Math 150 - Functions, Trigonometry, and Linear Systems - Fall 2008

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	Sections 513-518	TR 12:45-2:00pm	RICH 106
	Recitations
	150-513	M - CE 134	1:50pm-2:40pm
	150-514	W - CE 134	1:50pm-2:40pm
	150-515	M - CE 134	11:30am-12:20pm
	150-516	W - CE 134	11:30am-12:20pm
	150-517	M - CE 137	12:40pm-1:30pm
	150-518	W - CE 137	12:40pm-1:30pm

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• Instructor: Mrs. Marcia Drost
  
• Office: Blocker 630A
  
• Office Hours: Mon 2:30-4:30pm, Tue 3:00-5:00pm, Wed 2:30-4:30pm, and by appointment.
  
• Note: Because of help session interviews the first week of classes, office hours will not begin until the second week of school.
• E-Mail Address: drost@math.tamu.edu
  
• Web Address: http://www.math.tamu.edu/~marcia.drost
• Phone: 862-4191

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• Course Title and Description: Functions, Trigonometry, and Linear Systems (4 Credit Hours) - Graphs, functions, college algebra and trigonometry, linear systems and vectors.

• Text: Precalculus: Mathematics for Calculus, 5th Ed, 2007, by Stewart, Redlin, Watson (Brooks & Cole)
  Hardback version: USBN 0-534-49278-9
  Softback version: USBN 0-495-55750-1
  or available as an ebook online at: http://tamumath.ichaptersbuy.com
  Access Code: You are NOT required to purchase an access code from Cengage Learning for online quizzes or online homework.

• Recitations: Recitation sections are led by a teaching assistant and meet every week. You must attend the section you are enrolled in. Listed at the top of this page is the day, room, and time your recitation will meet. Recitations are smaller groups where the TA will review material and students can ask questions. Quizzes will be given weekly in recitation.

• Calculator Policy: This course requires that you have a TI-83 or TI-84 (Plus or Silver edition) calculator or the TI-Nspire (non-CAS version). No programs are allowed except ones that I give you, and no other types of calculators can be used on quizzes or exams without my written permission. No sharing of calculators is allowed on quizzes or exams.

• Grading Policy: Your grade will be determine by online homework, in class quizzes (both in lecture AND in recitation), take home quizzes, exams, and a cumulative final exam. The weights and a description of each are as follows:
  • Quizzes and Homework 25% (150 pts) - In class quizzes, take home quizzes and online homework, will be administered throughout the term. The lowest quiz grade will be dropped if you have taken all of the quizzes. No make up quizzes will be given without an official University excuse.

  • Exams 50% (3 exams - 100 pts each) - Major examinations will be announced at least two class days prior to the examination date. All examination grades will be counted toward the final grade. No make up exams will be given without an official University excuse. Exams are usually returned within 2-5 days, when possible, and any appeals on "creatively graded problems" must be made within 24 hrs of my returning them to the class. The TENTATIVE exam dates are:

    	Thursday, Sept 25, 2008
    	Thursday, Oct 23, 2008
    	Thursday, Nov 20, 2008

  • Final Exam 25% (150 pts) - A cumulative final exam will be given at the following time in our regular classroom.

    Wednesday, Dec 10th, 2008 from 8am-10am

    in RICH 106

  • Final Grade Determination:

    	90% < A < 100%
    	80% < B < 90%
    	70% < C < 80%
    	60% < D < 70%
    	0% < F < 60%

  • Attendance is required and will be used as part of the criteria in determining borderline grades.

• Make-up Policy: Students may be excused from attending class for the reasons stated in Section 7.1 of the student rules (http://student-rules.tamu.edu/rule7.htm) or other reasons deemed appropriate by the student's instructor. To be excused the student must notify his or her instructor in writing (acknowledged e-mail message is acceptable) prior to the date of absence if such notification is feasible. In cases where advance notification is not feasible (e.g. accident or emergency) the student must provide notification by the end of the second working day after the absence. This notification should include an explanation of why notice could not be sent prior to the class. Students with an official excused absence are permitted to make up work only for the dates of the absence. All other assigned work, including work assigned on the day of the excused absence, is due as assigned.

