MT 120 (78864 - 7501) Syllabus
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Course Identification Grade Worksheet Competencies
Policies Grading Criteria Achieving Academic Success
Learning Resources Syllabus Acceptance Form
Madisonville Community College
MT 120 (78864 - 7501) Syllabus
Spring, 2008
MT 120 (78864 - 7501) Syllabus
Spring, 2008
Course Identification ( TOS )
Course Description: This algebra course covers manipulating rational expressions,
graphing linear equations and inequalities, solving systems of
equations, calculating roots and radicals, and evaluating
quadratic equations.
Prerequisites: MT 065 or Compass score in the range 30-47
Course (number): MT 120, Section 7501 Algebra (78864)
Classroom (Time): JCD Bldg, Room 125 ( 8:00 A.M. - 9:15 A.M. - TT )
Required Textbook: Prealgebra & Introductory Algebra, 4th Ed., Elayn Martin-Gay
Materials required: Graph paper
Teacher: Taylor Johnson
Office: JCD Bldg, Room 112
Phone ( E-mail ): (270) 824-1839 ( taylor.johnson@kctcs.edu )
Office Hours: Thirty minutes before or after class or by appointment
Policies ( TOS )
Attendance Policy
Students are expected to attend each class session.
Make-up Policy
No opportunity to make up in-class and homework exists.
Students may make up missed exams at the convenience of the teacher.
Each student must take the comprehensive final exam.
Prohibition Policy
Turn off and put away cell phones, iPods and palm pilots.
Student Conduct
Students are required to comply with KCTCS Code of Student Conduct.
Plagiarism and cheating, as well as sanctions for these offenses, are defined in the code.
For more information on academic rights, academic offenses,
and the right to appeal, see Section VII, 1.1, page 96 of the student code
or via www.kctcs.edu/student/code.htm.
Withdrawal Policy
Students may withdraw (W) at their discretion through March 17.
Students may withdraw (W) at the instructor's discretion by May 2.
Permission may not be granted to students with more than four absences.
Evacuation Policy
If the alarm sounds to evacuate the building, follow the designated leader out the nearest door to an assembly point at least 500 feet (200 steps) away from the building and away from emergency vehicle access routes, remain in a group for counting, and not return to the building until a member of the emergency team releases the group. Do NOT evacuate the building in the event of a tornado, but seek shelter in the halls of the bottom floor.
Writing Requirement
The rules of the Community College System Senate (Section V, 2.3.3) mandate that "Instructors in all courses are expected to call attention to proper English usage,and may penalize for errors and/or require the rewriting of papers which do not meet acceptable standards of English."
ADA Requirements
If you have a documented disability and need any accommodation, you are required to register with the Disability Resource Coordinator, Valerie Wolfe, Room 112 LRC, 270-824-1708.
Learning Resources ( TOS )
Trover Library The library contains tapes on mathematical topics, especially the
material covered in college algebra. Students may check out these
tapes (VHF) and review class material at home. Many books in the
library cover similar topics in more detail.
Resources: As an MCC student you have access to free tutoring for any class
from these sources:
(1) MCC Learning Resource Center Building, room 110.
By appointment tutors provide one-on-one or group tutoring.
(2) Muhlenberg Campus Learning Center, room 110.
By appointment or walk-in tutors provide one-on-one or group tutoring.
(3) MCC Math Lab, in JCD Building, room 130.
Faculty members tutor on a walk-in basis during posted hours.
(4) TRIO program provides tutoring to qualified students.
Contact Director Diane Garrard by calling (270) 824-8669.
Assessments ( TOS )
The course covers the material stated in the course outline. Homework, quizzes, periodic tests, a final test, and extra credit assignments are the main tools used in the assessment of the student's success and the calculation of the student's grade for the course.
Never pass up an opportunity to check your solutions or procedures. Scores will be diminished for any solutions offered without checking.
Students should prepare to present homework problems for grading. A small set of problems will be will be assessed for correctness and proper argumentation. Hand-in homework is collected at the start of the class day after the assignment is made in the detail syllabus. Counts 15%.
On test day students shall present their homework exercises from the chapter(s) tested. This work will be checked for completeness and returned that day. The homework represents a portion of the material to study for upcoming tests. Counts 5%.
Students should write in ink a study guide for each section of assigned text prior to coming to class on the date of the assignment. From the assigned sections include all definitions, properties with examples, and strategies for solving problems. At the end of class turn in this document and it will be returned the following day. More than one or two pages is too much. Counts 5%.
