Mathematical Ideas

GEM 100 Fall 2004 course policies

Instructor: Dr. André Kündgen
Email: akundgen@csusm.edu
Office: Science Hall II 339
Office phone: (760) 750-8070
Office Hours: Tuesdays 3:00-4:30 PM and Thursdays 3:00-4:30 PM (when classes are in session), or by appointment.

The easiest way to arrange an appointment, or to get a hold of me in general, is by e-mail.

Lecture (01): Tuesday, Thursday 11:30-12:45 (ACD 113). CRN: 41627
Lecture (02): Tuesday, Thursday 13:00-14:15 (ACD 113). CRN: 41762
Webpage: http://courses.csusm.edu/gem100ak

The webpage contains useful information, like the homework assignments, general announcements, study guides and clarifications regarding the homework. You should check it once a week.

Prerequisites

Completion of the Entry Level Math requirement (successful completion of Math 051, or ELM test). GEM 100 does NOT serve as a prerequisite for Calculus. If you need Calculus for your major (for example Business, Economics or Science major), then you should be enrolled in Math 115 (prerequisite for Math 132) or Math 125 (prerequisite for Math 160).

Required Course Material

Burger and Starbird, The Heart of Mathematics (First edition), Key College Publishing, 2000. This book comes with a Manipulative Kit, which we will also be using.

Grading Policies

The numerical scores of all exams and quizzes will be used in computing a final score that will determine your final letter grade:

10 HW Diagn. 15 each
3 Quizzes 50 each
2 Exams 200 each
Final Exam 300
Letter grade Numerical grade
A 850-1000
B 700-849
C 600-699
D 500-599
F 000-499
There will be homework every week. Most Thursdays there will be a short open-notes "homework diagnostic quiz" to test if you did and understood the most recent homework assignments. Doing the assigned homework regularly, seriously, and carefully is vital to your success in this course. Although your homework is lightly weighted, you should keep in mind that you can only understand Mathematical ideas by thinking about them. This means reading the book and doing the problems. Doing so will be crucial for your exam performance.

There will also be 3 closed-notes "full quizzes" to help you get ready for the exams. There will be no make-up quizzes of any kind, but the lowest full quiz score will be replaced by the highest full quiz score.

Make-up exams will only be given in documented emergencies. Make-up exams may be somewhat harder than the original tests in fairness to the students who took the regularly scheduled exam.

The final exam will be comprehensive.

Important Dates

August 31: First day of classes
September 14: Last day to drop without W grade (pg 73, General Catalog)
September 16: Quiz 1
September 30: Exam 1
October 21: Quiz 2
November 4: Exam 2
November 23: Quiz 3
November 25: Thanksgiving (no class)
December 9: Last day of classes
December 16: Final Exam (Section 01), 11:30AM - 1:30PM.
December 14: Final Exam (Section 02), 11:30AM - 1:30PM.

Policy concerning collaboration

Students often learn a lot from working with one another and you are encouraged to meet with other students from class for this purpose. For example, you might work through exercises in the text together or discuss any material you found confusing in lecture or in the textbook. In this class it is also legitimate to discuss homework problems with other students in the class or consult other texts.

However, on exams and quizzes you have to work by yourself. Failure to comply with these guidelines is a serious academic offense. Penalties for such violations range from receiving a zero on the exam/quiz to suspension from the university. For more information on academic honesty see page 321 of the "General catalog 2004-2006".

Calculators

There is no need for a high-powered calculator. If you want to purchase one anyway, then you should consider the TI-83, since it is also used in other Math classes. During exams and quizzes simple calculators (without text storing ability) may be used, but not shared.