• Late Work Policy: Late assignments differ from make up work in that no "official" excuse applies, and will be considered for partial credit on a case by case basis. If you miss a deadline, come talk to me, and be honest with the reasons.

• Homework: The homework listed (http://www.math.tamu.edu/~marcia.drost/150hmwk08.html) is a suggested list of problems to assure proficiency on my quizzes and exams. They are not to be turned in. If you are having trouble with a particular section, extra problems should be done to master the concept. This list is a bare minimum to be able to do well on my quizzes and exams.
  Online homework is required, and access to the homework is through the Cengage Learning program. Information about registering online for the quizzes is available at: http://www.math.tamu.edu/~epstein/eHW/ Contact me if you have any questions.

• Week in Reviews: There is a weekly review of the current topics which will help you succeed on quizzes and exams. The day, time, and location for the Week in Review will be announced the second week of class. Week in Reviews are NOT held the week following an exam.

• Help Sessions: Departmental help sessions for MATH 150 will be offered. Days, times, and location will be announced next week. At the help sessions, you can drop in at the beginning, middle or just before closing to ask questions. On evenings with a lot of students the lead reviewer may be at the board the whole time, whereas on evenings with fewer students the second hour will consist of two reviewers walking around the room answering individual questions. This is an excellent source of help.

• E-Mail: Although you can e-mail me from any account you frequently use, it is easiest for me to initiate contact with you through your TAMU e-mail account. Please have your TAMU account set up by the end of the first week of classes. If your TAMU account is not the account you check regularly, please have your TAMU e-mail forwarded to your preferred account. (Note: Not all messages are always forwarded from your TAMU account to your preferred account, so it may be necessary to regularly check your TAMU account even if you've set the messages to forward to another account.) Hint: check your email account daily.

• Special Services: The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is a federal anti-discrimination statute that provides comprehensive civil rights protection for persons with disabilities. Among other things, this legislation requires that all students with disabilities be guaranteed a learning environment that provides for reasonable accommodation of their disabilities. If you believe you have a disability requiring an accommodation, please contact Disability Services, in Cain Hall, Room B118, or call 845-1637. For additional information visit http://disability.tamu.edu

• Academic Integrity Statement - AGGIE HONOR CODE: "An Aggie does not lie, cheat, or steal or tolerate those who do." Upon accepting admission to Texas A&M University, a student immediately assumes a commitment to uphold the Honor Code, to accept responsibility for learning, and to follow the philosophy and rules of the Honor System. Students will be required to state their commitment on examinations, research papers, and other academic work. Ignorance of the rules does not exclude any member of the TAMU community from the requirements or the processes of the Honor System. For additional information please visit: http://www.tamu.edu/aggiehonor/

• Scholastic Dishonesty: Copying work done by others, either in class or out of class, looking on other student's papers during exams or quizzes, having possession of unapproved information in your calculator, and/or having someone else do your work for you are all acts of scholastic dishonesty. These acts, and other acts that can be classified as scholastic dishonesty, will be prosecuted to the full extent allowed by University policy. Punishment can range from a zero on the assignment/quiz/exam to expulsion from the university. In any case of scholastic dishonesty, the student forfeits his/her right to Q-drop the class. In this class, collaboration on assignments, either in class or out of class, is forbidden unless permission to do so is granted by the instructor. For more information on University policy regarding scholastic dishonesty see the Honor Council Rules and Procedures on the web at http://www.tamu.edu/aggiehonor/.

• Cancelled Class: If the university closes for any reason (hurricane, flood, or a blizzard for example) and class is cancelled, whatever was scheduled to occur that day, be it a lecture or an exam, will automatically be moved to the next class meeting. If instead, the class that is cancelled is a recitation, watch your email for a major take home assignment with information on where and when to turn it in.

• Copyright Policy: All printed materials disseminated in class or on the web are protected by Copyright laws. One Xerox copy (or download from the web) is allowed for personal use. Multiple copies or sale of any of these materials is strictly prohibited.

• PERSONAL REQUESTS: I encourage you to stop by and ask questions, as often as you like. Also, as a courtesy, please keep all cell phones muted and put away during my lectures. Students texting messages while I am lecturing are distracting, to me, and to other students. Absolutely no cell phones are allowed at your seat during quizzes or exams. Thanks!