Course Description(MATD 0370 Elementary Algebra):  A course designed to develop the skills and understanding contained in the first year of secondary school algebra. Topics include review of operations on real numbers, graphing linear equations, solving linear and quadratic equations, solving systems of linear equations, polynomials, factoring, and applications.

Prerequisite: C or better in Basic Math Skills (MATD 0330), or its equivalent knowledge, or a passing score on the MATD 0370 placement test.  If you have any questions regarding your prerequisites, please come see me during the first week of class.

Instructional Methodology:  This course is taught in the classroom as a lecture/discussion course.

Course Rationale:Welcome to Elementary Algebra. As with all developmental math courses, Elementary Algebra is designed to provide you with the mathematical foundation and personal confidence to enable you to use mathematics in your future life. This course is designed to prepare you for MATD 0390 (Intermediate Algebra) and the algebra-based courses that follow it or for MATD 0385. It also offers you one way to prepare for MATH 1332(College Math, formerly Topics in Math), MATH 1342 (Elementary Statistics), and MATH 1333 (Math for Measurement) after you have passed the math portionof the state-approved test, like THEA or TCOMPASS.

Required Supplemental Materials:  You will need rectangular coordinate graphing paper for notes and homework.  You will need a basic calculator with an exponent key or a scientific calculator.  Graphing calculators are not allowed for use on the tests.

Course Evaluation/Grading Scheme:Your grade for this course will be determined by your test average, your homework average, and the final exam score.  The weight of each of these is outlined below:

Grades will be assigned as follows: Afor 90% - 100%, B for 80%-89%, C for 70%-79%, D for 60%-69%, F for 59% or below.  Grades will never be discussed over the phone or by email.

Course Policies 

Pre-test:  Apre-test will be given as homework during the first class to determine your strengths and weaknesses. If you do very well, and think that you might belong in the next-higher level course, please contact me immediately. If you do poorly on the pretest, we will meet to discuss placing you in MATD 0330 to ensure your greatest success in your math classes.

Testing: There will be four tests given in class. The approximate deadlines are shown on the Tentative Schedule.  Exact testing dates will be given in class.  You may earn up to 25% of the points you lose on any test by correcting your errors.  Corrections must be completed within one week of when the test is returned to the class.  Correct answers with no work will receive no credit.  You must include a short write-up with your corrections about the reason for your lost points and your plan to improve on future tests.   Absolutely no late test corrections are accepted.  The Final Exam will be in the classroom on Tuesday, August 14, 2012.  There are absolutely no make-up final exams given.

Testing Center Policies:  In the case that the testing center is used for a test, the Eastview Testing Center is located in building 2000, 1st floor, Room 2155.  Hours of operation are: Monday - Friday 8am - 9pm, Saturday 8am - 6pm, and Sunday 12pm - 5pm.  To request a test you must bring your ACC ID.  A driver’s license is not enough identification to receive a test.  Cell phones, food, and drink are not permitted in the testing center.  Also, breaks are not given during a test, so you need to plan your time accordingly.  You may bring a calculator or borrow one from the testing center. Students using the Academic Testing Center must govern themselves according to the Student Guide for Use of ACC Testing Centers and should read the entire guide before going to take the exam.  Any student caught cheating in the testing center will receive an F for the course.  For complete testing center policies visit http://www.austincc.edu/testctr/.

Missed Test Policy:  No late tests are given.  If you miss a test, I will replace the grade with the grade you receive on your final exam.  If you miss more than one test, you will be dropped from the class.

Homework:  Homework will be assigned each week.  Homework will be a combination of problems in MyMathLab and problems to be written out.  Online homework will be assigned and submitted through MML.  It is recommended that you work the online homework on paper to keep for use on test reviews. If you need computer access to complete your homework, you may use the computers in the library or the learning lab in Room 2304, Hours: Monday - Thursday: 8am - 9pm, Friday: 9am - 3pm, Saturday: 10am - 7pm, and Sunday: 12pm - 6pm.

All written homework will be submitted before each test.  Written homework assignments will be graded on completeness only

Late Homework: Any homework assignment not submitted by the due date is considered late and will be penalized by 10 points. 

 Quizzes:  Every non-exam meeting day, you will have a quiz in class.  Some may require you to work with a group and some may require you to work alone.  To receive full credit on a quiz problem, you must show all your work.  Answers with no work may receive no credit. At the end of the semester, your three lowest grades are dropped.  Therefore if you miss a quiz, you may be able to drop the 0%.  Although this is your emergency plan, you will not succeed in this course if you fail to complete the quizzes. 

No make up quizzes are given for any reason.  If you miss class, you get a 0% for the quiz.

