Math 1111: College Algebra

Clayton State University, Fall 2015

Dr. Michael J Dancs

304 University Center

Office Phone: (678) 446-4433

Office Hours: Tues 12:15-2:15, Thurs 12:15-3:15, and by appointment.

Students are expected to read this entire syllabus and follow all policies within.

Catalog Description:

This course is a functional approach to algebra that incorporates the use of appropriate technology. Emphasis will be placed on the study of functions and their graphs, inequalities, and liner, quadratic, piece-wise defined, rational, polynomial, exponential and logarithmic functions. Appropriate applications will be included. (Students who take this course in preparation for MATH 1501 are also required to successfully complete MATH 1112.)

Prerequisite: MATH 099 with a grade of C% or better, OR MATH 1101 with a grade of C or better, OR an acceptable score on a placement test (at least 76 for CPTE & at least 26 for CPTC).

Required Course Materials:

Computer: Clayton State University requires that all students have on-demand access to a notebook computer that meets faculty-approved minimum hardware and software requirements. Full details may be found at

MyMathLab: Access to MyMathLab ( required in order to complete all course assignments. Students who do not purchase the textbook bundle from the campus bookstore must still purchase a stand-alone access code for MyMathLab. If you have used MyMathLab previously for a different course, you will need to purchase a new access code for Math 1111. The Course ID for Fall 2015 is dancs45048.

Textbook: Algebra & Trigonometry, 5th ed., by Beecher, Penna, and Bittinger. Electronic access to the text is provided as part of MyMathLab web portal (required; see above); it is up to each student whether to purchase a physical copy of the textbook. Students are encouraged to use PriceLoch.com to comparison shop for course materials.

Course Content:

  • Graphs, Functions, and Models (Sections 1.2 to 1.5)
  • More on functions (Sections 2.1 to 2.5)
  • Quadratic Functions and Equations; Inequalities (Sections 3.1 to 3.5)
  • Polynomial and Rational Functions (Sections 4.1 to 4.6)
  • Exponential and Logarithmic Functions (Sections 5.1 to 5.6)
  • Systems of Equations and Matrices (Sections 9.1 to 9.3)

Course Learning Objectives:

  • Express relationships using the concept of a function and use verbal, numerical, graphical and symbolic means to analyze a function.
  • Model situations from a variety of settings by using polynomial, exponential and logarithmic functions.
  • Manipulate mathematical information, concepts, and thoughts in verbal, numeric, graphical and symbolic form while solving a variety of problems which involve polynomial, exponential or logarithmic functions.
  • Apply a variety of problem-solving strategies, including verbal, algebraic, numerical and graphical techniques, to solve multiple-step problems involving equations, inequalities and systems of linear equations.
  • Shift among the verbal, numeric, graphical and symbolic modes in order to analyze functions.
  • Use appropriate technology in the evaluation, analysis and synthesis of information in problem-solving situations.

Attendance Policy:

You are expected to be in class every day. Starting the third week of class, attendance will be taken at the start of each class period though Clayton State's RollCall web portal. Each student is solely responsible for signing in each day; any student who has not signed in within the first ten minutes of the class period will be marked as absent for the day. A student who leaves class early may be marked as absent, at my discretion. Students do not need to sign into RollCall on examination days.

YOU WILL NOT BE EXCUSED FROM ATTENDING CLASS UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES, EXCEPT FOR APPROVED UNIVERSITY OR GOVERNMENT BUSINESS. It is your obligation to notify me in advance and provide official documentation to my satisfaction in order to verify such an absence. Unless you have prior written consent from me, you are still responsible for completing all assignments on-time even when you are excused from attending class.

YOU WILL NOT BE EXCUSED FOR ANY OTHER REASON, including but not limited to: minor illness, transportation problems, work schedule, child-care needs, family issues, etc. Students with four or fewer absences during the semester will receive full points for attendance; this allows flexibility to deal with unforeseen circumstances and saves both of us the trouble of having to verify your excuse. In the working world, these are called “personal days.” Manage them wisely.

