UNIVERSITY OR NORTH TEXAS

COURSE SYLLABUS

Course Title: Beginning Algebra
Course Prefix & Number: NCTM 0351	Section Number: 003	Semester: Fall 2016
Semester Credit Hours: 3	Lecture Hours: 3	Lab Hours: 0
Course Description: NCTM0351 Beginning Algebra (3 credit hours) This course includes basic algebraic concepts and notations; algebraic expressions and equations, factoring polynomials and graphing. Some algebra is required. This course does not count toward graduation at NCTC.
Course Prerequisite(s): Appropriate placement score on TSI or other approved assessment test.
Required Course Materials: MyMathLab  Access code – required  UNT email address Calculators are permitted.  *** NO GRAPHING CALCULATORS NOR CELL PHONE CALCULATORS ALLOWED – ONLY SCIENTIFIC CALCULATORS ALLOWED. *** TI-30X IIS is highly recommended.   Elayn Martin-Gay: Beginning & Intermediate Algebra, Pearson, 2017, 6th ed. - optional

 

INSTRUCTOR INFORMATION

Name of Instructor:	Marla Owens
Campus/Office Location:	Sage 360
Office Hours:	MW 11:00 am – Noon;           F   10:00am - Noon MW 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm
Telephone Number:	940-498-6226
E-mail Address:	Marla.Owens@unt.edu

 

GRADING CRITERIA

# of Graded Course Elements	Graded Course Elements	Percentage or Point Values
Approx. 30	Homework assignments	10%
Approx. 12	Quizzes	15%
Weekly	Attendance	5%
4	Chapter Tests	50%
1	Final Exam	20%

Grade Scale:   90 – 100% = A;   80 – 89% = B; 70 – 79% = C;     Below 70% = F

 

The final exam is comprehensive and must be taken by all students. The final exam may also be used to replace the lowest test grade. (Only if you missed 1 week of course material).

 

STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES

	At the successful completion of this course the student will be able to:
1.	Define, represent, and perform operations on real numbers.
2.	Recognize, understand, and analyze features of a function.
3.	Recognize and use algebraic (field) properties, concepts, procedures (including factoring), and algorithms to combine, transform, and evaluate polynomial expressions.
4.	Identify and solve polynomial equations.
5.	Identify and solve linear inequalities.
6.	Model, interpret and justify mathematical ideas and concepts using multiple representations.
7.	Connect and use multiple strands of mathematics in situations and problems, as well as in the study of other disciplines.

 

TSI COMPLIANCE

At University of North Texas, students who test but do not meet the passing scores in ALL sections of the TSI Assessment or any other THECB approved testing measurements are required by state law to obtain TSI advising and continuously enroll in a formal college preparatory studies (developmental) program every semester until all TSI requirements are satisfied. TSI program attendance is MANDATORY.  

 

ATTENDANCE POLICY

Regular and punctual attendance is expected of all students in all NCTM0351 classes for which they have registered. There are NO excused absences. Students may receive attendance warnings from their instructor at the UNT student email address when the student accrues 1 week absence (not necessarily consecutive days) in a course. Failure to read and/or receive school e-mail is no excuse for not complying with the Attendance Policy. It is the student's responsibility to maintain correct and current e-mail and local and permanent addresses with the university.

After a student has been absent from class 2 weeks (not necessarily consecutive days), the student may be dropped. Inform the instructor in writing during the first week of class of any religious holidays observed this semester. Documentation must be given to the instructor at the class following the holiday.

Also, since punctuality has become a problem in recent semesters, three tardies will be considered one absence. Coming in late disrupts the class. Occasions do occur that you will need to be tardy, but not on a consistent basis.

 

HOMEWORK, QUIZZES, AND TESTS POLICIES AND PROCEDURES

All homework and quizzes will be completed online in MyMathLab (MML). You will need an access code that can be purchased in the bookstore or online after you log into MyMathLab.

