extra credit.

  3. Exams: There will be three in-class Exams. Each Exam will have a computer portion on Wednesday and a written portion on Friday. The computer portion will have no partial credit, but for the written portion, points will be awarded for clarity, and neatness, as well as for correct steps to reach your solution. Also, calculators will not be permitted during the written portion of the Exam.

The in-class Exams will be on the following Wednesdays and Fridays:

4. Final Exam: There will be a cumulative Final Exam on Tuesday December 20, 7:45am to 9:45pm. The Final Exam has been scheduled by the University. You should not make travel arrangements until after this date, as no early Final Exams will be given. If you have a conflict (as defined by the University) let your instructor know in writing within the first three weeks of classes.

Course content: