You will receive up to 1 extra credit point per week if you ask me a math question at my office.  The question doesn't have to be from the course but should be mathematical.  You can ask either in person, by phone, or by e-mail.

TEXT AND SUPPLIES:  The text is Elementary Algebra Math 017 by Marvin L. Bittinger.  If you wish to have access to online tutoring be sure to get a book that is bundled with a student access card.  It may be available in one of the bookstores on campus.  If not try Spring Garden Book Supply at 1537 Spring Garden.  You will also need lined 8.5"x11" paper, graph paper, and writing instruments.

CALCULATORS:  Calculators are not permitted on exams.  I also encourage you to use calculators as little as possible on homework and classwork.  The algorithms used to add, subtract, and multiply whole numbers are similar to the algorithms used to add, subtract, and multiply polynomials which you will be doing later in the course.  Furthermore, if you go on to Math 118 you will be doing long division of polynomials such as (8x3 ? 26x2 + 25x + 8) ? (2x ? 3) and also operations on algebraic fractions such as  .  You will be able to do these operations in Math 118 much more easily if you can already do the corresponding operations on numbers.

INTERNET AND E-MAIL:  In order to access your final grades over the internet you will need to set up a MYCCP account.  This can be done from the student computers located in room B2-33 and other places on campus or from a home computer.  Through your MYCCP account you will also be able to communicate with your classmates and instructors by e-mail and get information about classes. To set up your MYCCP account go on the internet to http://myccp.ccp.edu  and click on the box "How do I get a user name and password?"  You will then be asked to enter your student J number found on your student ID and also on your schedule/bill.  Your user name and password will then be displayed.  Copy or print it for future reference.

To send an e-mail to students in the class, log onto MYCCP, click "My Courses", click "click here", click "Elementary Algebra", click "E-mail", click "Select All" or the individuals to whom you want to send the e-mail, click "Send e-mail", then write the message and click "Send".
 
CLASSROOM BEHAVIOR:  Usually I will show some examples on the chalk board during part of each class.  During this time there should be no side conversations because they may distract other students as well as myself.  During this time you are encouraged to call out answers to questions that I ask and also ask me questions if I say something that you do not understand.  If a student or students are asking many questions I may ask you to raise your hands and wait for me to call on you.

During other parts of each class you will be working on assignments at your seats.  During this time you are encouraged to work with other students on your assignments but you should keep your voices low so as not to disturb other students.  Please use this time as an opportunity to ask questions on points that you don't understand.

Beepers and cell phones should be turned off or set to vibrate so as not to disturb other students or myself.  For the same reason you should also refrain from eating and drinking during class.

CLASSWORK:  I will usually ask you to turn in the last exercise at the end of class.  The grade on this assignment will reflect the level of your participation in the entire class period.  Again please use this as an opportunity to ask questions on points that you don't understand.  If you must miss class, you will receive partial credit for classwork if you call or e-mail me to discuss your situation before the next class.
 
HOMEWORK:  To do well in math it is important to not only study examples but also to actually work through problems, the more the better.  With practice the procedures will become familiar to you and you will make fewer mistakes.  Not all problems in the text will be assigned but you are encouraged to do them anyway.  On most days I will assign homework.  Homework should be neatly done.  The problems should be done in the order in which they are given.  The original problem should be written out followed by steps or scratch work and the final answer.
 
We cover about the same amount of material in 40 hours of class that high schools cover in 180 hours of class.  Therefore the class will move at a fast pace and you are expected to spend time outside of class learning the material.  Generally for college courses students are expected to spend about 2 hours studying outside of class for every hour they spend in class.  Some students may find that they need to spend more than 2 hours.

LEARNING LAB:  If you wish to meet with a student tutor, go to the Math Leaning Lab to make an appointment.  The Math Learning Lab is located in room B2-36 on weekdays and in room B1-28 on evenings and Saturdays.  You may receive up to 1 extra credit participation point per week for your tutoring sessions in the Learning Lab if you bring back a statement signed by the tutor.
 
ONLINE HELP:  If you wish to use the online tutoring provided by the publisher then you will need an e-mail address, a student access code from the student access card either bundled with the book or purchased separately, course ID math03657, and zip code 19130 and go to website http://www.coursecompass.com.  See page vii of the text book for more detailed instructions.