Excessive Absences: Each absence beyond the fourth will lower your course attendance grade by 5 points (out of 50 points total). Attendance counts for approximately 8% of your overall course grade. If you have an issue that warrants multiple and/or frequent absences, please notify me as soon as possible, and I will try to make reasonable arrangements (though I am under no obligation to do so).

Technology in the Classroom:

Any and all use of technology must DIRECTLY support the learning experience of you and your fellow students. Inappropriate and/or distracting use of technology will not be tolerated. In particular, you are prohibited from doing any of the following: checking email, browsing the Internet, text or instant messaging, watching video, listening to music or other audio, playing games, or working on assignments for other classes.

Cellphones and similar devices are disruptive to the learning environment, and must be turned off and put away during class. A student using a cell phone during class will be marked as absent for that day.

MyMathLab Assignments (

Homework and quizzes are assigned on a rolling basis, approximately two homeworks and one quiz per week, through the MyMathLab web portal. Assignments are always made available at least one week prior to their due date; you should check the MyMathLab assignments page at least on scheduled class days so that you do not miss any assignments.The Course ID for Fall 2015 is dancs45048.

Due dates for assignments will NOT be extended FOR ANY REASON. This includes medical issues, family emergencies, extracurricular activities, and Internet/computer problems. It is your responsibility to manage your personal schedule in order to complete your assignments on-time. In order to give you some flexibility, your lowest five (5) homework scores and your lowest two (2) quiz scores are dropped at the end of the semester when computing your course grade.

Homework assignments are designed so that you can learn and practice the course material at your own pace, in order to prepare for quizzes and examinations. You should view homework as an opportunity rather than a burden; the only reason homework counts towards your course grade is because many students do not believe the previous statement and need some external motivation. All homework assignments are worth the same number of points.

Quizzes are designed to evaluate your mastery of the course material and provide structured practice for the examinations. Each quiz may be attempted for credit only a limited number of times. All quizzes are worth the same number of points.

Examinations:

There will be three (3) in-class examinations and a cumulative Final Exam. Midterm exams are not strictly cumulative, but you may need to use previous material to solve problems on a later exam.

Exam 1 / Exam 2 / Exam 3 / Final Exam
Thursday, Sept. 10th / Thursday, October 8th / Thursday, November 19th / (see below)

This schedule will not be changed unless there is a University-wide emergency during the exam time.

I am under no obligation to allow rescheduling or make-up a missed exam for any reason other than official university or government business (in which case you must notify me at least one week prior to the exam). If an unforeseen emergency causes you to miss an exam, notify me as soon as possible and secure official written documentation in order to support your claim. It is solely my decision whether to accept your excuse, and if so, decide on a appropriate course of action. Missing the final exam will result in a course grade of F, regardless of other performance, in accordance with University policy.

A cumulative take-home final exam will be given on Thursday, Dec. 10th, from 2:45pm – 4:45pm.

The Final Exam is multiple-choice, cumulative from the beginning of the semester, and standardized across all sections of the course. No student will be excused from taking the final examination; only under extreme circumstances will a student be allowed to take the final examination outside of the regularly scheduled time. You may not use your cell phone or computer on the final exam.

If all of your exam scores are less than 50%, or you fail to take the final examination, you will automatically receive a grade of “F” for the course, regardless of your other performance.

Assessment and Grades:

Your final grade in the course is computed out of 650 points, based on these items:

Attendance (full points for four or fewer absences): 50 points

Homework (lowest five scores dropped): 100 points

Quizzes: (lowest two scores dropped): 100 points

Midterm Exams (three tests, 100 points each): 300 points

Cumulative Final Exam: 100 points

Final letter grades are determined as follows:

A: 89.5% and up

B: 79.5% - 89.4%

C: 69.5% - 79.4%

D: 59.5% - 69.4%

F: less than 59.5%

Extra credit will not be considered under any circumstances. You are expected to complete all assignments and study for examinations according to the listed schedule.

