Portland Community CollegeMath 65, Winter 2017 (CRN 11106—4 credits)
P.O. Box 19000 Meets T/Th2:30pm to 4:50pm, in Tabor 144
Portland, OR 97280-0990
Office Hours: (see below for complete schedule)
Instructor: Noah DearMonday: 1:30pm – 2:30pm
Office: SCOM 214 Cubicle CC
Phone/Voice Mail: 971-722-6414
Text: 503-268-3095 (10am – 8pm)Tutoring Hours(South East Library)
Email: Wednesday: 1:30pm – 2:30pm
Website: noahdearmath.weebly.com
Prerequisite:
(MTH 60 or MTH 62) and (RD 80 or ESOL 250). Recommended that MTH 60 or MTH 62 be taken within the past 4 terms. The PCC math department recommends that students take MTH courses in consecutive terms. Audit available.
Course Description:
Introduces algebraic concepts and processes with a focus on linear systems, polynomials, quadratic equations, and functions. Emphasizes applications, graphs, formulas, and proper mathematical notation throughout the course.A more complete description may be found online at
Required Materials:
Introductory Algebra for College Students by Blitzer, Custom Edition for Portland Community College, Taken from: Sixth Edition, Prentice-Hall ISBN-10: 1-323-19356-1 ISBN-13: 978-1-323-19356-3
Scientific Calculator comparable to the TI-30X II. Note that the majority of assessments will not allow a calculator.Phones will NOT be allowed to be used as a calculator.
Important Dates:
January 13th– Last day to change to Audit grading option.
January 14th–Last day to drop with removal of tuition and fees (via My PCC).
March 4th – Last day to change grading to P/NP. Last day to withdraw.
February 2nd– Exam 1 (tentative)
February 23rd– Exam 2 (tentative)
March 23rd– Final (2:00pm – 3:50pm) This is on Thursday 30 minutes EARLY!
Grading:
The following are approximations. I will provide extra credit assignments as deemed appropriate.
Homework230 points (10 points each)
Quizzes180 points (20 points each)
Exam 1100 points
Exam 2200 points
Final300 points
Approximate Total: 1010
A: 90%+, B: 80%-89.99%, C: 70%-79.99%, D: 60%-69.99%, F: below 60%.
Your percentage will be calculated by dividing total points earned by total without extra credit.
The schools grading policy can be found at
Attendance:
Attendance will be taken for the first week of class and is mandatory. Any student who does not attend every day of the first week of class will be dropped from the course. After the first week, while I will not be taking attendance, I fully expect you to attend. Mathematics is NOT a simple game of number crunching, it is a beautifully constructed piece of logic whose nuances you need to be present for in order to understand. If you are unable to attend class, it is your responsibility to acquire any worksheets we may have gone over and complete the section covered before the next class. Missing a class does NOT excuse you from understanding covered material, being familiar with the language and notation, or doing the assigned homework.
Tardiness:
Be respectful of your time, your peer’s time and my time. Be on time. If you are late, please enter quietly without interrupting any more than you have to and find a seat towards the back.
Classroom etiquette:
You are expected to participate in the learning environment without becoming an obstacle for others’ learning. There will be no sleeping in class, cell phones must be silenced, laptops put away. Texting during class will not be tolerated. Learning is about paying attention, taking an active role and being respectful of the others trying to learn around you. Any student repeatedly disregarding these concepts will be asked to leave. The student code of conduct may be found at
Title IX
Portland Community College is committed to creating and fostering a learning and working environment based on open communication and mutual respect. If you believe you have encountered sexual harassment, sexual misconduct, sexual assault, or discrimination based on race, color, religion, age, national origin, veteran status, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, or disability, please contact the Office of Equity and Inclusion at (971) 722-5840 or .
Cheating:
Don’t do it. Cheating, plagiarism and other acts of academic dishonesty are regarded as serious offences. Depending on the nature of the offence, serious penalties may be imposed, ranging from the loss of points to expulsion from the class or the college. Failure to follow directions regarding working together/sharing work may result in a zero score for the assignment. Copying others’ work will not be accepted at any time, even when working together is allowed. Penalties are applied to both the copier and the one allowing the copying. Students are required to comply with the Student Rights and Responsibilities Handbook. The Handbook, which can be found at includes the Code of Student Conduct and the Academic Integrity Policy.