Attendance: Regular and punctual class attendance is expected of all students.  Pets and children are NOT allowed in class.  Absence is not an excuse for not knowing the material.  If you miss a class, you MUST go to the learning lab to learn the material you missed.  I will help you AFTER you have visited the learning lab.  Any student missing four or more classes or that does not comply with the course policies listed here will be withdrawn from the course.  However, never assume you have been dropped without contacting me first.

Class Participation: You will be placed in a study group at the beginning of the semester.  Occasionally we may have some class work during the lecture period.  You may be expected to work alone, in pairs, or as part of your study group.  This is an opportunity for you to practice class material and to learn from and teach your classmates.  You may ask your study group members for notes if you miss class, homework help, or help studying for tests. 

Communication: All College e-mail communication to students will be sent solely to the student’s ACCmail account, with the expectation that such communications will be read in a timely fashion. ACC will send important information and will notify you of any college related emergencies using this account.  Students should only expect to receive email communication from me using this account.  Likewise, students should use their ACCmail account when communicating with instructors and staff. If this is not the email you use regularly, it is important that you log in and set up email forwarding. Instructions for activating and forwarding an ACCmail account can be found at http://www.austincc.edu/accmail/index.php.

TSI Warning for students who are not TSI complete*

Students who are not TSI complete in math are not allowed to enroll in any course with a math skill requirement.

All students are required to be "continually in attendance" in order to remain enrolled in this course. If this is the only

Developmental class you are enrolled in, and you withdraw yourself from this course or are withdrawn by your instructor, then:

a) You may be withdrawn from courses that you should not be enrolled in, such as any class with a math skill requirement.

b) You will have a hold placed on your registration for the following semester. The Hold will require that you register for the next semester in person with an advisor or counselor and that you work with the Developmental Math Advisor during that semester.

c) You will continue to face more serious consequences, up to being restricted to only registering for developmental courses, until you complete the required developmental math course or satisfy the TSI requirement in another way.

More information can be found at http://www.austincc.edu/math/tsiwarning.htm .

* If you are unsure whether or not this warning applies to you, see an ACC advisor immediately.

Importance of Completing Developmental Course Requirements: The first steps to achieving any college academic goal are completing developmental course requirements and TSI requirements. The first priority for students who are required to take developmental courses must be the developmental courses. TSI rules state that students are allowed to take college credit courses, if they are fulfilling their developmental requirements. Because successful completion of dev courses is so important, ACC will intervene with any student who is not successfully completing developmental requirements. This intervention can mean a hold on records, requiring dev lab classes, working with the Dev Math Advisor, and monitoring during the semester.

Withdrawal Policy:It is the responsibility of each student to ensure that his or her name is removed from the roll should he or she decide to withdraw from the class.  The instructor does, however, reserve the right to drop a student should he or she feel it is necessary.  If a student decides to withdraw, he or she should also verify that the withdrawal is submitted before the Final Withdrawal Deadline of August 1, 2012.  The student is also strongly encouraged to retain their copy of the withdrawal form for their records. TSI-mandated students considering withdrawal from this course should keep in mind the possible serious consequences of doing so - see the TSI warning above It would be wise to speak with me or a counselor/advisor before doing so. After the withdrawal date, neither the student nor the instructor may initiate a withdrawal.

Students who enroll for the third or subsequent time in a course taken since Fall, 2002, may be charged a higher tuition rate, for that course.  State law permits students to withdraw from no more than six courses during their entire undergraduate career at Texas public colleges or universities.  With certain exceptions, all course withdrawals automatically count towards this limit.  Details regarding this policy can be found in the ACC college catalog.

Reinstatement Policy: Students who withdrew or were withdrawn generally will not be reinstated unless they have completed all course work, projects, and tests necessary to place them at the same level of course completion as the rest of the class.

Incomplete Grade Policy: Incomplete grades (I) will be given only in very rare circumstances; and only if a student has taken all tests, is passing, and after the last date to withdraw, has a personal tragedy occur which prevents course completion. An incomplete grade cannot be carried beyond the established date in the following semester. The completion date is determined by the instructor but may not be later than the final deadline for withdrawal in the subsequent semester.

In Progress grades (IP): IP grades are also rarely given. In order to earn an "IP" grade the student must remain in the course, be making progress in the material, not have excessive absences, and not be meeting the standards set to earn the grade of C or better in the course. Students who are given an IP grade must register and pay tuition for the same course again to receive credit. Students who make a grade of IP should not go on to the next course.  A maximum of 2 IP grades can be awarded in any one course.

