Class Syllabus:
Fall 2002
daily 10:00 - 11:50 AM in SNO 338
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Instructor: Nancy Kennedy Office: ALD 262 email: nkennedy@edcc.edu phone: 425-640-1378
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Instructor: Deann Leoni Office: ALD 203 email: dleoni@edcc.edu phone: 425-640-1184 Web page: http://math.edcc.edu/leoni |
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Office Hours: Monday through Friday 9:00 – 9:50 am |
Office Hours: Monday & Wednesday: 1:00 - 2:15 PM (in the Learning Support Center (MDL 260)) Tuesday & Thursday: 9:00 – 9:50 AM (in ALD 216) OR BY APPOINTMENT |
Texts and Materials
(comes with Interactive Video Skillbuilder CD)
In Math the Write Way, the following four College-Wide Abilities will be addressed:
•Critical Thinking
Students evaluate their own thinking as well as the thinking of others.
1. Analyze and synthesize information.
Instructor and self-assessment of English 100 essays & Math 91 solutions.
2. Demonstrate standards of good thinking.
Instructor assessment of essays, math problems, and grammar.
3. Identify arguments and conclusions based on sound reasoning.
Instructor assessment of essays in Eng 100, analysis of solutions in Math 91.
•Written & Oral Communication
Students express themselves and communicate effectively.
1. Writing and speaking are clear, logically organized, and supported.
Instructor assessment in English 100 and Math 91.
2. Writing and speaking adapt to the requirements and audiences of programs and disciplines.
Instructor assessment in English 100.
•Quantitative Skills
Students apply quantitative information.
1. Solve problems
2. Support qualitative claims
3. Use mathematical notations, graphs, charts, tables, and symbols
Math 91 Instructor Assessment in all 3 areas above.
•Group Interaction
Students work on a group task, participate in a class discussion, and make a group presentation.
1. Identify, practice, and assess skills
2. Demonstrate effective interaction
3. Facilitate understanding
In Math 91 & English 100 students will practice the above skills.
•Cultural Diversity
Math 91 & English 100 Assessment throughout the quarter.
ATTENDANCE
It is expected that you attend class every day and arrive on time. Being ready for class (trying the homework before coming to class) and participating in class activities is crucial for being successful in this (and any) course. No make-up group assignments will be given, so if you are absent you will not be able to make up the points. Missing class will affect your English 100 grade. See details below.
V grades are only given out for hardship cases. It is your responsibility to withdraw by the deadline if you do not wish to take the grade you earned. Despite your experience with other instructors, a V grade does not substitute for a grade of 0.0. If you simply stop participating in class but do not withdraw from the course, you will not receive a V grade.
POLICY ON ACADEMIC DISHONESTY
Any incident of academic dishonesty (plagiarism) will be reported to the Vice President for Student Services, recorded in the student’s file, and the student will be subject to disciplinary action as determined by the Vice President
OTHER POLICIES
When you are in class, we expect you to be attentive and respectful to everyone in the room. If you are talking, sleeping, or being disruptive you may be asked to leave. If you come to class, we expect you to participate in class. We expect you to contribute to your group during group activities. To prevent class disruptions, we also will demand that all pagers and cellular phones be turned off. No phone calls are allowed during class except in the case of an emergency.
WHAT IF YOU NEED HELP?
Your success in this course will depend greatly on keeping up with (and understanding) the homework. We expect that everyone will need help at some point completing and understanding the homework. If you start to struggle, do not give up -- GET HELP! There are several resources for you: your instructor, other students in the class, tutors in the Learning Support Center, the CD-ROM and solution manual that accompany your math textbook, and friends and family (although this is not always the best place to get help!). You are strongly encouraged to study with others, to use our office hours, and to use the Learning Support Center for free tutoring and writing support. Mathematics and essay writing are challenging to learn (and not very much fun to learn) in isolation. Be resourceful and get help as soon as needed.
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Note:
I will be in the LSC every Monday and Wednesday from
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The Learning Support Center is located at MDL 260 and provides free drop-in tutoring help. It is open the following hours:
Monday 9:00 - 4:00
Tuesday 9:00 - 6:00
Wednesday 9:00 - 6:00
Thursday 9:00 - 4:00
Friday 9:00 -12:00
If you require an accommodation for a disability please contact Services for Students with Disabilities, WDY 114, 425-640-1320, ssdmail@edcc.edu.
