NORTH CENTRAL TEXAS COLLEGE COURSE SYLLABUS
Course Title:		College Algebra
Course Prefix & Number:			MATH1314	Section Number:	846	Semester/Year:	Fall 2019
Semester Credit Hours:			3	Lecture Hours:	48	Lab Hours:
Course Description (NCTC Catalog): In-depth study and applications of polynomial, rational, radical, exponential and logarithmic functions, and systems of equations using matrices. Additional topics such as sequences, series, probability, and conics may be included.
Course Prerequisite(s): Meet TSI college-readiness standard for College Algebra; or equivalent
Required or Recommended Course Materials: College Algebra, Lial/Hornsby/Schneider/Daniels, 12th edition, Pearson, 2017 or MyMathLab access code (e-text included in MML) Scientific calculator, TI-30X IIS is recommended Graphing calculators and phone calculators will not be allowed on exams.

 

INSTRUCTOR INFORMATION

Name of Instructor:	Amanda Steffan
Campus/Office Location:	FMHS Room 2570
Office Hours:	Friday 11:42-1:57
Telephone Number:	FMHS: (469) 713-5192
E-mail Address:	asteffan@nctc.edu or steffana@lisd.net

 

STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES (From Academic Course Guide Manual/Workforce Education Course Manual/NCTC Catalog)

At the successful completion of this course the student will be able to:
1	Demonstrate and apply knowledge of properties of functions, including domain and range, operations, compositions, and inverses.
2	Recognize and apply polynomial, rational, radical, exponential and logarithmic functions and solve related equations.
3	Apply graphing techniques.
4	Evaluate all roots of higher degree polynomial and rational functions.
5	Recognize, solve, and apply systems of linear equations using matrices.

 

GRADING CRITERIA

# of Graded Course Elements	Graded Course Elements	Percentage or Point Values
33	Homework	20
11	Quizzes (Lowest Score Dropped)	10
5	Tests	50
1	Final	20

Grade Scale:   90 – 100% = A;  80 – 89% = B;  70 – 79% = C;  60 – 69% = D;  Below 60% = F

 

 

Grading Criteria Continued

Your grade will consist of online homework and quizzes, 5 intra-semester paper exams, and a paper comprehensive final exam.  The final exam and your homework average will be weighted as 20% of your grade each. Each test will count as 10% of your grade. The top ten quiz grades will average to make up the remaining ten percent of your grade. There will be no make-up exams or quizzes.   If your final exam score is higher than the lowest of the 5 intra-semester exams, then the final exam score will replace the lowest of the 5 exam grades.  In this case, the final exam score will be weighted 30% of your overall grade.

 

 *The final exam is a departmental comprehensive algebra exam and must be taken by all students. Therefore, no seniors will be exempt from taking the final.

 

Learning Procedures

After you have read through this entire syllabus, access both the NCTC Math1314 Canvas page and the LISD Independent Study Canvas page. Read the welcome messages, announcements, and begin reviewing the general information modules. You can wait to familiarize yourself with the MyLab and Mastering tab as we will purchase the access codes to this program on August 13th in class. MyLab Math is the program that will house all of our online homework and quizzes. This is also where you will see your grades for the Math1314 course. The Independent Study course grades will be housed on Skyward.

 

I highly recommend you watch each video lesson and do the optional practice assignments in MyLab Math.  These are not part of your grade, but will give you feedback as to whether or not you understand the material.  Within the Independent Study Canvas page, you will see that I suggest reading the textbook and reviewing PowerPoint slides on each section. You may find that you like reading through these in addition to watching the videos or you may find them to be repetitive. These resources are not graded but are supplied to help those of you who may struggle in the course. They are also supplied to help you complete the collaborative documents assigned for a grade in the Independent Study course.

 

At the end of each unit I will supply you with a paper and pencil review. Completing this review will be part of your Independent Study grade and should help you thoroughly prepare for the test.

 

Graded Quiz Information & Procedures

There are 33 homework assignments. You get three attempts at each homework question as well as three similar examples per question. This means that you have 9 total attempts to get each homework question correct. I strongly recommend that you re-work each homework problem until you receive a homework score of 100%.

 

There will be 11 graded online quizzes. You get two attempts at each quiz and the highest of each attempt will count towards your overall quiz average. In addition, lowest quiz score from the average will be dropped.

 

Exam Information & Procedures

The exams are not online.  They are pencil & paper and will be taken in class.

 

You must bring to each exam:  pencils, a scientific calculator (non-graphing), and a photo ID. No notes of any kind will be allowed during exams.   

 

 

 

 

 

COURSE SUBJECT OUTLINE (Major Assignments, Due Dates, and Grading Criteria)

Exam 1	September 3	10% of final grade
Exam 2	September 23/24	10% of final grade
Exam 3	October 21/22	10% of final grade
Exam 4	November 11/12	10% of final grade
Exam 5	December 4/5	10% of final grade
Final Exam	December 11/12	20% of final grade

 

 

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 any school policy. Be sure to regularly check BOTH the Lion Pride email as well as the Canvas inbox for important messages and information.

Students will be held to both the LISD attendance policies as well as the following policies from NCTC:

Regular and punctual attendance is expected of all students in all classes for which they have registered. All absences are considered to be unauthorized unless the student is absent due to illness or emergencies. It is the student’s responsibility to provide documentation as to the emergency for approval by the faculty member. Approved college-sponsored activities are also excused absences. The instructor is responsible for judging the validity of any reason given for an absence. Valid reasons for absence, however, do not relieve the student of the responsibility for making up required work. Students will not be allowed to make up an examination missed due to absence unless the absence is documented and excused by the instructor. Student will be dropped from a class by the Registrar upon recommendation of the instructor who feels the student has been justifiably absent or tardy a sufficient number of times to preclude meeting the course’s objectives. Persistent, unjustified absences from classes or laboratories will be considered sufficient cause for College officials to drop a student from the rolls of the College. From Board Policy FC (LOCAL)

Last day to withdraw from a 16-week course with a “W” is Friday, November 1, 2019.

 

 

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: Corinth Math Lab – 186 All other campuses Monday – Thursday          8:30 am – 6:30 pm Check the Math Lab/tutoring hours Friday                                    8:30 am – 12:00 pm on the website listed above. Saturday                             10:00 am – 1:00 pm

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).    https://www.nctc.edu/catalog/student-services/office-students-with-disabilities.html  

 

CORE CURRICULUM FOUNDATIONAL COMPONENT AREA (For classes in the Core)________      

o        Communication

x        Mathematics             

o        Life and Physical Science

o        Language, Philosophy & Culture

o        Creative Arts

o        American History

 

o        Government/Political Science

o        Social and Behavioral Sciences

o        Component Area Option

 

x        Critical Thinking

x            Communication

x            Empirical and Quantitative

o             Teamwork

o             Personal Responsibility

o             Social Responsibility

 

COURSE TYPE

STUDENT HANDBOOK

 

ACADEMIC DISHONESTY

 

CAMPUS RESTRICTIONS