Homework counts as 25% of the student's final grade for the course.
Students should prepare for a quiz every day. Quizzes cover vocabulary, principles and problems from the previous day's presentation. Quizzes will be given daily, except on test days. The quizzes represent a portion of the material to study for upcoming tests. Quizzes count as 15% of the student's grade for the course.
Students should prepare for tests after every chapter or two. The detail syllabus shows the time of tests. Study the quizzes, homework and study guides to prepare for the tests. Tests count as 40% of the student's grade for the course.
Students should prepare for the final exam by studying all quizzes, homework sets, and test from the semester. The final exam counts as 20% of the student's grade for the course.
Students should attempt to perform all extra credit exercises. These problems - one per test period - offer the student opportunity to study chapter topics in more detail. Students may earn from zero to two points for their work on these problems. These points add to the total points via the above assessments. For example, three extra credit points added to a total of 78 from the above assessments makes a final grade of 81. Eight extra credit points nearly raise your grade by a letter!!
Grade Worksheet ( TOS )
All assessments show the student the number of points earned from a total of possible points. Keep track of the points earned and the total possible points by category given in the assessments section above. Sum the points by category and complete the following worksheet:
Homework: 0.25 * total points earned / total possible points = ____________
Quizzes: 0.15 * total points earned / total possible points = ____________
Tests: 0.40 * total points earned / total possible points = ____________
Final exam: 0.20 * total points earned / total possible points = ____________
Subtotal = ____________
+ Extra credit points = ____________
Final grade = ____________
Grading Criteria ( TOS )
The percentage for the final grade found by performing the above calculations is rounded to the nearest percentage. This percentage determines the letter grade via the following table:
Final letter grade ... ... when the final grade percentage is in this range
A 90% or above
B 80% or above but less than 90%
C 70% or above but less than 80%
D* 60% or above but less than 70%
E less than 60%
* MT 055 and MT 065 make no provision for a grade of D. In these cases a final grade percentage below 70% results in a final letter grade of E.
The KCTCS catalog states the representation for each letter grade on page 61:
A - exceptionally high achievement
B - high achievement
C - satisfactory achievement
D - minimum achievement
E - unsatisfactory achievement
Course Outline ( TOS )
This course covers topics in the topics listed below:
Chapter 12 - Rational Expressions
Chapter 13 - Graphing Equations and Inequalities
Chapter 14 - Systems of Equations
Chapter 15 - Roots and Radicals
Chapter 16 - Quadratic equations
Students take a test after each chapter except chapter 13.
Course detail breaks the course down into the work required per day.
For a given date do the following:
(1) read the section(s) of text before coming to class.
write notes about the important concepts in the chapter to hand in at end of class
be prepared for a quiz at start of class on vocabulary, properties, and problems
(2) listen to the topical material and contribute to discussion
(3) do the exercise homework before the next class
accumulate these problems and hand in on test day
(4) Homework for hand-in is due at start of class of next class
Each class session flows in the following manner, except for test days:
(1) Hand in homework due this class period at start of class.
(2) Probable quiz on previous day content.
(3) Answer questions about the homework or other math topics.
(4) Discuss the content of the assignment for the day.
(5) Work a few sample problems.
(6) Hand in study notes written in ink for the day's content topic at end of class.
Text Homework
Section Topic Homework for exercise For hand-in
Date to read to cover (Exercise set start page) Next class
01-15 Syllabus Write out major points of syllabus
Diag test Factoring
01-17 Factoring (895) 5-10 (905) 13-20
01-22 12.1 Simplify RE (957) 1,6,11,16,17,25,26,39,41,45 (957) 8,20,52,70
51,53,54
01-24 12.2 Mult/Div RE (967) 1,2,11,12,15,16,17,18,28,29 (967) 42,44
01-29 12.3 Add/sub RE (975) 3,4,7,11,18,20,21,28,29 (975) 16,32,46,55
35,39,44
12.4 Add/sub RE (983) 1,6,9,13,20,27,45,67,71 (983) 52,68
01-31 12.5 Solve RE equations (991) 1,5,9,13,27,34,35,41,49,50 (991) 40,45,62
02-05 12.6 Solve RE problems (1003) 3,7,11,13,23,31,37 (1003) 44,45
02-07 Test
Text Homework
Section Topic Homework for exercise For hand-in
Date to read to cover (Exercise set start page) Next class
02-12 13.1 Coordinate system (1037) 1,5-11,21,24,25,28,32,33 (1037) 40,41
37,38,39 46,47
13.2 Graph linear eq. (1051) 1,3,6,8,11,16,19,20,22,25,27 (1051) 18,32,33
02-14 13.3 Intercepts (1063) 1-12,17,18,23-26,29-32 (1063) 43-48
13.4 Slopes (1077) 3,4,5,10,15,17,10-21,25,33 (1077) 34,36,37
35,38,43,47,49 Calc slope / line
02-19 13.5 Graph of line (1089) 1,5,9,15,19,21,27,31,35 (1089) 34,37,41
Additional hand-in: compare results of 31 and 34. Infer a rule. Is it valid?
