Community College of Philadelphia
Department of Mathematics
Instructor : Margaret Wojcicka-Hitczenko
Office: B1-9E
Phone 215-751-8943
E-mail: mwojcicka@ccp.edu
Web Page: http://faculty.ccp.edu/faculty/mwojcicka/
Text:
Intermediate Algebra; K. Elayn Martin_Gay
Pearson Custom Publishing; Second Edition
Prerequisites:
Math 017 passing grade or Math 118 placement.
Knowledge of arithmetic (fractions and signed numbers) is crucial for this course.
You should seriously consider whether you are prepared to take this course if
you can't quickly recall these operations.
Tests:
There will be six in-class tests. No test score will be dropped. There is almost
no partial credit given on the exams. You are allowed to bring a piece of paper
with any information on it you think might help you. However, I will ask you
to turn it in together with your test and I am not going to give it back to
you. Calculators are not allowed during tests.
Missed tests:
Missed tests can be made up only if a student has a justifiable excuse. If you
know before hand that you will have to miss an exam, please contact me, so you
can take the exam in advance of the rest of the class. In case of emergencies
impossible to foresee, to be ‘eligible’ for a make-up exam, please
contact me as soon as possible (e-mail or voice-mail). Once I determine that
you indeed have a legitimate excuse, you will be given a make-up exam during
the Final Exams Week.
Homework:
Part of the class work is to learn how to correctly use mathematic language.
To help you learn how to write your mathematical work (using the correct syntax),
I will collect some sample homework problems during the semester (see Syllabus).
I will check the way you write your work and if you need it, I will help you
to learn how to properly display your solutions. You will not get a grade for
your homework – but turning in your homework will give you an opportunity
to better prepare for exams: Please remember, that I will deduct significant
amount of your credit on all exams, if you do not use correct language (for
example, one common mistake students make, is to use the ‘=’ sign
incorrectly or not to use it at all).
You should solve many more problems than those that I am going to collect. I
already assigned some homework problems (see syllabus). A significant amount
of our class time will be devoted to the discussion of the homework problems.
Please remember, mathematics is a cumulative subject. Do not expect to understand
subsequent material if you have not mastered current material. Solving homework
problems is essential for understanding the material.
Final Exam:
Final Exam will be comprehensive.
Attendance:
Each student is required to attend every class meeting on time. Any student
absent for the equivalent of two weeks may be dropped. Students are responsible
for all work missed due to absence. If you are late, it is your responsibility
to make sure that you are marked as present (please do that the same day you
are late, immediately after the class or during a break).
Tutoring:
The math lab in B2-36 organizes a lot of workshops for students of Math 118.
Tutoring (free of charge) is also available.
Grading:
Tests will account for 78% (each test worth 26 points), the final exam will
account for 22% (worth 44 points). If your score on the Final Exam is higher
than the lowest test score, I will replace your lowest test score with the Final
Exam score. No extra credit will be given.
Grade scale is as follows:
A= 85-100% (170-200 points)
B=75-85% (150-169 points)
C=65- 75% (130-149 points)
D=55-65% (110- 129 points)
Appropriate Classroom Behavior:
1. Please be on time for class. It is distracting to me as to your other classmates
to have people come in late
2. Please switch off pagers and cell phones before entering the classroom.
3. Please be courteous and considerate to your other classmates and to me.
4. Please do not eat in the classroom (please, also do not display any kind
of food)
5. Please do not talk (even about math issues) during class time. If you have
a question, please raise your hand and wait for me to recognize you.
6. Please do not walk in and out of the classroom. In case of an emergency,
please leave quietly.
7. Please remain seated during the entire class period
8. Please remember that I have the right to ask you to change your seat.
9. If you have any personal questions (like, for example: ‘I was absent
last time, can I get my test back’), please come and discuss it with me
during a break, after a class, or during my office hours, NOT during the instruction
time.
10. If you break one of these rules I will remind you not to do it. But if you
do it again, unfortunately, I will have
to ask you to leave the classroom. If I ask you to leave, please do leave. You
should be able to return the next day.