 

MyMathLab (MML) tech support phone 888-883-1299 or online http://247support.custhelp.com for live chat.  I cannot answer technical computer problems.

 

Homework:

You are expected to watch all section video presentations in the MyMathLab (MML) classroom. These videos can be accessed from the Chapter Contents menu. This takes the place of going to class in a traditional course. If you do not have a high-speed Internet connection, it may be difficult to view the videos. The videos contain instruction on each objective that is to be covered in the course. If you don’t watch the videos it is equivalent to not coming to class.

 

Attendance hours: An absence is defined as the following: Our week will run from Monday to Sunday. Every Monday I check for attendance. You must log in and complete (any grade 60% or higher) two or more assignments on a weekly basis. Even if you are ahead you must still log in and complete assignments until you have completed the final. Students can work at his/her own pace which makes it possible to finish the course early.

 

Students are allowed and encouraged to work ahead of the designated assigned section. However, in order to pass this class all homework, quizzes, tests, and the final exam must be completed before the end of the semester as well as having a passing average 70% or higher in the course.

 

Quizzes:

Weekly quizzes will be due by Sunday night (check MML for times). All due dates are listed in MML. Quizzes may be attempted 2 times, and each quiz attempt has a time limit. Only the highest score will be counted. Students should attempt the quiz multiple times in order to be prepared for the unit tests and improve their overall score. Please do not ask me to give you more time to complete an assignment.

 

Tests:

Four unit tests and a comprehensive final exam are scheduled for this course. Each test and exam must be taken on UNT campus in a proctored setting. Each test will have a time limit. The following are the schedule dates for the unit tests:  Our Test dates would be the Saturday of the following weeks -

Week #4 - Saturday 9/24  Test #1

Week #9 - Saturday 10/29  Test #2

Week #12 - Saturday 11/19  Test #3

Week #14 - Saturday 12/3  Test #4

Week #15- Thursday 12/10  Final Exam

 

Testing times are scheduled by availability, so please plan accordingly.  A link will be sent to you so that you will be able to sign up.    Students will be allowed to use a non-graphing calculator on the tests PROVIDED by the proctor at the testing site. No make-up exams will be given, but the final exam will replace your lowest test grade, if you have missed only 1 week worth of assignments.

 

The final exam will be comprehensive and is required of all students. The final exam will be a timed test and proctored.  You will have a 2 hour time limit.  The final exam may be used to replace your lowest regular exam grade, if you have missed only 1 week worth of assignments. The final exam must be completed the week of, but no later than Saturday, December 10, 2016. Testing times are scheduled by availability, so please plan accordingly.

 

Gradebook: The grade book in MML keeps a running average of your grade. I go over all quizzes.  I look for answers that are technically correct, but have not been submitted in ‘good form’. An example would be an answer of 14/16 that has not been simplified to 7/8. Your answers will be more complicated than this example, but you get the idea that I will be looking for answers that are technically correct.

 

CLASS RULES

1. You must log in and complete assignments on a weekly basis. Even if you are ahead you must still log in and complete an assignment this is the way I take attendance. Attendance hours: An absence is defined as the following: Our week will run from Monday to Sunday. Every Monday I check for attendance. You must log in and complete (any grade 60% or higher) two or more assignments on a weekly basis. Even if you are ahead you must still log in and complete assignments until you have completed the final. Students can work ahead at his/her own pace which makes it possible to finish the course early.
2. Do not ask me to extend the due dates. Work ahead on the assignments instead (remember if something can go wrong it will).
3. Our ‘class week’ will run from Monday to Sunday. First day of class is August 29, 2016. All assignments for the week will open on Sunday.
4. Go to the Math Lab during their posted hours for additional help. Notice to Students: You will not pass this class if you only work the day the assignments are due. Please schedule at least three hours per week to complete quizzes and pre-tests.
5. You are welcome to come to my office during my posted hours. We can talk by phone if necessary. If you call me after my office hours, your phone call will be returned within a 24 hour time frame. I check my email daily, and sometimes more.  If you email me over the weekend, your emails will most likely not be answered until Monday.  Please use UNT email address for all email correspondence.