IF YOU FALL HOPELESSLY BEHIND:  Please contact me before deciding to drop the course.  You may not be as hopelessly behind as you think.

PARTICIPATION GRADE:  Most weeks in class you may receive up to 6 points for participating in class and also up to 6 points for completing a homework assignment.  If you attempt the homework assignment but do not finish it you may still turn it in for partial credit.  At the end of the semester I will drop your 12 lowest participation points and convert your participation total into a percent.  If your participation grade is over 50% you will get at least an MP (Making Progress) grade for the course.

EXTRA CREDIT:  You will receive up to one point per week of extra credit if you go to the Learning Lab and bring me a slip showing that you went to the Learning Lab for tutoring in math.  You will also receive up to 1 extra credit point per week if you ask me a math question at my office.  The question doesn't have to be from the course but should be mathematical.  You can ask either in person, by phone, or by e-mail.

OVERALL GRADE:  Each assignment, quiz, and exam will be assigned a point value.  Quizzes may be unannounced.  The final exam will be worth either 200 points or 1200 points whichever is to your advantage.  If, for example, there are 422 points not counting the final exam, then the final exam will be worth either 200 points out of 622 points for the course or 1200 points out of 1622 points for the course, whichever is to your advantage.  At the end of the semester I will total your points and convert the total to a percent and grade as follows:
 
      70-100%  P (passing)
      50-69%  MP (making progress)
      0-49%   MP or F depending on your participation grade
              The MP grade is given to students whose participation grade is
              over 50% even if their overall grade is less than 50%. Other
              students with less than a 50% average receive an F (fail).

TOPICS COVERED:
Unit 1 real numbers and algebraic expressions, for example  simplify ? 6x ? (?8x).
Unit 2 equations and inequalities, for example solve and graph  2x ? 8 < 6.
Unit 3 graphs and systems of equations, for example solve 2x ? 5y = 10 and 4x + 3y = 24.
Unit 4 polynomials, for example compute (2x3 ? 5x2 + 3x ? 7) ( 6x ? 3).
Examples will be included on the syllabus handed out in class.

IMPORTANT DATES:
Wednesday February 11 Exam 1
Wednesday March       4 Exam 2
Wednesday April         1 Exam 3
Wednesday April       22 Exam 4
Wednesday May          6 Comprehensive Final Exam

MAKE-UPS:  Daily problems, quizzes, and extra credit assignments cannot be made up but I will drop your 12 lowest points.  I will also give you partial credit for missed classwork if you call or email me before the next class to discuss your situation.  Exams cannot be made up if for any reason you are not in class but I will drop your lowest exam grade excluding the final exam.

EARLY WORK: You may submit extra credit assignments but not daily problems or quizzes in advance for days when you expect to be absent from class but I will drop your 12 lowest points.  Exams cannot be taken early if you know in advance that you will be unable to attend class on a day when an exam is scheduled but I will drop your lowest exam grade excluding the final exam.

ATTENDANCE AND PROMPTNESS:  Attendance and punctuality are very important in college math classes.  We cover about the same amount of material in 40 hours of class that high schools cover in 180 hours of class.  Therefore we generally cover a new topic every day.  Sometimes it is hard to understand a new topic in math if you missed the topic that came before.  Therefore try to avoid missing class unnecessarily.  If you must miss class you can get partial credit for classwork if you contact me before the next class to discuss your situation.

Attendance will be taken daily as required by the college.  Three latenesses count as one absence.  If you are absent more than once through February 16 or more than twice through March 23, I will report to the college that your attendance is unsatisfactory.  If you are absent more than twice through April 10 you should discuss your situation with me.  Otherwise you may be dropped from the course.
 
If you are on financial aid and must miss class more than once through February 16 or more than twice through March 23 you should discuss your situation with me.  Otherwise your financial aid may be discontinued.

INCLEMENT WEATHER:  In the event of inclement weather there are several ways of determining whether CCP is open.  You may listen for CCP's school closing number 238 on KYW radio at 1060 on the AM dial or check KYW's school closing web page at http://www2.kyw1060.com/schools/ or for a price you may call KYW's school closing phone number at 1-900-737-1060.  Usually if SEPTA is running close to normal then CCP will remain open.

GIFTS:  To avoid any appearance of impropriety no gifts of any kind will be accepted.