NORTH CENTRAL TEXAS COLLEGE COURSE SYLLABUS

 

Course Title:	Pre-Calculus Math
Course Prefix & Number:	MATH 2412	Section Number:	401	Semester/Year:	Spring 2020
Semester Credit Hours:	4	Lecture Hours:	64	Class Time:	TR 3:30 – 5:50pm
Course Description (NCTC Catalog): In-depth combined study of algebra, trigonometry, and other topics for calculus readiness.
Course Prerequisite(s): MATH 1314 College Algebra or the equivalent preparation.
Required or Recommended Course Materials: Textbook – Precalculus, Robert Blitzer, 6th edition, Pearson, 2017. [Optional] MyMathLab (MML) Access Code – There is a copy of the e-text included. [Required] A scientific (NON-GRAPHING) calculator will be required for this course. The TI-30X IIS is the recommended calculator. NOTE: Phone calculators and graphing calculators will NOT be allowed on exams.

 

 

INSTRUCTOR INFORMATION

 

 

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.
2	Recognize and apply algebraic and transcendental functions and solve related equations.
3	Apply graphing techniques to algebraic and transcendental functions.
4	Compute the values of trigonometric functions for key angles in all quadrants of the unit circle measured in both degrees and radians.
5	Prove trigonometric identities.
6	Solve right and oblique triangles.

 

 

 

 

GRADING CRITERIA

MML Quizzes: (20% of Overall Average)*

All of the quizzes are done online using MyMathLab (MML), which can be accessed through Canvas. You will be able to attempt each quiz at most 5 times before the due date and time. Each attempt must be completed in one sitting. (So plan ahead and make sure you have enough time to complete that quiz before you begin.) All of the due dates and times for the quizzes are given in Canvas under the “Assignments” tab as well as through the “My Labs and Mastering” tab.

 

There will be a few quizzes administered in-class and NOT online. Dates for each of those will be announced in advance and appropriate details will be given at those times.

 

Tests and the Final Exam: (80% of Overall Average)**

There will be 5 tests and a comprehensive Final Exam. Each test is worth 13% of your overall average and the Final will be worth 15%, for a grand total of 80%. You want to make sure you are super ready for each test. NO MAKE-UP TESTS. Tests will be administered in class and you will be allowed pen/pencil, scratch paper (supplied by the instructor) and an appropriate calculator (when authorized by the instructor).

 

Test #1 – Tuesday, February 4^th – Chapter 1 and Section 2.6

Test #2 – Tuesday, February 18^th – Sections 1.9 and Chapter 9

Test #3 – Thursday, March 5^th – Chapter 3

Test #4 – Tuesday, April 7^th – Chapter 4

Test #5 – Tuesday, May 5^th – Chapters 5 and 6

Final Exam – Thursday, May 14^th from 3:30 – 5:20pm – Chapters 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 9

 

Homework (NOT FOR A GRADE)

The online homework is not a graded component of this course. However, choosing not to do them will GREATLY increase your chances of failing the course. Use these as practice to better understand the material and a source to ask questions for clarification. Quality is better than quantity. A limitation of MML is that the final answer is all that matters. As you will soon learn, on my tests the work that supports that final answer is FAR more important. (To be honest, on the tests I am far less concerned with whether or not your final answer is right or wrong. How well does the work you supply support that response?)

 

Non-Online Homework: I am not currently planning on supplying answer keys for any of the homework done offline. “Jason, how are we supposed to know if we are on the right track and getting good answers?” Simple…ask. Either inside or outside of class, bring in samples of your work for me to give you some input and in that way help you to score better on that test. The tutors in the Math Lab on campus can also be of use as well as various other online resources not officially tied to our course.

 

*The lowest three (3) quiz grades will be dropped from the calculations of the final grade.

**The final exam is a comprehensive exam and must be taken by all students. The final exam may also be used to replace the lowest intra-semester test grade. 

 

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

 

 

 

 

 

Tentative Schedule

The following is a list of the projected material to be covered on that day. There may be some movement of content on these various days depending on the pace of the course.

 

 

 

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.

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, April 3, 2020.

 

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 campuses at http://www.nctc.edu/student-services/student-success/tutoring/mathematics-lab.html.

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

 

MOBILE DEVICE POLICY

All cell phones, tablets, laptops and other electronic devices need to be put away during lecture and only used in class when directed by the instructor. It is distracting and rude to have these devices out during most meetings; however discreet you think you might be. Exceptions will be made on a case by case basis, so bring those to the instructor individually. Any time you need to use these devices, quietly remove yourself from class, attend to your business and quietly return.

 

Recording Lectures: The use of any audio or visual devices to record any part of the course lecture needs to be cleared by the instructor BEFORE that class session begins. This does include but is not limited to video/audio recordings and pictures from a cell phone.

 

Students are expected to follow all rules and regulations found in the student handbook. https://www.nctc.edu/_documents/academics/student-handbook.pdf. 

 

 

 

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