02-21 13.6 Introd. function (1103) 1-8,11-18,33,38,43 (1105) 51-55
02-26 13.7 Graph lin ineq (1113) 1-6,7,9,15,17,18,20,21,23,25 (1113) 26,28,30,32
13.8 Variation (1125) 1,4,6,7,9,13,16,17,23,27,31,33 (1125) 35,37,39
Text Homework
Section Topic Homework for exercise For hand-in
Date to read to cover (Exercise set start page) Next class
02-28 14.1 Solve SLE w/graph (1153) 1,3,17,19,20,21,35-38 (1153) 26,28,30
14.2 Sub. method (1165) 1,3,6,17,.21.28,30,31 (1165) 16,24,34
03-04 14.3 Add. method (1171) 1,3,7,11,23,24 (1171) 29,30,33,34
03-06 14.4 SLE problems (1183) 1,4,5,8,11,14,20,25 (1183) 34,37
03-18 Review Day
03-20 Test
Text Homework
Section Topic Homework for exercise For hand-in
Date to read to cover (Exercise set start page) Next class
03-25 15.1 Introd. Radicals (1207) 3-10,17-24,51-61(odd) (1207) 56,62,77
15.2 Simplify Rad (1215) 3,9,11,17,24,27,31,35,43,45 (1215) 63,64,67,68
03-27 15.3 Add/sub rad (1221) 2,5,8,11,25-28,35,47,52 (1221) 41,51,61
04-01 15.4 Mult/div rad (1227) 2,5,11,14,17,19,23,24,27 (1227) 24,48,70,72
36,41,47,49,51,61,69,73,76
04-03 15.5 Solve rad eq (1237) 1,3,7,9,13-16,25,35,36,40,43 (1237) 18,28,38
04-08 15.6 Rad exp & Prob (1243) 1,3,5,6,11,13,19,23-25 (1243) 10,16,21,36
04-10 Test
Text Homework
Section Topic Homework for exercise For hand-in
Date to read to cover (Exercise set start page) Next class
04-15 16.1 Solve QE w/SRP (1267) 1,3,10,12,17,21,29,36,57-59 (1267) 24,34,38
04-17 16.2 Solve QE w/CTS (1275) 1,10,17,19-21 (1275) 18,22,24,28
04-22 16.3 Solve QE w/QF (1281) 1,2,9,10,21,23,31,51,52 (1281) 33-36
04-24 16.4 Graph QE (1293) 3,5,7,9,13,20,21 (1293) 14,26,36-41
04-29 Test
05-01 Review for Final Introduce complex numbers.
05-06 Final Exam - 8:00 - 10:00 (Tuesday)
Competencies ( TOS )
The college identifies competencies for students to acquire from studying this course. These competencies divide into two groups, general competencies and course competencies.
The course presents students ample opportunity to practice and improve the general education competencies listed below. The grading of assignments and examinations includes assessment in these general competencies. For example answer word problems with a sentence using Standard English free of errors of grammar, punctuation, or spelling. The extra credit problems provide students with additional opportunities to practice these competencies and the value of extra credit depends significantly on these skills.
Course competencies represent the minimal material the student must carry forward to succeed in subsequent courses. Students should recognize that the completion of this course is not the end of the study. The material learned here allows the student to continue the learning process into the next class and the next ... and into life armed with a toolkit for success in the future.
General Competencies ( TOS )
Communicate Effectively
Read with comprehension.
Assessments include homework assignments that require a solution to a problem
similar to particular examples in the book.
Write clearly using Standard English.
Assessments include writing definitions, write answers to word problems with complete
sentences, spelling correctly and using general and mathematics vocabulary properly.