Student Discipline Policy: Classroom behavior should support and enhance learning. Please be respectful of the instructor and students in the classroom. Behavior that disrupts the learning process will be dealt with appropriately, which may include having the student leave class for the rest of that day. In serious cases, disruptive behavior may lead to a student being withdrawn from the class. ACC's policy on student discipline can be found in the Student Handbook or on the web at http://www.austincc.edu/handbook/

ACC Policies

Student Rights and Responsibilities:  Students at the college have the rights accorded by the U.S. Constitution to freedom of speech, peaceful assembly, petition, and association. These rights carry with them the responsibility to accord the same rights to others in the college community and not to interfere with or disrupt the educational process. Opportunity for students to examine and question pertinent data and assumptions of a given discipline, guided by the evidence of scholarly research, is appropriate in a learning environment. This concept is accompanied by an equally demanding concept of responsibility on the part of the student. As willing partners in learning, students must comply with college rules and procedures.

Statement on Students with Disabilities:Each ACC campus offers support services for students with documented disabilities.  Students with disabilities who need classroom, academic or other accommodations must request them through the Office for Students with Disabilities (OSD).   Students are encouraged to request accommodations when they register for courses or at least three weeks before the start of the semester, otherwise the provision of accommodations may be delayed.   

Students who have received approval for accommodations from OSD for this course must provide the instructor with the ‘Notice of Approved Accommodations’ from OSD before accommodations will be provided.   Arrangements for academic accommodations can only be made after the instructor receives the ‘Notice of Approved Accommodations’ from the student. 

Students with approved accommodations are encouraged to submit the ‘Notice of Approved Accommodations’ to the instructor at the beginning of the semester because a reasonable amount of time may be needed to prepare and arrange for the accommodations.    Additional information about the Office for Students with Disabilities is available athttp://www.austincc.edu/support/osd/

Statement on Scholastic Dishonesty: A student attending ACC assumes responsibility for conduct compatible with the mission of the college as an educational institution.  Students have the responsibility to submit coursework that is the result of their own thought, research, or self-expression.  Students must follow all instructions given by faculty or designated college representatives when taking examinations, placement assessments, tests, quizzes, and evaluations.  Actions constituting scholastic dishonesty include, but are not limited to, plagiarism, cheating, fabrication, collusion, and falsifying documents.    Penalties for scholastic dishonesty will depend upon the nature of the violation and may range from lowering a grade on one assignment to an “F” in the course and/or expulsion from the college.  See the Student Standards of Conduct and Disciplinary Process and other policies at http://www.austincc.edu/current/needtoknow

Statement on Scholastic Dishonesty Penalty: Students who violate the rules concerning scholastic dishonesty will be assessed an academic penalty, which the instructor determines isin keeping with the seriousness of the offense. This academic penalty may range from a grade penalty on the particularassignment to an overall grade penalty in the course, including possibly an F in the course. ACC's policy can be found in the Student Handbook page 33 or on the web at: http://www.austincc.edu/handbook/under “Policy and Procedures”.

Statement on AcademicFreedom:Institutions of higher education are conducted for the common good. The common good depends upon a search for truth and upon free expression. In this course the professor and students shall strive to protect free inquiry and the open exchange of facts, ideas, and opinions. Students are free to take exception to views offered in this course and to reserve judgment about debatable issues. Grades will not be affected by personal views. With this freedom comes the responsibility of civility and a respect for a diversity of ideas and opinions.   This means that students must take turns speaking, listen to others speak without interruption, and refrain from name-calling or other personal attacks.

Safety Statement:  Austin Community College is committed to providing a safe and healthy environment for study and work. You are expected to learn and comply with ACC environmental, health and safety procedures and agree to follow ACC safety policies. Additional information on these can be found at http://www.austincc.edu/ehs. Because some health and safety circumstances are beyond our control, we ask that you become familiar with the Emergency Procedures poster and Campus Safety Plan map in each classroom. Additional information about emergency procedures and how to sign up for ACC Emergency Alerts to be notified in the event of a serious emergency can be found at http://www.austincc.edu/emergency/.

Please note, you are expected to conduct yourself professionally with respect and courtesy to all. Anyone who thoughtlessly or intentionally jeopardizes the health or safety of another individual will be dismissed from the day’s activity, may be withdrawn from the class, and/or barred from attending future activities.

Required MyMathLab:  MML is required for this course.  MML is an interactive online course that accompanies the text. You may have an access code with the purchase of a bundled hardback textbook: Elementary Algebra, Concepts and Applications incl MyMath Lab, 8^th Edition,Bittinger & Ellenbogen; Pearson (ISBN 0-321-61615-4) or looseleaf textbook: (ISBN 0-321-67373-5).

