Contact Information:		Office Hours:
214-5 Elizabeth Hall		Monday 2:30-3:20
ext. 7551		Tuesday 10:30-11:20
campus box 8340		Wednesday 10:00-10:50
		Friday 10:00-10:50
http://www.stetson.edu/~mhale/		or by appointment.

Course Overview   This 3-hour course satisfies the general education mathematics requirement for students working on a BA. Other students are also welcome. There is no prerequisite beyond high school math. The course does not prepare you for calculus.

The text is X-Math: A Gentle Introduction to Extreme Ideas, my own in draft form. Your comments and suggestions on the book are welcome. The TI-84 (Plus) graphing calculator will be used extensively in this class. Instructions for the TI-83/84 are on line and also will be given in class. Those with other calculators may be at a disadvantage.

Grading   Your grade will be based on tests (60%), homework (15%), and a final exam (25%). The grading scale is A: 90% - 100%, B: 80% - 89%, etc.

Policies and Due Dates   Tests must be taken in class on the date scheduled, unless you have a valid excuse cleared with me ahead of time. Any make-ups, including for the final exam, will be after the scheduled time. Test dates are: W 2/6, F 2/29, W 4/2, and F 4/18. The final exam is T 5/6, 1-3 pm.

Homework should consume about 6 hours per week outside of class. It is collected daily at the beginning of the class period. It must be written neatly on one side of the paper, stapled. No late work is accepted. You may send assignments with a friend if you miss class.

Attendance is expected. Previous students have found that loyal attendance (3 or fewer absences) and diligent completion of homework are required for success in this course.

All work on tests must be your own: no books, notes, or other people. You may receive help on homework from me, classmates, or the Math Clinic, but the final product must be your own interpretation in your own words. The more work you can complete on your own, the better prepared you will be for the tests. I support the Stetson University Honor System.

Communication   I use Blackboard to communicate important information about the class. You are responsible for reading your email and configuring Blackboard with your preferred email address.

Assistance  College level work is different from work in high school – more of the responsibility (and excitement) of learning belongs to you. That does not mean that you're on your own. I'm very happy to help, but it's up to you to ask. Please read the text, participate in class, and talk to me, either in class or in my office. Visit my web site to find out more about me and about the course. Tips on reading and studying mathematics are provided in hard copy and online. Use the Math Clinic, room 209E. The hours are Monday-Thursday 2:30-4:30 and 7-10 pm; Sunday 8:00-10:00. Your designated tutor is Mike Jones, but anyone in the clinic is qualified to help. If you have special needs, please don't hesitate to discuss them, either with me or with the Academic Resources Center.

spring 2008 syllabus
instructions for the TI-84
just the regression instructions
reviews for tests and quizzes
study tips
back to great ideas in math
back to Margie's home page