OTHER:
Important dates:
Last day for 100% refund (unless otherwise stated on the class) September 27
Last day to add a class or drop without transcript entry October 4
Deadline to request graduation
application for advisor approval for
fall quarter
graduation
October 4
Non-Instructional Day (No Classes) October 9
Veterans Day Holiday (No Classes) November 11
Last day to withdraw from a class or change grading option to Audit November 12
Registration for Winter 2002 begins November 14
Thanksgiving Holiday November 28 & 29
Last day of class December 6
Non-Instructional Day (No Classes) December 9
Final exams December 10-12
In English 100 students develop their skills and confidence as academic writer. Producing effective academic essays involves numerous steps and strategies which are intimately linked, and which can, to some degree, be understood and practiced discretely. To this end, we will observe, by reading and through classroom discussion, how successful writers depend on certain techniques and organizational strategies to communicate effectively, and you will be asked to use these strategies yourself as you practice organizing your own thoughts to present them clearly and convincingly on paper.
As you begin fulfilling the assignments of this class, putting to paper your own ideas and understanding of what we discuss in class, please remind yourself often that well-written essays are rarely written in one sitting. It is commonplace for successful writers to produce hundreds of words that never show up in their final papers. You may find it useful to think of the stages as writing to find a thesis (pre-writing), writing to develop that thesis (composing), and writing to polish the thesis (editing and proofreading). Each of these stages can take hours and are best undertaken on separate days. In fact, I encourage you to expect to spend 10 - 15 hours on each of the formal essays you write in this class.
Specific Course Objectives: English Department guidelines stipulate the following objectives for English 100.
Students who receive at least a 2.0 from an English 100 class will be able to
1. Produce written texts that
· respond to an identifiable audience and purpose;
· are clearly and effectively organized;
· demonstrate control over sentence-level mechanics and conventions of standard English;
· rely on a variety of sentence structures,
2. Produce academic essays that
· contain and support well-constructed thesis statements;
· employ topic sentences when appropriate;
· employ various rhetorical strategies, including comparison/contrast and causal analysis;
· acknowledge an opposition (implicitly if not explicitly);
· acknowledge sources of information.
3. Exercise principles of analytic reading; e.g., make inferences, see relationships, identify theses, distinguish fact from opinion, and use skills of summary and paraphrase.
4. Understand writing as a process (e.g., prewriting, revision, peer critique, reflection, self-assessment) that is adaptable to contexts and disciplines.
5. Work in groups for functions such as discussion, peer editing, problem-solving, planning, composing, etc.
You must write four papers (2 - 3 typed pages in most cases) to pass this course with at least a 2.0. One of these essays will be a rewrite. Each essay you write must fit the specific objectives of the assignment. This means if your paper shows me that you've absorbed the ideas we've covered in class and applied your own independent, original thought to how you can use those specific skills, it will get a good grade. If your paper is witty, insightful, or brilliant, yet does not reflect the specific emphasis of the assignment, it will get a low grade. Spelling, punctuation and sentence structure will always be considered when I am grading your papers.
CLASS PARTICIPATION
Because I believe your consistent attendance is critical for your success in this class, I keep attendance records and will consider them when I am determining your grade at the end of the term. Your grade will be affected after three absences (see note on attendance deductions below). If you anticipate problems getting to class, getting here on time, and remaining in class for the entire period, I strongly urge you to reconsider whether this class will be appropriate for you.
GRADES
80% Essays—You must satisfactorily complete each of the 4 required essays in order to receive a 2.0 or higher in this course.
10% Journal, In class writings & Class Participation
10% Grammar exercises & quizzes
* Attendance deductions: .333 point deduction from the final average of your grades for each absence after your three “free” ones. (With 6 absences, a grade of 2.9 would be lowered to 2.8.)
I will do my best to return on-time papers within a week of the day they are submitted. Please know that I read your papers carefully; I strive to let you know what you’re doing well as well as to make suggestions for clarification of your ideas and organization.