 

 

 

 

Final Exam:

The final exam will be comprehensive and is required of all students. The final exam will be a timed test and given in the testing center.  You will have a 2 hour time limit.  The final exam must be completed before or on Saturday, December 10, 2016.

 

MATH LAB

The Math Lab serves students enrolled in UNT Math classes at the 0300-2000 level. If you are enrolled in one of these classes, you are eligible to utilize Math Lab services. The Math Lab is located in the General Academics Building (GAB), Room 440. The Math Lab is closed Sundays, all official UNT holidays, and during Final Exams. The Math Lab hours vary by semester. Go to http://math.unt.edu/mathlab for more information.

 

LAST DAY TO WITHDRAW

Last day to withdraw from a course with a “W” is Wednesday, November 23,  2016.

 

STUDENT SUPPORT SERVICES ADA statement The University of North Texas makes reasonable academic accommodation for students with disabilities. Students seeking accommodation must first register with the Office of Disability Accommodation (ODA) to verify their eligibility. If a disability is verified, the ODA will provide you with an accommodation letter to be delivered to faculty to begin a private discussion regarding your specific needs in a course. You may request accommodations at any time, however, ODA notices of accommodation should be provided as early as possible in the semester to avoid any delay in implementation. Note that students must obtain a new letter of accommodation for every semester and must meet with each faculty member prior to implementation in each class. For additional information see the Office of Disability Accommodation website at www.unt.edu/oda. You may also contact them by phone at 940.565.4323. Located in Sage hall 167.     Acceptable Student Behavior Student behavior that interferes with an instructor’s ability to conduct a class or other students' opportunity to learn is unacceptable and disruptive and will not be tolerated in any instructional forum at UNT. Students engaging in unacceptable behavior will be directed to leave the classroom and the instructor may refer the student to the Center for Student Rights and Responsibilities to consider whether the student's conduct violated the Code of Student Conduct. The university's expectations for student conduct apply to all instructional forums, including university and electronic classroom, labs, discussion groups, field trips, etc. The Code of Student Conduct can be found at www.unt.edu/csrr Cheating and Plagiarism Students caught cheating or plagiarizing will receive a "0" for that particular assignment or exam. Additionally, the incident will be reported to the Office of Academic Integrity which may impose further penalties. According to the UNT catalog, the term "cheating" includes, but is not limited to: a. use of any unauthorized assistance in taking quizzes, tests, or examinations; b. dependence upon the aid of sources beyond those authorized by the instructor in writing papers, preparing reports, solving problems, or carrying out other assignments; c. the acquisition, without permission, of tests or other academic material belonging to a faculty or staff member of the university; d. dual submission of a paper or project, or resubmission of a paper or project to a different class without express permission from the instructor(s); or e. any other act designed to give a student an unfair advantage. The term "plagiarism" includes, but is not limited to: a. the knowing or negligent use by paraphrase or direct quotation of the published or unpublished work of another person without full and clear acknowledgment; and b. the knowing or negligent unacknowledged use of materials prepared by another person or agency engaged in the selling of term papers or other academic materials.

STUDENT HANDBOOK

Students are expected to follow all rules and regulations found in the student handbook.  Which can be found on the Student affairs website: http://studentaffairs.unt.edu/explore?category=41

 

Name of Chair/Coordinator:	Elizabeth Howell
Office Location:	Corinth 324
Telephone Number:	940.498.6209
E-mail Address:	ehowell@nctc.edu
Name of Instructional Dean:	Sara Alford
Office Location:	Flower Mound Suite 200
Telephone Number:	972.899.8401
E-mail Address:	salford@nctc.edu

 

Tobacco-Free Campus

The University of North Texas is a tobacco-free campus, restricting the use of all tobacco products, including cigarettes, e-cigarettes, cigars, pipes, and smokeless tobacco, on campus property.