NORTH CENTRAL TEXAS COLLEGE COURSE SYLLABUS

 

Course Title: Beginning Algebra                    MW 8am – 8:50
Course Prefix & Number: MATH 0305	Section Number:103	Semester: Fall 2017
Semester Credit Hours: 3	Lecture Hours: 48	Lab Hours: 0
Course Description (NCTC Catalog): 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 or Recommended Course Materials: Required Course Material: MyLabsPlus  Access code,  headphones or ear buds (for MLP online lectures) Notebook to keep lecture notes.   Recommended Course Material: Elayn Martin-Gay: Beginning & Intermediate Algebra, Pearson, 2017, 6th ed (YOU only need the code!) Calculators are permitted.  *** NO GRAPHING CALCULATORS NOR CELL PHONE CALCULATORS ALLOWED – ONLY SCIENTIFIC CALCULATORS ALLOWED. *** TI-30X IIS is highly recommended.

 

INSTRUCTOR INFORMATION

Name of Instructor:	Kathryn Fritz
Campus/Office Location:	Gainesville Room MSS821
Office Hours:	MTWRF 7:30 – 8am, MW 9am- 10am, TR 9:30 – 11am and MTW 1:30-2:30, TR 1:30 – 2pm,  and Friday 11am -12pm
Telephone Number:	940-668-4214 (Canvas emails are best)
E-mail Address:	kfritz@nctc.edu best to use Canvas email

 

GRADING CRITERIA

# of Graded Course Elements	Graded Course Elements	Percentage or Point Values
32	Homework	10%
14	Quizzes	10%
4	Chapter Tests	60%
1	Final	20%

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

There are no make-up tests given. The final will replaced your lowest grade.

 

 

 

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.

 

STUDENT EMAIL

All students at NCTC are assigned a student email address, also known as Lion Pride email. Lion Pride email can be accessed on the NCTC home page by clicking on MyNCTC, then the link “Lion Pride Email” to the left. After clicking the Lion Pride Email link, the Microsoft Office 365 window will open.
1. Enter your NCTC student e-mail address. (for example, Smithj123456@student.nctc.edu)

2. Enter your password (your NCTC Student ID Number, either 7 or 9 numbers).
3. From the list of Microsoft icons, choose MAIL.
4. You will be asked to set your language and local time zone (Central Time). Your account is now activated.

 

**It is the student’s responsibility to activate and regularly monitor the assigned NCTC (Lion Pride) e-mail account. Important announcements and notifications from the Admissions office, Financial Aid, or other college staff will be sent via the Lion Pride student email system.

 

For communicating with classmates and instructors, students also have an option to communicate through Canvas. Canvas messaging is NOT the same as Lion Pride e-mail. Failure to read and/or receive NCTC e-mails (either in Lion Pride or in Canvas) is no excuse for not complying with the College Prep Attendance Policy or any other school policies. Be sure to regularly check BOTH the Lion Pride email as well as the Canvas inbox for important messages and information.

 

TSI COMPLIANCE

At North Central Texas College, 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. Non-compliance with the rules of attendance will result in a student being WITHDRAWN from the college preparatory course and possibly being placed on academic hold at North Central Texas College. Withdrawals are subject to college policies as set forth in the college catalog.

 

ATTENDANCE POLICY

Regular and punctual attendance is expected of all students in all College Prep classes for which they have registered. There are NO excused absences.  Faculty teaching College Preparatory courses will notify students of absences on a regular basis and one courtesy warning e-mail notification will be sent to the students’ current NCTC student e-mail address (Lion Pride email and/or Canvas email) when the student accrues 1 week absence (not necessarily consecutive days) in a course. Please check your NCTC student email (Lion Pride) frequently to ensure that you are receiving notifications from the college and from your instructors. Some faculty may send notifications in Canvas as well. Failure to read and/or receive NCTC e-mail (Lion Pride) 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 college.