GRADING SCALE: Because I keep track of your grades in a program on my computer which does not use the 4.0 scale, you will receive a percent grade on most of your assignments.
"A" Range: 3.5 - 4.0 or 90 – 95%
"B" Range: 2.5 - 3.4 or 80 – 89%
"C" Range: 1.5 - 2.4 or 70 – 79%
"D" Range: 0.7 - 1.4 or 60 – 69%
Note: A grade of 2.0 is considered "passing" for an essay; a course grade of 2.0 or above in ENGL 100 is required for entry into ENGL 105.
COURSE DESCRIPTION: Covers approximately the first half of Math 090: linear equations and inequalities, functions and function notation, lines, systems of linear equations, polynomials, relevant applied problems; additionally, incorporates study skills for mathematics. Note: you must complete both Math 91 and Math 92 with a 2.0 or higher in order to fulfill the prerequisite for 100-level Mathematics courses.
PREREQUISITE: Math 80 or equivalent with a grade of 2.0 or higher (or proper placement with the placement test). This will be checked. See me if you have questions regarding your placement. If you cannot show evidence that you have fulfilled the prerequisite by the third day of class, you may be dropped from the course.
Homework: Doing the homework is very crucial to being successful in mathematics. You can expect to spend around 2 hours every day working on homework and reading the textbook. Homework will be assigned almost every day and will be checked in your homework group the next day. See page 4 for more information on homework groups. No late homework is accepted without prior arrangements. Group assignments and additional worksheets will be given regularly. No make up assignments will be given for activities done in class. If you miss class, it is your responsibility to find out what happened in class that day and if homework was assigned. Homework will be posted on the Web page. Homework and worksheets will account for 100 points total. A few extra credit opportunities will be given.
QUIZZES: Six quizzes will be given during the quarter and they will be based on homework questions. Each quiz is worth 20 points and your lowest quiz score is dropped. No make-up quizzes are given unless arrangements are made before the quiz is given and no late quizzes are given.
TESTS: Three midterm exams will be given as shown on the schedule. Each test is worth 100 points. No make-up tests are given and no late tests will be given. The final exam for this class is scheduled for Tuesday, December 10th at 10:00 AM. No late finals are given. No early finals given except for extenuating circumstances and arrangements must be made with me at least 4 weeks in advance. The final exam is worth 200 points.
JOURNALS AND IN-CLASS WRITINGS: The three in-class writing assignments and many of the journal assignments will be directly related to the mathematics we are currently studying. Your writings should be clear and correct, to the best of your ability. The journals and in-class writing assignments will be worth 100 points total. No late papers accepted.
GRADING:
Homework & Worksheets: 100 points total
Journals & In-class Writings: 100 points total
Quizzes: 100 points total (lowest quiz score dropped)
Midterm Exams: 300 points total*
Total: 800 points
*Bad-hair-day clause: I do not drop your lowest test. However, if one of your midterm grades is less than 70% of your average on the other midterm and the final, I will replace that test grade with 70% of your average. However, this rule does not apply if you do not take one of the midterms.
Your grade for the course will be based on 800 points, and your overall percentage will be converted to a final decimal grade as follows:
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95%–100% 4.0 94% 3.9 93% 3.8 92% 3.7 91% 3.6 90% 3.5 89% 3.4 88% 3.3 87% 3.2 86% 3.1 85% 3.0 84% 2.9 83% 2.8 82% 2.7 81% 2.6 80% 2.5 79% 2.4 |
78% 2.3 77% 2.2 76% 2.2 75% 2.1 74% 2.1 73% 2.0 72% 1.7 71% 1.6 70% 1.5 69% 1.4 68% 1.3 67% 1.2 66% 1.1 65% 1.0 64% 0.9 63% 0.8 60%–62% 0.7 below 60% is 0.0 |
I will do everything I can to help you learn. However, you must do your part! Please decide early in the quarter if you have the time, energy, and commitment for this course. If you’re willing to attend class, spend around 12 hours a week (out of class time) studying and doing homework, use the Learning Support Center, and come to my office hours – welcome to Math 91 and let’s get started!