MATH 120 – PreCalculus 2: Trigonometry Course Syllabus – Fall 2007

INSTRUCTOR: David Whittaker

OFFICE LOCATION/PHONE: CC 323 / Phone: (425) 352-8381

STUDENT DROP-IN HOURS: Mon/Wed 10:30 am – 12:00 pm, other hours by appointment

E-MAIL: dwhittaker@cascadia.edu

COURSE TEXT: Sullivan & Sullivan. Algebra & Trigonometry. 4th ed. ISBN: 0-13-152739-8

GENERAL INFORMATION

REQUISITES: Placement in MATH 120 or a grade of 2.0 or higher in either MATH 110 or MATH 115, and placement in ENG 101.

CLASS TIMES: TTh from 8:45 am – 10:50 am. Beginning Tuesday, 9/25/07 and ending Thursday, 12/6/07.

WEBSITE: http://www.cascadia.edu/faculty/dwhittaker/math120.htm

COURSE DESCRIPTION:

This 5-credit course is the second half of a two-course sequence designed to prepare students for calculus with an emphasis on those topics and applications most appropriate for a science and engineering curriculum. Topics are investigated graphically, numerically, symbolically, and verbally. These topics include trigonometric functions, equations, and identities, vectors, polar coordinates, parametric equations, and complex numbers. Students will model periodic, real-world problems. Technology is integrated throughout the course and a graphic calculator is required.

GRADING POLICIES

GRADE CALCULATION:

Exams – 50%, Quizzes – 15%, Teamwork – 13%, Project – 12%, Homework – 10%.

The overall grade percentage, p, will be converted into a GPA score according to the following formula:

where the GPA score is rounded to the nearest tenth. See table online for more details.

NON- Grades such as “I” (Incomplete) and “Z” (Hardship Withdrawal) will only be considered for students

NUMERIC: who are progressing well through the course, but, due to some significant life crisis, they are forced to leave the class early. Last day to drop: Oct 5th; last day to withdraw: Nov 2nd.

EXAMS: A total of 3 exams will be given throughout the course according to the course schedule to evaluate knowledge of current material. (Previously tested material may also be included.) Exams cannot be made up!

TEAMWORK: Periodically, students will break into groups to practice current topics. Each team will be graded as a whole and must fill out a single team answer sheet (by submitting the sheet, all students on the team are indicating they have reviewed the documented answers and agree to their correctness). From time to time, teams will present their solution to a problem. Teamwork cannot be made up!

QUIZZES: On a regular basis, UNANNOUNCED Quizzes covering recent material will be completed either before or after the lecture. The purpose of these quizzes is to encourage students to keep up with the material and homework. Missed quizzes may NOT be made up. The lowest quiz grade will be dropped. Quizzes provide a feedback mechanism in preparation for the exams.

HOMEWORK: Mathematics is like weightlifting: "no pain, no gain." Not practicing math problems will most likely result in poor quiz and test scores and thereby increase the risk of failing the course. Since questions on homework problems will be answered in class as time permits, students are expected to complete the assignment before the next class. Students are encouraged to work together on these problems, but be confident of their ability to solve them on their own. Individual practice after a group or tutoring session is often very rewarding. See homework guideline sheet for more information and how to submit homework. All homework for a given unit is due the day of the exam for that unit at the beginning of class.

PROJECT: An individual project employing the ideas of trigonometry in a real-life application will be completed by students in a sequence of “deliverables” that will be due each week, culminating in a final product. All deliverables and the final project should be submitted electronically via the ePortfolio system. Assistance with the ePortfolio system is available in the OLC (Open Learning Center), room CC1-060. [NOTE: If ePorfolio is down, please just email me the file.]

CLASS POLICIES

ACADEMIC Cheating will not be tolerated! Anyone caught cheating, as a minimum, will fail the assignment

DISHONESTY: where violations of integrity were discovered. See the student handbook for more information.

ATTENDANCE: Students are expected to attend class and be in class on time. Disruptions to the learning environment due to tardiness will not be tolerated. Teamwork and unannounced quizzes will be given periodically and cannot be made up – so come to class!

CALCULATORS: All students must have a graphing TI calculator or equivalent (a TI-83 or TI-84 is strongly recommended). No calculators with algebraic manipulation (such as the TI-Nspire, TI-89, TI-92, or HP) are allowed at any time. Exams are designed assuming that all students have a graphing calculator. Passing calculators during an exam is not allowed! Non-TI calculators must have prior instructor approval before an exam.

*All calculator memories will be cleared before each test.*

PREPARATION: It is expected that each student come to class with his/her own notebook, paper, pencils, textbook, calculator, and COMPLETED homework.

DISABILITIES: Cascadia Community College provides services to help students with disabilities successfully adapt to college life. Students who meet specific criteria may also qualify for academic accommodations. For information, or a referral, please contact Student Support Services, (425) 352-8383, and ask for the Disability Support Facilitator.

OTHER: The College has developed statements and policies on many educational issues and these apply to all classes. Please see the class website for more information.

COURSE OUTCOMES

1. Learn actively by

a) Experimenting with projects that integrate the use of mathematics as one aspect of generalized problem solving;

b) Taking responsibility for accessing and using a variety of sources for assistance in learning about mathematics, such as on-line tutorials, visiting the math center, meeting with the instructor during office hours, etc.;

c) Applying problem solving and mathematical modeling to real situations;

d) Integrating technology into problem solving as a tool to support and complement the theoretic approach;

e) Participating in groups to solve real problems; and

f) Applying trigonometric functions and vectors to the natural sciences.

2. Think critically and creatively by

a) Demonstrating mastery of periodic functions, polar coordinates, vectors, and identites;

b) Using sequential logic and subroutines to solve problems;

c) Analyzing, comparing, and contrasting processes, procedures, and path approaches;

d) Creatively using mathematical and other problem solving strategies to formulate models, solve problems using multiple approaches, and interpret results; and

e) Following, evaluating and reproducing mathematical arguments and proofs.

3. Communicate clearly and originally by

a) Listening, speaking and writing using accurate mathematical vocabulary, notation, and graph expressions;

b) Explaining the problem solving approach and the computation of answer;

c) Translating and illustrating using graphs, words, tables, mathematical symbols and formulas; and

d) Developing the habit of reviewing all results for correctness and readability.

4. Interact in the diverse and complex environment by

a) Demonstrating effective use of group process;

b) Respecting individual ways of arriving at correct answers, expressing results and processes, while critically analyzing procedures for logical validity and completeness;

c) Refining processes around estimation and solution in large, complex problem solving;

d) Recognizing notational differences between cultures; and

e) Recognizing the biases/limitations of mathematical thinking and models.

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