ADA Accommodation:
Any student who feels he or she may need an accommodation for any type of disability should contact the Office for Students with Disabilities at 971-722-4341 or Please also see me during the first week of class to ensure that your needs are fully met in this class. Accommodations are not retroactive and only begin when I receive the OSD Approved Academic Accommodations form.
Learning Center:
PCC has a learning center that is free with your tuition. The Learning Center is located in the library on the main floor. I highly recommend that you go to the Learning Center to work on your homework, so that if any questions come up, you have a tutor right there to help you understand your problem.
Assignments:
I will assign homework almost every class to be completed by the beginning of the next class. I will cover homework questions the class following the assignment. Homework must be completed by the beginning of class every day.All homework will be collected the following Tuesday.
You have an allotment of 4 late homeworks. Further late homework assignments will not be accepted. For each class period an assignment is late, it counts as 1 late homework!
Quizzes:
In order for me to be regularly assessing your understanding and to be able to provide you with feedback you will have an approximately one-page take-home quiz every week that will be due every Thursday at the beginning of class. These will be very stringently graded on notation! Note I may opt to make some of these quizzes in-class!
Quizzes may NOT be made up! They are due every Thursday and you are expect to have them all in on time. However, I understand sometimes life happens and as such you have 2 late quizzes that I will allow. In the instance of using a late quiz, it must be turned in the following Tuesday, no exceptions.
Extra Credit:
Extra credit assignments may be available during the term as I deem appropriate. These are not mandatory, but they sure do help! I do not accept late extra credit work.
Exams:
There will be exams on February 2nd (tentative), February 23rd (tentative), and March 23rd. If for some reason you are unable to attend one of these dates, you are required to let me know at least 2 classes BEFORE the exam in order to reschedule. I may deny your request if it is not reasonable (having another exam the same day is NOT a good reason). If you have an emergency and are unable to attend an exam at last minute, I will require proper documentation in order for you to reschedule. You are required to take all exams and manage at least 210 points on the final exam to earn a passing grade.
Formatting:
ALL graded work will be evaluated on mathematical correctness, syntax (use of symbols and notation of mathematics), format (organization and presentation), the clarity of your arguments and reasonableness of your answers. Answers are NOT enough; justify all work by showing process and presenting a logical argument. Verify results whenever possible.
You will be marked down for incorrect notation.
Changes to Syllabus:
The instructor reserves the right to modify course content, dates of exams and/or substitute assignments and learning activities in response to institutional, weather or class situations. If you come to class, you will be kept up to date on any changes. Changes will also be sent to the class via e-mail so be sure to check your PCC email (or have it forwarded to the email account you check the most often).
Assumptions I make about you:
- You have made an informed choice to be a member of this class. You understand that the syllabus represents the contract between the student and the instructor. You understand the workload required. On average, you should spend three hours on your own (reading, studying, making notes, working on assignments, etc.) for every hour that you are in class.
- You will do the required reading and homework. This means that you will often have to read something more than once in order to fully understand it (remember the 3:1 ratio in the first assumption).
- You understand that learning is a step by step process and involves overcoming challenges. When times get tough, you will take a breath and do your best to keep a positive attitude.
Assumptions you can make about me:
- I will give you the respect that I ask you to give me and the other members of this class.
- I will do my best to help you, but I cannot learn the material for you.
- I will challenge you to perform at your best.
Instructor Availability:
As your instructor I am dedicated to making myself available to you as much as possible. If you need help for more than 15 minutes please make arrangements so that I can make sure I’m available.
Monday / Tuesday / Wednesday / Thursday / Friday9:00 / MTH 252
SCOM 200 / MTH 252
SCOM 200 / Meetings Available By Appointment
10:00
MTH 112
SCOM 324 / MTH 112
SCOM 324
11:00
12:00
1:00
Office Hour
SCOM 214 / Office Hour
Tutoring Center
2:00
MTH 65
Tabor 144 / MTH 65
Tabor 144
3:00
4:00
5:00
You may also always contact me by phone or e-mail! Helpful idea: If you’re stuck on a problem, take a picture of it and text it to me. I cannot promise to get right back to you but as soon as I’m by a piece of paper and a pencil I can write out the solution with an explanation, take a picture and send it back to you. All Grey sections are available by appointment.