 

After a student has been absent from class 2 weeks (not necessarily consecutive days), the student may be dropped. After a student receives an F/W in the same College Prep course twice, the student will receive an academic hold so that the student is blocked from enrolling in any other course except the required College Prep courses in the subsequent semester. This hold will be enforced even in summer.

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 may 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.

 

CLASS RULES

1. Turn off all electronic devices prior to entering class.
2. Do not read or send text messages during class. You will be counted absent for the day and asked to leave class if you use your cell.
3. Being on unapproved websites as in Facebook or homework for another class, you will be asked to leave class and will be counted as absent for the day.
4. This class will run from Monday to Sunday each week. The homework may be turned in late, but not the quizzes. Please do not ask me to reopen quizzes for you. During week 15 all the quizzes will reopen for you may improve your score.  If you fall more than one week behind you may not be able to finish this class. This means you will receive a letter grade of “ F”.
5. When I am giving a class lecture, students are not to be log into any computers
6. Administrative policy prohibits food or drink in classrooms.
7. Be courteous to your fellow classmates.
8. Maintain a positive and professional attitude.
9. The use of profanity is prohibited in the classroom. I will ask you to leave the classroom and count you absent for the day.
10. Ask questions, get involved, and do your homework .Ask for help early.
11. Notice to Students: You will not pass this class if you only work during class time. Please schedule at least three to five hours per week outside of class to complete homework, quizzes and pre-tests.
12. While taking each quiz and test, you are NOT to use any notes or information from the book.
13. The final exam will be comprehensive and is required of all students.
14. Please do not embarrass your fellow classmates by wearing sagging pants. You will be asked to leave the classroom and meet with the Dean of Students before you come back to class.
15. This is a working syllabus and is subject to change.

 

 

 

 

TENTATIVE SCHEDULE

Fall 2017

NCTC

MATH 0305.103 MW 8am -8:50  

Tentative Weekly Schedule

 

Date	Starting	Topic	Assignment
Week 1	August 28- Sept 3	Introduction; 2.1 Simplifying Algebraic Expressions 2.2 The Addition & Multiplication Properties of Equality 2.3 Solving Linear Equations	Read and understand syllabus and course expectations Hw 2.1 -2.3 Quiz 2.1-2.3
Week 2	September 4- Sept 10	2.4 An Introduction to Problem Solving 2.5 Formulas & Problem Solving 2.6 Percent & Mixture Problem Solving	No Class Mon 9/4 – Labor Day Hw 2.4 – 2.6 Quiz 2.4 -2.6
Week 3	September 11- Sept 17	2.7 Further Problem Solving 2.8 Solving Linear Inequalities Quiz Review Chapter 2	Check your Lion Pride Email Hw 2.7 – 2.8 Quiz chapter 2 review
Week 4	September 18-Sept 24	TEST: Chapter 2 5.1 Exponents 5.2 Polynomial Operations	Test chapter 2 Hw 5.1 – 5.2 Quiz 5.1-5.2
Week 5	September 25- Oct 1	5.3 Multiplying polynomials 5.4 Special Products	Hw 5.3-5.4 Quiz 5.3 – 5.4
Week 6	October 2- Oct 8	5.5 Negative Exponents & Scientific Notation 5.6 Dividing polynomials (monomial only) 6.1 Greatest common factor	Hw 5.5 – 6.1 Quiz 5.5-6.1
Week 7	October 9- Oct 15	6.2 Factoring Trinomials Quiz Review Chapter 5 & 6.1 – 6.2 TEST: Chapter 5 & 6.1 – 6.2	Hw 6.2 Quiz review Chp 5 &  6
Week 8	October 16- Oct 22	Intro to Statistics (supplemental) Reading tables & graphs Appendix F – mean, median, mode Analyzing Data – range, midpoint Simple Probability (coin toss, cards) Quiz Review Intro to Statistics	Hw Intro to Statistics All sections Quiz review Intro to Stats Check Lion Pride Email
Week 9	October 23- Oct 29	3.1 Reading Graphs & the Coordinate plane 3.2 Graphing lines	Hw 3.1 – 3.2 Quiz 3.1
Week 10	October 30- Nov 5	3.3 Intercepts 3.4 Slope & Rate of Change	Hw 3.3 – 3.4 Quiz 3.2 – 3.3
Week 11	November 6-Nov 12	3.4 Slope & Rate of Change Quiz Review Chp 3.1 – 3.4 TEST STAT & CHP 3.1-3.4	**Last Day to Drop with a W  is Thurs 11/9** Hw 3.4 &  Quiz review
Week 12	November 13-Nov 19	9.4 Graphing Inequalities 3.5 Equations of Lines 3.6 Functions	Hw 3.5-3.6 Quiz 9.4 &  3.5 -3.6
Week 13	November 20- Nov 26	4.1 – 4.3 Systems of equations (basic only) Quiz Review Chapter 3 & 4.1 – 4.3 & 9.4	Hw 4.1 -4.3 Quiz Chp 3 & 4 & 9.4
Week 14	November 27	TEST: Chapter 3.5 -3.6 & 4.1 - 4.3 & 9.4	Thanksgiving Holiday College Closed November 22nd - November 25th
Week 15	December 4	Quiz Review for Final Exam	Final Exams December 9 – 14