Think Critically
Make connections in learning across disciplines and draw logical conclusions.
Assessments include working application problems from other disciplines.
Use mathematics to organize, analyze, and synthesize data.
Assessments include application of the properties of numbers to solve problems.
In particular the selection of the correct strategy and algorithm indicate thinking critically.
Learn Independently
Think creatively to develop ideas, process, or products.
Assessments include working homework problems. In particular the various
extra credit assignments are all independent learning opportunities.
Examine Relationships in Diverse & Complex Environments
Analyze the relationship of the individual to the biological and physical environment.
Assessments include working problems related to the physical environment.
Course Competencies ( TOS )
Chapter 12 competencies
Perform basic operations with rational expressions (12.2-12.4).
Solve equations involving rational expressions (12.5).
Chapter 13 competencies
Distinguish between a function and a relation (13.6).
Find the domain and range of a function (13.6).
Graph linear functions using intercepts and slope/intercept methods (13.3-13.4).
Find the different forms of a linear equations (13.5).
Chapter 14 competencies
Solve systems of linear equations using different methods (14.1-14.3).
Chapter 15 competencies
Simplify radical expressions (15.1).
Solve equations invloving radical expressions (15.5).
Chapter 16 competencies
Other competencies
Factor polynomials completely (11).
Perform basic operations on complex numbers (class notes).
Achieving Academic Success ( TOS )
Students who read and study the textbook, attend class, and persevere to complete homework assignments achieve academic success. These students learn the vocabulary of the course, develop an understanding of the principles of the subject and practice the application of the vocabulary and principles while doing homework.
The detail syllabus lists material covered each of class. Read the listed sections of the textbook before attending class. Pay particular attention to learning the definitions in any material. Study and work each example. Knowledge of the material acquired before class permits you to listen with greater comprehension. Then you may recognize a misunderstanding during class and correct it. You will know exactly when to pay close attention, to concentrate on the presentation, and to ask questions.
Time before (and after) class provides you with many learning opportunities. You may find teachers available for discussions. You may meet other students and discuss material or work problems together. You are encouraged to develop study partner relationships. Exchange phone numbers. Take advantage of this time and ask questions.
Attending class and listening attentively affords you opportunities to validate your understanding of the material. The classroom presentation repeats the material encountered before class. You will be prepared to see the correctness of your understanding. Prepared students learn the errors of their efforts and have the vocabulary to frame and ask questions.
Soon after class, review the notes taken, study the examples and problems worked, and reread the textbook material. Examine the content and try to find remaining misconceptions. If a misconception is identified, then write out a question. Discuss the confusion with your study partner. E-mail the instructor. Bring any unresolved matters to the next class and ask questions.
Then repeat the above process for the next assignment. Repetition contributes to the success of any student willing to perform the work to complete the task. Your reading, attending class and doing homework improve your performance in the classroom and encourage you to ask questions.
Follow these suggestions to support this regimen. Do not schedule contiguous classes. Develop relationships with the instructor and other students to support learning. Allocate the time required for the work involved. Balance the time for school, work, family and socialization. Be most critical of this schedule and ask the question only you may honestly answer, "C an I manage this schedule?"
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Madisonville Community CollegeMT 120 (78864 - 7501) Syllabus
Spring, 2008
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Course (number): MT 120, Section 7501 Algebra (78864)
Classroom (Time): MDC Bldg, Room 101 ( 8:00 A.M. - 9:15 A.M. )
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Read the syllabus before the second day of class. Write down any question on the bottom or the back of this form. Ask these questions on the second day of class.
Sign and submit this form at the end of the second day of class. By signing the form the student acknowledges awareness of the content of syllabus.
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Signature ________________________________________________
Major ________________________________________________
Date _________________________________________________
Course (number): MT 120, Section 7501 Algebra (78864)
Classroom (Time): MDC Bldg, Room 101 ( 8:00 A.M. - 9:15 A.M. )
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Read the syllabus before the second day of class. Write down any question on the bottom or the back of this form. Ask these questions on the second day of class.
Sign and submit this form at the end of the second day of class. By signing the form the student acknowledges awareness of the content of syllabus.
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Syllabus Acceptance Form
Name (Print) _______________________________________________I acknowledge receipt
of the syllabus document for the above class. By signing this
acceptance, I confirm that I have read the syllabus and understand the
syllabus and the demands of the course.
Signature ________________________________________________
Major ________________________________________________
Date _________________________________________________