SYLLABUS

Instructor: Dubravko Ivansic [pronunciation: DOO-brahv-ko EE-vahn-shich] Ivansic is the last name.

Phone & e-mail: 762-3552, dubravko.ivansic@murraystate.edu

Office: Faculty hall 6A1 (in the Department of Mathematics and Statistics annex)

Course webpage:

http://campus.murraystate.edu/academic/faculty/dubravko.ivansic/03fall/140home.html

Office Hours:
Ask me or check the webpage.

Textbooks:
Sullivan & Sullivan, Algebra and Trigonometry. We plan to cover chapters 1-4, 6-7 or their portions.

Graphing calculator:
A graphing calculator is required to take this course. The TI-83 is recommended and is the one that I will use in class. Any other graphing calculator is OK, however, be aware that you are responsible to learn how to operate it as I can give only very limited help for that purpose.

Attendance:
is strongly encouraged every day, and roll will be taken. If you missed eight or fewer classes during the semester, you get 3% bonus points. Note that you are not penalized for missing a class (the points are in excess to your total grade), so an absence is counted as such regardless of the reason ("excused" or not).

Homework:
Homework problems will be assigned during the week, but you will not be required to turn them in. Instead, to promote a continuous effort in the course, you will be tested over the material frequently. The list of homework problems may be found on the webpage.

Don't fall behind:
Math 140 develops some basic math skills necessary for future courses (Calculus being one of them). While in this course you will see and do a number of things that you may have seen before, don't think that you can do them independently until you have made sure by working out the homework problems. Mathematics is best learned by doing - to acquire proficiency it is essential that you do many homework problems. Expect to spend at least one to two hours of study time for every hour of class time. Furthermore, if some things aren't clear to you, come to me for help as soon as possible and not the day before the exam...

Make-ups:
Make-ups for exams will be given only in cases of illness, field trips or other unavoidable circumstances. You will need to provide written verification of the reason for your absence in advance and as soon as possible. If you are unexpectedly absent from an exam, try to contact me, say, by phoning or e-mailing me that same day, or by leaving a message at the math office (762-2311).

Exams:
There will be five full period exams, dates of which you will be informed of well in advance. On some exams, calculators will not be allowed.

Final exam:
is comprehensive and will be held on Tuesday, Dec. 9th at 10:30AM in our usual classroom.

Grade:
For your final grade, the lowest of your five exam grades will be dropped and the remaining four will be used to compute the final grade. Each of the four exams is worth 19% and the final exam is worth 24%. No extra credit work will be given to repair your grade. If your first exams are not turning out well, you will have to put in a dedicated effort in order to get better grades on the later exams. Final grades are computed as follows:
 
90%-100%=A, 80%-89%=B, 70%-79%=C, 60%-59%=D, 0%-59%=E.

Academic honesty policy: In compliance with the Board of Regents policy on academic integrity, instances of academic dishonesty, as determined by the instructor, will result in zero points for the assignment and possibly a grade of "E" for the course.