Time and place: MW 5:30-6:50 110 Fenton

Instructor: Wendy Sullivan email: sullivan@ uoregon.edu
Office hours: held in classroom MW 7-7:45, or by appt.

Web: Blackboard will be the main web resource for this class

Course Overview: This course is a survey of topics that use mathematics and are widely applicable outside the classroom. It is designed to satisfy the Bachelor of Science degree requirements at University of Oregon, specifically, that students demonstrate “proficiency in mathematics.” If you are competent in intermediate algebra (Algebra II in high school, or Math 95 at UO), and you are taking this course as part of your BS requirements, and/or to satisfy your curiosity about mathematics, and do not intend to go on to calculus, then you are in the right place.

Attendance is strongly suggested for this class. Math is a cumulative subject and there is no way to make up for lost class time. Complete reading and homework assignments before coming to class, so that class time can be as productive as possible. Your participation in class is important for learning - please come prepared to listen and to ask questions!

I expect you to spend considerable time^* and effort learning the mathematics in this course outside the classroom. Homework is part of this outside work. Another part is re-reading notes from class to make sure you understand everything that happened, and taking the time to figure it out if you do not understand. Expect quiz and exam questions about the ideas and concepts covered as well as procedural questions. I strongly encourage you to take advantage of office hours if you have questions. In addition to the office hours that I hold after class, your discussion leader will hold separate hours. I am also available by appointment outside my regular hours.

^*What is “considerable time”? Since this is a 4-credit course, an average, well-prepared student should expect to spend about 8 hours per week outside of class. Students who usually struggle with math, or have not taken any math courses for more than a year should expect to spend more.

Course Materials: The text for this course is required, a calculator is highly recommended. The text is Mathematics: A Practical Odyssey, by Johnson/Mowry. The bookstore also carries this book in paperback form with the title University Math 1 & 2. Either text will work fine (they are the same!). We will cover most of chapters 1-4, time permitting. A scientific calculator will be very useful and calculators will be allowed on exams. You may also use a graphing calculator, but there is no advantage to having a graphing calculator for exams, so you won’t need to purchase a new one.

You are required to check the Blackboard site for this class frequently - every day or two - for announcements, assignment postings, and other communication. You may also use Blackboard for asking questions about the material and about homework – go to the discussion board section to post a question.

Class Etiquette: As you know, this is a large lecture class. We’ll need to keep the class fairly structured in order to maintain an environment in which everyone can concentrate and learn. I do encourage you to ask questions during class – but only of me. Please do not, for any reason, talk with your classmates during lecture. I will ask you to leave class if you do. Please do come to class early enough to take your seat before lecture begins, and plan to stay the entire time. If some urgent reason causes you to be late, or to need to leave early, please use the back door, being careful to not let it slam, and take (or leave) your seat as quietly and quickly as possible. Think about this: there will likely be over 100 cell phones in the room during class! Please don’t let yours ring, or use it or any other electronic gadgets during class. I don’t mind if you eat or drink in class as long as you are respectful of your classmates (who might not like extra garlic as much as you do) and others who use our classroom (who don’t want to encounter coffee puddles or garbage in the room). A small snack might be a good way to maintain your concentration during lecture, especially if you usually have a meal during the hours our class meets.

Class Format: In general, there will be lecture on new material Mondays and Wednesdays, with a short break in the middle for group work. Discussion meetings will give you the opportunity to ask questions about homework and lecture topics. During most discussions there will be either an in-class worksheet or a quiz. On worksheets you will be allowed to work with others, but on quizzes you will not. Both quizzes and worksheets will require that you have studied and mastered the previous week’s topics. Students who do not prepare for the worksheets as rigorously as they do the quizzes should expect to find the worksheets very difficult to complete during the time allowed.

Homework, Grading, Exams: Homework assignments will be posted on Blackboard. The exact time and place to turn in your work will be announced in discussion. There is no late homework accepted, but I will drop your lowest homework score. I will also drop your lowest quiz or worksheet score – whichever helps your grade the most. Homework, worksheet and quiz scores will be posted on your discussion section Blackboard site. There will be two hour-long exams and a comprehensive final exam (during finals week). Exam dates are given below in the tentative schedule. Make up worksheets, quizzes and exams are only given with a documented acceptable excuse presented in a timely manner. If you feel you have a legitimate but not documentable reason to reschedule an exam, contact me before test day.

The final exam will be Monday, Dec 3 at 7:00-9:00pm. You must take the final exam at the scheduled time.

Letter grades in this course will correspond approximately with the following scale:

90-100: A, 80-89: B, 70-79: C, 60-69: D, below 60: F.

Plus grades are awarded in most cases when the last digit is 8 or higher (98-100 is A+, etc.). Minus grades are given in some special circumstances; please ask if you have questions. Fractional grades are not rounded, and D+ grades are not given. (Remember that if you are taking the course pass/no pass, you must have at least a C- to get a P.) You must get at least a 70% to have this course count towards your BS math requirement.

Your grade will be computed based on your coursework as follows:

15% Homework

15% Worksheets and Quizzes
20% Midterm I
20% Midterm II
30% Final Exam

Special Accommodations: If you have a documented disability and anticipate needing accommodations in this course, please make arrangements to meet with me soon. Please request that the counselor for students with disabilities send a letter verifying your disability. If you have medical information you need to share with me, or if you have special arrangements in case the building must be evacuated, please make an appointment to discuss your accommodation needs with me as soon as possible.

Schedule of Sections Covered The following tentative list of sections to be covered, minor updates ill be announced in class and significant updates will be posted on Blackboard. The exam dates given are firm. Class will not be held on Wednesday, Novermber 21, and there will be no discussion meetings either November 19 or 21 (Thanksgiving week). An additional review class will be scheduled between the last class meeting and the final exam.

Week 1: 1.1-1.3

Week 2: 1.3-1.5

Week 3: 1.5, 2.3-2.4

Week 4: 2.4, Review, Midterm I on Wednesday, October 17

Week 5: 2.6, 3.1-3.2

Week 6: 3.3-3.5

Week 7: 3.6-4.1

Week 8: 4.2, Review, Midterm II on Wednesday, November 14

Week 9: 4.3-4.4, No discussions this week. No class held Wednesday, November 21

Week 10: 4.4-4.6, Review. Additional Review session TBA

Week 11: Final exam Monday, December 3, 7pm

Important Dates (See http://registrar.uoregon.edu/common/cals/acadmcal.htm)

Monday of 2^nd week (Oct 1) Last day to drop without a “W” & without paying $10 (Note that this is a holiday)

Wednesday of 2^nd week (Oct 3) Last day to add a class

Sunday after 7^th week (Nov 11) Last day to drop --- period! Last day to change grade options.

Monday, Dec 3, 1900 Everyone must take the final at this time