------University and Department-Wide Policies ------

Academic Integrity: Each students is expected to do his or her own work on all graded material for MATH 1111 including quizzes, tests, and exams, as outlined in the Clayton State University Student Code of Conduct, which can be found in the Student Handbook. Cheating will not be tolerated in MATH 1111, and any student who engages in suspicious conduct will be confronted and subjected to the disciplinary process. Cheaters will, at a minimum, receive a failing grade on the quiz, test, or exam, which could result in a failing grade in the entire course.

Resources: Your instructor holds regular office hours and am willing to help. The Center for Acadmeic Success (CAS) is located in Edgewater Hall Suite 276, and is online at The CAS sponsors a Peer Tutoring Program. Please see the CAS website for more information and to schedule an appointment with a Peer Tutor. MyMathLab includes several resources which you may find helpful. There are numerous books on algebra in the CSU library for further reference and study.

Operation Study: At Clayton State University, we expect and support high motivation and academic achievement. Look for Operation Study activities and programs this semester that are designed to enhance your academic success such as study sessions, study breaks, workshops, and opportunities to earn Study Bucks (for use in the Loch Shop) and other items.

Students with Disabilities: Students with disabilities who require reasonable accommodations need to register with the Disability Resource Center (DRC) in order to obtain their accommodations. You can contact them at 678-466-5445 or. If you are already registered with DRC and are seeking accommodations for this course, please make an appointment with your instructor to discuss your specific accommodation needs for this course and give the instructor your accommodations letter.

Counseling Services and Career Services: Students may obtain help with education, career, and personal concerns from staff or counselors. Its services may be of help to students with test anxiety or other problems that limit academic success. For more information on services offered by Counseling Services and Career Services, check the web pages and

Disruptive Classroom Behavior: Disruptivebehaviorintheclassroomcannegativelyaffecttheclassroomenvironmentaswell astheeducational experienceforstudentsenrolledinthecourse.Disruptivebehaviorisdefinedas anybehaviorsthathamperthe abilityofinstructorstoteachorstudentstolearn. Commonexamplesofdisruptivebehaviorsinclude,but are notlimitedto:

• Eatingin class

• Monopolizingclassroomdiscussions

• Failingtorespecttherightsofotherstudentsto expresstheirviewpoints

• Talkingwhentheinstructororothersarespeaking

• Constantquestionsorinterruptionswhichinterferewiththeinstructor’spresentation

• Overtinattentiveness(e.g.,sleepingorreadingthepaperinclass)

• Creatingexcessivenoise

• Enteringtheclasslateor leavingearly

• Useofpagersor cellphonesintheclassroom

• Inordinateorinappropriatedemandsfortimeor attention

• Poorpersonalhygiene(e.g.,noticeablyoffensivebodyodor)

• Refusalto complywithfacultydirection

Studentsexhibitingthese typesofbehaviorscanexpectawarningfrom theinstructoror dismissalforthe lessoninwhichthe behavioroccurs.Failuretocorrectsuchbehaviorscan resultindismissalfromthe course.

Moreextremeexamplesofdisruptivebehaviorinclude,but arenotlimited to:

• Useofprofanityorpejorativelanguage

• Intoxication

• Verbalabuseofinstructororotherstudents(e.g.,taunting,badgering,intimidation)

• Harassmentofinstructororotherstudents

• Threatstoharmoneselforothers

• Physicalviolence

Studentsexhibitingthese moreextremeexamplesofdisruptivebehaviormaybedismissedfromthe lessonor theentirecourse.

Studentsdismissedfromalessonwill leave the classroomimmediately ormaybe subjectto additionalpenalties.Dismissedstudentsare responsible forany course materialor assignmentsmissed.

Studentsdismissedfroma coursehavetherighttoappealthedismissaltothedepartmentheadresponsiblefor thecourse.Appealsbeyondthedepartmenthead mayalsobepursued.If noappealismadeortheappealis unsuccessful,thestudentwill receive agradeofWF(withdrawal–failing)regardlessofthecurrentgradeinthe course.

Conditionsattributedtophysicalorpsychologicaldisabilitiesarenotconsideredasalegitimateexcuse fordisruptivebehavior.

The content of this course syllabus correlates to education standards established by national and state education governing agencies, accrediting agencies and learned society/professional education associations. Please refer to the course correlation matrices located at the following web site.