Kristin Spizzirri
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Intermediate Algebra (MW FALL2010)

 

Instructor:  Kristin Spizzirri                     

972)563-4934 (work)             

                   kspizzirri@tvcc.edu 

 

Office:        TVCC Terrell Campus

                   A-120

TEXTBOOK:  Lial, Margaret L., Hornsby, John, and McGinnis, Terry; “Developmental Mathematics – Basic Mathematics and Algebra”, 2nd  ed., Pearson Addison-Wesley Publishing Company; 1221 pp; 2008. 

Supplies:

1.       Basic 10 Key Calculator!

2.       Textbook (Optional)

3.       My Math Lab Access Code - Mandatory

3.       3 Ring Binder with dividers (Optional)

4.       Notebook paper

5.       Pen/Pencil – All assignments turned in for grading must be completed

          in blue or black ink or pencil.  No exceptions.

6.       Notecards (Optional)

NO CELL PHONES ARE ALLOWED IN CLASS!!

PREREQUISITE:   Devl 0309 or a placement score on TVCC placement test.  

 Cell Phone Usage:        TVCC policy is that cell phones are not allowed to be used during class.  If your cell phone goes off during class after a warning, the phone w ill be taken and turned into the Dean’s office.  You must meet with the dean to have your phone returned.  IF you have an emergency that requires your phone being on, please discuss with me BEFORE class.  This includes text messaging.  Basically turn your phone off and put it up prior to the start of class –don’t have it out at all!  Cell phones will not be used for calculators.

 CHEATING

            Any student that has been caught cheating will receive a 0 on that assignment or test.  Any student that is caught cheating a second time will automatically receive an F in the class and be reported to the Dean of Instruction.

All students are expected to adhere to all TVCC’s polices as outlines in the TVCC catalog.  This includes dress code and food and beverage policy.

 

Evaluation Method

1.       Major Exams – There will be a major exam at the end of each chapter. 

          Major exams will make up 50% of your course grade.  At the end of

          the semester there will be a final notebook grade that will count as a

          test grade as well.  The highest grade that a student may receive on a

          retest is an 80.

2.       Final Exam – There will be a comprehensive final exam given at the

          end of the semester. It will count for 25% of your course grade. 

3.       Homework/Class Participation/ Quizzes/ Projects – This category of work will be 25% of your course grade.  Homework will be assigned during each class meeting.  All homework will be due at the beginning of the day of that chapter exam.  In addition to homework, there will be announced as well as unannounced quizzes over material covered in prior class meetings.  Also, there will be group activities and projects that will be completed outside of class as well as during class time.  Since there will be class participation activities, attendance is importance.  NO MAKE-UP quizzes or class participation will be allowed.  Homework and project will not be accepted late – no exceptions.

If a student’s overall average is between 60% and 70% and in the opinion of the instructor he or she has made significant progress the student may receive a grade of D (passing) or a grade of IP (in progress), a non-punitive grade which indicates that the student must re0enroll for Intermediate Algebra in their next semester at TVCC. To receive a grade of C or higher students must have an overall average of 70% or better and they must pass the comprehensive final exam with a grade of 70% or better

Students who take and pass the mathematics portion of the TVCC Placement Test with a score of at least 250 or the equivalent on another testing instrument and who elect not to complete the course will receive a grade based on the work completed before the official score is received and reported or they can receive a grade of C, whichever grade is higher.  Students may choose to complete this course after the passing score is reported. Students have the responsibility to make their instructor aware of their passing score by presenting an official report of their passing score. 

.

 ABSENCES:

            Students will receive a warning letter on their fourth absence and will be dropped from the class on the sixth absence. Students who accumulate three weeks of absences in either developmental lecture or lab classes during the fall or spring semesters will be subject to being dropped from the class and if they are not also enrolled in another developmental class and are required by college regulations to be in remediation then they will also be withdrawn from all TVCC classes.  After a student has missed one week of classes during the fall or spring semester, the student’s name should be submitted in the Academic dean or the appropriate center dean so that a warning letter can be sent.  After the student has missed three weeks of absences in the fall or spring semester, the student’s name should be submitted to the Academic Dean or the appropriate Center Dean for withdrawal from the course and from the college.  For students registering during late registration, absences will begin to count the next class day after the student registers.  

METHODS OF INSTRUCTION:

            The course is “mastery based” in that a student will not take tests until unit requirements (homework assigned from the textbook, worksheets designed by the instructor, or computer assignments) are completed.  Students will also not be allowed to take the final exam until they have passed all unit tests. Lecture format has been adopted by the mathematics department as the preferred method of instruction, although individual assistance during office hours and in the developmental mathematics laboratory are of course necessary.


 

Tentative Course Calendar – Int.Alg  (Fall 2010 – K Spizzirri)

DATE        TOPIC                                    ASSIGNMENT                     

8/30                 Course Introduction

                        My Math Lab Registration Procedures

9/1                   Review of Sign Rules and Multiplication of Polynomials 

9/6                   No Class – Labor Day Holiday

9/8                   Quiz

13.1 – Factors, GCF 

9/13                 Quiz

13.1 – Factor by Grouping – Factoring 4 terms

9/15                 Quiz

                       13.2 – 13.6 – Factoring Techniques – Focus on Trinomials 

9/20                 Quiz

                        13.2 – 13.6 – Factoring Techniques – Focus on Trinomials

9/22                 Quiz

                        13.2 – 13.6 – Factoring Techniques – Focus on Binomials                       

9/27                 Quiz

                        13.7 – Solving Quadratic Equations using the Factoring Method

9/29                 Quiz

Chapter 13 Review           

10/4                 Chapter 13 Exam

10/6                 Re-teach Ch 13  

10/11               Fall Break

10/13               14.1 – The Fundamental Property of Rational Expressions

 10/18               Quiz

                        14.2 – Mult and Dividing Rational Expressions

10/20               Quiz

                        Chapter 14 Review

 10/25               Chapter 14 Exam

10/27               16.1 – Evaluating Roots

 11/1                 Quiz

                        16.2 – Mult, Dividing and Simplifying Radicals

11/3                 Quiz

                        16.3 – Adding and Subtracting Radicals

 11/8                 Quiz

                        16.4 – Rationalizing the Denominator

11/10               Quiz

                        16.5 – More Simplifying and operations with Radicals

 11/15               Quiz

                        Chapter 16 Review

11/17               Chapter 16 Exam

 11/22               Re-Teach/Review

11/24               Re-Teach/Review

 11/29               Re-Teach/Review

12/1                 Re-Teach/Review

 12/6                 Final Exam Review

12/8                 Final Exam – See Schedule

 12/13               Final Exam – See Schedule

                       

 

 

 

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