Bloomsburg University Fall 2023

College Algebra - Math 118

Section 01: MWF 9:00am – 9:50am, BCH 107

Section 04: MWF 11:00am – 11:50am, CEH 243

Instructor: Dr. Kevin Ferland

Email: kferland@bloomu.edu

Web Page: http://facstaff.bloomu.edu/kferland/ ß Class web page can be accessed from here.

Office: Ben Franklin 225

Phone: 389-4502, Messages can be left at the Department Office 389-4500. However, email is better.

Office Hours: MWF 2:55pm - 3:55pm

TTh 12:55pm - 1:55pm

or by appointment

Text Book:

College Algebra (2nd edition), by Miller and Gerken, McGraw Hill © 2017.

Calculator:

There is no calculator required or recommended for this course. All graded material will be designed such that at most an ordinary calculator (with logarithms) may be needed to complete the problems in the allotted time. You may certainly use a calculator to do your homework, and some of the homework problems may even be best done with a calculator. In fact, a graphing calculator is a valuable tool with which you should familiarize yourself. You may not use your phone or any other smart device on any quizzes, tests, or the final exam, only an ordinary calculator.

Homework:

The practice of doing homework is perhaps the most important aspect of your learning the material for this course. Keeping up with the daily homework assignments will enable you to best understand the ideas presented in class. It will also enable you to filter out those questions that give you the greatest difficulty and that need to be discussed in class. Some time at the end of each class will be devoted to answering homework questions. You should read each section before it is discussed in class. This will allow you to get the greatest benefit from class time, rather than merely taking dictation. Homework will always be assigned for your benefit, and it is important that you do it. When an assignment is to be handed in for a grade, this will be clearly announced in class. Homework (when it is collected) will be due promptly at the beginning of class.

Quizzes / Collected Homework:

Approximately every week there will be either an in-class quiz or a homework assignment to hand in. A quiz may be unannounced, although most often quizzes will be announced ahead of time. There will be NO MAKEUPS since the 2 lowest grades will be dropped. This will accommodate students who need to miss a class regardless of the reason. Note: This portion of your grade will occur in 8 point chunks. After two quizzes are dropped, your overall quiz percentage will be computed and multiplied by 50 points.

Tests:

There will be three in-class tests, each worth 50 points.

Friday, September 22.

Friday, October 27.

Wednesday, November 29.

You will need to be well prepared for each test. If you have kept up with doing and understanding your daily homework, then studying for the test should not be difficult. Each test will be written under the assumption that you have practiced many problems of a similar type and can therefore work efficiently during the test. Your ability to do problems in a timely manner could affect your test score. The tests will not be curved.

Final Exam:

Section 01: Monday, December 4, 8:00am – 10:00am, BCH 107.

Section 04: Monday, December 4, 10:15am – 12:15pm, CEH 243.

The Final Exam will be cumulative. Do not make plans to leave campus before this exam is over. If you have a pre-existing conflict, then you must see your instructor during the first week of class. Unless the final exam is missed due to a sudden emergency and the instructor is informed immediately, a missed final exam counts as zero.

Attendance / Participation:

You are required to attend every class and to be on time. Being late will count the same as being absent. You are responsible for everything that goes on in class, and success in this class cannot be expected without regular attendance. Regular participation in class by asking and/or responding to questions is required. I will keep track of all of this stuff, and I am strict. Note that this component of the grade does have an impact on your grade at an amount approximately equal to two steps on the grade scale.

Makeups:

There will be no makeup tests given. If you must miss a test for a legitimate reason, be sure to contact the instructor before the test with verification of the cause of your absence. If that is not possible, you must contact the instructor at the earliest opportunity. In the case of an excused absence, the missing grade will be made up from the corresponding part of the final exam. In all other cases the missed exam counts as a zero.

Grading Policy:

Quizzes/Homework (drop 2) 50 points (total)

3 in-class tests 150 points (total) 50 points each

Attendance/Participation 20 points

Final Exam 100 points

Total Possible 320 points

The minimum number of points required for each letter grade is as follows:

A 288 points

A- 278

B+ 266

B 256

B- 246

C+ 234

C 224

C- 214

D+ 202

D 192

F below 192

Academic Honesty:

All cases of academic dishonesty will be reported to the Chair of the Mathematics Department. There will be no tolerance for cheating.

Students with Disabilities:

Any student who may need special consideration because of any sort of disability should inform the instructor as soon as possible.