Math 125 Syllabus

Important Information

	Mandatory Orientation: Wednesday, July 23, 2003 from 11:00 - 12:30 at N2-107. (Summer 2003)
	You will be dropped from the class if you do not come to the orientation.
	This is not the complete syllabus. The complete syllabus is available in Course Compass.

Course Information

Course Title

Math 125 - Intermediate Algebra

Course Description

This course covers chapters 2 – 10 of the required textbook, which include: Solving Linear Equations and Inequalities; Solving System of Equations; Polynomials; Rational Equation; Quadratic Equations; Quadratic Functions and their Graphs; Exponential and Logarithmic Functions.

Prerequisite

Satisfactory completion of Math 115 (Elementary Algebra) or acceptable level of skills as demonstrated in Mathematics placement process.

Textbook
Package

Please make sure that you buy the textbook by Thursday, the first week of class. You need to start working as soon as possible because the Summer Session consists only of five (5) weeks.

	Martin-Gay, K. Elayn., Intermediate Algebra, 2nd Edition. (REQUIRED)
	Student Solution Manual for Intermediate Algebra. (RECOMMENDED)

Course Goals

By the end of the course, students will be able to, through reading, exercises, discussions, quizzes, and exams:

	Solve linear equations and inequalities in one variable.
	Solve system of linear equations by graphing, addition, and substitution method.
	Apply the knowledge of solving linear, quadratic, and systems of linear equations to solve problems involving simple interest, rate-time-distance, and cost.
	Solve Quadratic Equations and graph Quadratic Functions; and solve problems involving maximum-minimum, and area.
	Solve and Graph Exponential and Logarithmic Equations including problems involving compound interest and exponential growth & decay.

Mandatory Meetings

Mandatory Orientation:	Wednesday, July 23, 2003, 11 - 12:30 in Room N2-107
Mandatory Midterm Exam 1:	Saturday, August 2, 2003, 12 - 2 in Room E3-101
Mandatory Midterm Exam 2:	Saturday, August 16, 2003, 12 - 2 in Room E3-101
Mandatory Final Exam:	Tuesday, August 26, 2003, 2 - 4 p.m. in Room E3-101

PICTURE ID IS REQUIRED FOR ALL ON-CAMPUS EXAMS.

Optional Meetings

Because Summer Session only consists of five weeks, it is very important that everyone stay on top of schedule. During the summer, there will be optional weekly meetings. I would encourage everyone to attend the meetings scheduled below:

Review Midterm Exam 1	Wednesday, July 30, 2003, 12 - 1 in Room TBA
Group Study	Wednesday, August 6 , 2003, 12 - 1 in Room TBA
Review Midterm Exam 2	Wednesday, August 13, 2003, 12 - 1 in Room TBA
Group Study	Wednesday, August 20 , 2003, 12 - 1 in Room TBA
Review Final Exam	Monday, August 25, 2003, 12 - 1 in Room TBA

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Methods of Evaluation

Grading

Final Exam	30% (On Campus)
Midterm Exams	40% (On Campus)
Take-home Tests	10%
Online Quizzes	10% **
Participation	5%
Homework (Paper Based)	5%
Total	100% + Extra Credits

Letter Grades

	A 90 - 100* B 78 - 89.9* C 65 - 77.9*
	D 55 - 64.9* F Below 55*

* Important: You need a total of 180 on those 3 on-campus tests in order to get an A, B, or C. If your total of the three on-campus tests is less than 180, then you will get D or F regardless of your other grades in this class.

How This Class Works

Online

You will be required to login to Course Compass everyday (during Summer) and at least twice a week (during Fall and Spring) to do the followings:

	Read the announcements in the Announcements.
	Post appropriate topics and reply to at least two of your classmates' posting for each topic in the Discussion Board.
	Take any online quizzes (by the deadlines) in the Assignment folder. You can take an online quiz unlimited number of times by the deadline and only the highest score is counted.
	Read and reply to any e-mail, if any.

Off-line

You need to read, understand the material, turn in the paper- based tests (Take-Home Tests) by the deadlines and do the homework.

Study tips:

Some of my previous students found the textbook easy to read. I would suggest that you read the textbook first. Then, try to do the homework for each section. Once you finish the homework, you can try taking the online quiz in Course Compass. You can take an online quiz unlimited number of times by the deadline and only the highest score is counted. Each time, you will get slightly different problems every time you take a quiz.

On-Campus

You need to come to campus to take midterm exams and final examinations on specified dates as described above.

Instructor's Comment

Welcome to Math 125 online! The class covers 9 chapters in 5 weeks so you can expect to finish 2 chapters in 1 week. There is a lot of material to cover in 1 week, so that you need to study very hard to pass this class. I would advise you to take ONLY this math class because you will spend 30 - 40 hours per week for this class during the summer session. Some students from last year did doubted me when I mentioned the time requirement to spend for this class, but in the end they realized that they indeed spent 30 - 40 hours a week for this class.

If math is not your strong point, you should reconsider taking this math class in the Summer. I would advise you to take this class in the Fall because you will have 15 weeks to study in the Fall instead of 5 weeks in the Summer.

If you have never taken an online class before, be prepared to spend some time on technical issues. You should expect to spend at least as much time as if you were taking a regular face-to-face course.

During the Summer, there will be optional weekly meeting (review sessions and group study), i.e. on Wednesdays 9 - 10 a.m. to help you stay on top of the schedule. Even though these meetings are optional, you are encouraged to attend. I will discuss the review problems during the meetings. During Fall and Spring semesters, we do not have weekly meetings.

Even though this class is "anytime, anywhere", it must be "sometimes, somewhere"! If you do not have time to study, this class is not suitable for you. Taking an online class means that you are prepared to do most of the work on your own. An online class does not mean reduced class work. It is true that you do not need to come to campus for lectures, but the material covered is essentially the same as that of a traditional class.

The most important advice to be successful in this class is "Be prepared spend at least as much time as if you were taking a regular face-to-face course and stay on top of schedule."

The following are some study tips that might help you succeed in this class:

Always stay on top of the schedule. Finish as much as you can in the beginning of the semester to cover the beginning of the course, which is supposed to be easy so that you will have plenty of time to devote for latter (harder) chapters.

Check Announcements in Course Compass everyday (during Summer) and at least twice a week (during Fall and Spring).

Check your e-mail everyday (during Summer) and at least twice a week (during Fall and Spring).

Never wait to ask a question. You can post your question in the Discussion topic Main, or go to tutoring lab, or e-mail me, or see me. Just get your question answered as soon as possible.

Buddy up with one or two of your classmates. I have seen online students study together in the tutoring lab every week. They form their own study group.

Good luck to all of you!

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