Or, you may purchase access to MyMathLab online at http://www.mymathlab.com/ with a valid credit card.  This is the most inexpensive way to purchase MyMathLab for the course.  The bookstore will charge MORE than the website.

Since MML includes the online book, you are not required to purchase the actual textbook.  You will need internet access to use the online book. The choice between the physical textbook and online textbook is left to the individual student.  For more information, please refer to the MML handout.

Recommended Text:  If you prefer to have a paper textbook, then you will need to purchase BOTH the book and MyMathLab.

Elementary Algebra, Concepts and Applications, 8^th Edition, Bittinger & Ellenbogen (ISBN 0-321-161615-4)

You can access the chapters from the textbook covered in the first few days online at http://www.austincc.edu/mthdept2/text/password acc0370 before you buy your text.  See MyMathLab section below for other textbook options.

To use MyMathLab, you'll need Course ID*: penfoldflores93205

And your personal Student access number, which is provided with purchase of MyMathLab access.

Tentative Course Schedule

This is an outline of the semester.  Dates and testing times are subject to change.  Any changes to the schedule below will be announced in class.

Course Objectives:

The following objectives are listed in a sequence ranging from the simple to the more complex. As such, this document should not be viewed as a chronological guide to the course, although some elements naturally will precede others. These elements should be viewed as mastery goals which will be reinforced whenever possible throughout the course.

Overall objectives:

A.     Students will feel a sense of accomplishment in their increasing ability to use mathematics to solve problems of interest to them or of use in their chosen fields. Students will attain more positive attitudes based on increasing confidence in their abilities to learn mathematics.

B.      Students will learn to understand material using standard mathematical terminology and notation when presented either verbally or in writing.

C.      Students will improve their skills in describing what they are doing as they solve problems using standard mathematical terminology and notation.

1. Description and classification of whole numbers, integers, and rational numbers using sets and the operations among them

a.      identify and use properties of real numbers

b.      simplify expressions involving real numbers

c.      evaluate numerical expressions with integral exponents

2. Polynomials

a.      distinguish between expressions that are polynomials and expressions that are not

b.      classify polynomials in one variable by degree and number of terms

c.      simplify polynomials

d.      add, subtract, multiply (including the distributive law), and divide polynomials (including division by monomials, but excluding long division)

e.      factor polynomialsin one or more variables (including factoring out the greatest common factor, factoring by grouping, factoring trinomials in which the leading coefficient is one, factoring trinomials in which the leading coefficient is not one, and factoring the difference of two squares)

f.       understand and use the exponent laws involving integer exponents

g.      convert numbers into and out of scientific notation and perform multiplication and division with numbers written in scientific notation

3.       Solve linear equations in one variable involving integral, decimal, and fractional coefficients and solutions

4.   Solve and graph linear inequalities

5.       Application problems

a.      write and evaluate linear expressions from verbal descriptions

b.      solve application problems which lead to one of the following types of equations: linear equations in one variable, systems of two linear equations in two variables, quadratic equations, and rational equations with monomial numerators and denominators)

c.      solve literal equations for a specified variable using addition and multiplication principles

d.      use given data to estimate values and to evaluate geometric and other formulas

e.      solve problems involving the Pythagorean theorem, similar triangles, and proportions

6.       Linear equations in two variables

a.      identify the relationship between the solution of a linear equation in two variables and its graph on the Cartesian plane

b.      understand and use the concepts of slope and intercept

c.      determine slope when two data points are given

d.      graph a line given either two points on the line or one point on the line and the slope of the line

e.      write an equation of a line given one point on the line and the slope of the line, or two points on the line

f.       identify lines given in standard, point-slope, or slope-intercept forms and sketch their graphs

g.      solve systems of linear equations

7.       Quadratic equations

a.      find solutions to quadratic equations using the technique of factoringand using the principle of square roots

b.      recognize a need to use the quadratic formula to solve quadratic equations and solve quadratic equations by using the quadratic formula when  some  simplification of square roots is needed

8.       Description and classification of irrational numbers

a.      simplify  radical expressions

b.      use decimal approximations for radical expressions

9.       Rational expressions

a.      determine for which value(s) of the variable a rational expression is undefined

b.      simplify rational expressions containing monomials, binomials, and trinomials

c.      multiply and divide rational expressions containing monomials, binomials, and trinomials

d.      add and subtract rational expressions with like denominators and rational expressions with unlike denominators (only monomials and binomials that do not require factoring)

10.   Geometry

a.      understand the difference between perimeter and area and be able to use formulas for these appropriately

b.      solve application problems involving angles and polygons