 

**Final exam is scheduled for ____________Wed. Dec 13 at 8 pm to 9:50__________

 

 

LAST DAY TO WITHDRAW

Last day to withdraw from a course with a “W” is Thursday, November 9, 2017.

MATH LAB Students who need help with any math class can visit the NCTC Mathematics Lab to receive assistance. No appointments are necessary. See the most current tutoring hours for all five campuses at http://www.nctc.edu/student-services/student-success/tutoring/mathematics-lab.html.     TIMES SUBJECT TO CHANGE BASED ON TUTOR AVAILABILITY: GAINESVILLE – 1403 (Library) CORINTH – 186 FLOWER MOUND - 111 Mon 10:00 am – 5:00 pm Mon through Thurs 9:00 am – 6:00 pm Mon & Wed 9:00 am – 12:00 pm Tues, Wed, Thurs 9:00 am – 5:00 pm Fri 9:00 am – 12:00 pm Tues & Thurs 9:00 am – 3:00 pm Fri 9:00 am – 12:00 pm Sat 10:00 am – 1:00 pm Fri 9:00 am – 12:00 pm Sunday 1:00 pm – 5:00 pm

 

DISABILITY SERVICES (OSD)

The Office for Students with Disabilities (OSD) provides accommodations for students who have a documented disability. On the Corinth Campus, go to room 170 or call 940-498-6207. On the Gainesville Campus, go to room 110 or call 940-668-4209.  Students on the Bowie, Graham, Flower Mound, and online campuses should call 940-498-6207.

North Central Texas College is committed to both the spirit and letter of federal equal opportunity legislation, including the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990, ADA Amendments Act of 2009, and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (P.L. 93-112).   http://www.nctc.edu/student-services/disability-services.html.

 

STUDENT HANDBOOK

Students are expected to follow all rules and regulations found in the student handbook. http://www.nctc.edu/catalog/North-Central-Texas-College-Student-Handbook/nctc-student-handbook.html.  

 

 

 

 

Name of Chair/Coordinator:	Elizabeth Howell
Office Location:	Corinth 236
Telephone Number:	940.498.6209
E-mail Address:	ehowell@nctc.edu
Name of Instructional Dean:	Sara Flusche
Office Location:	Gainesville 1306
Telephone Number:	940.668.3351
E-mail Address:	sflusche@nctc.edu

 

CAMPUS RESTRICTIONS

Tobacco-Free Campus:  NCTC restricts the use of all tobacco products, including cigarettes, e-cigarettes, cigars, pipes, and smokeless tobacco, on campus property.

 

Campus Carry: Effective August 1, 2017, a license holder may carry a concealed handgun on or about the license holder's person while the license holder is on the campus of an institution of higher education or private or independent institution of higher education in this state. For more information, see the website at http://www.nctc.edu/police/campus-carry.html.