The following objectives are measured primarily through 5 exams (including a comprehensive final exam), 3 major writing assignments,
and 2 computer exercises. There are also daily classwork and homework assignments which carry less weight.

Unit I - Descriptive Statistics

Be able to distinguish cases and variables. Be able to distinguish categorical variables and quantitative variables.

Be able to construct by hand bar graphs, histograms, stemplots, dotplots, and boxplots.

Be able to describe the shape of a graph including skewness, number of clusters, granularity, and outliers.

Be able to recognize misleading graphs including graphs with uneven scales and graphs with too many information-carrying dimensions.

Be able to compute by hand mean, median, mode, range, interquartile range, and z-scores.

Be able to compute standard deviation using a TI-30x II or similar calculator.

Be able to interpret mean, median, mode, range, interquartile range, standard deviation, and z-scores.

Be able to use Minitab or similar computer program to make dotplots and to compute mean, median, mode, range, interquartile range,
standard deviation, and z-scores.

Unit II - Correlation and Regression

Be able to make a scatterplot by hand and use it to estimate and describe the correlation between two variables.

Be able to draw an approximate regression line on a scatterplot, pick two points on the regression line, and use the coordinates of the points and the formula for slope to find an equation for the approximate regression line.

Be able to use the regression equation to make predictions and compute residuals.

Be able to recognize some of the limitations and pitfalls of linear regression including low linear correlation, lurking variables, and extrapolation.

Be able to find the precise correlation and simple linear regression equation using a calculator such as the TI-30x II and interpret the
results.

Be able to use Minitab or similar computer program to make scatterplots and to compute correlation and regression and interpret the results.

Unit III - Sampling and Sampling Distributions

Be able to distinguish between population parameters and sample statistics.

Be able to draw a standard normal curve and shade in areas under the curve corresponding to symbolic probability statements.

Convert probability statements in a word problem involving a normal random variable to symbolic probability statements regarding
a normal random variable and then to symbolic probability statements regarding a standard normal random variable and finally use a normal table to find the probabilities.

Be able to use a normal table in reverse to find z-scores from probabilities.

Be able to state a version of the Central Limit Theorem specialized to proportions.

Be able to use normal approximation and a table of standard normal probabilities to evaluate a probability statement arising from a
word problem concerning proportions.

Be able to use a random numbers table to select a sample from a larger population.

Be aware of the hazards of convenience sampling, non-response, timing of the study, wording of a survey question, and conditions
under which survey questions are asked.

Unit IV - Confidence Intervals and Hypothesis Testing

Be able to use a table of normal probabilities to find and interpret upper critical values, confidence intervals, widths, half-widths, and margin-of-error for proportions.

Be able to set up null and alternative hypotheses involving proportions from a word problem. Be able to state the hypotheses both symbolically and in words.

Be able to use a formula and normal tables to find and interpret p-values for testing hypotheses concerning proportions.

Be aware of the effects of sample size and the difference between statistical significance and practical significance.

Unit V - Design of Experiments

Be able to identify variables in a study as explanatory, lurking, or response.

Be able to classify a study as either observational or experiment.

Be able to specify which controls are present or lacking in an experiment.

Major Reports

Report 1. Find data in a publication that is not already in graphical form, make a histogram, and use the histogram as a basis for writing
a statistical description of the data. (minimum 250 words).

Report 2. Find a published 2-variable graph, use the graph as a basis for a statistical description of the data, and also critique the graphing techniques. (minimum 500 words).

Report 3. Ask at least 40 people a yes/no question, compute a 95% confidence interval, and write a report about it.
(minimum 1000 words).

Computer Assignments

Assignment 1. Use Minitab to compute dotplots and descriptive statistics for several data sets and write about the results.

Assignment 2. Use Minitab to compute regression and correlation for several data sets and write about the results.