Information Sheet for MA 131 First Year Inquiry

Course designed to challenge students to improve their critical thinking skills and to take responsibility for their learning.

 

Keep for reference

1. Instructor : Mrs. McCollum

Office : HA 208B

Phone : 513-2114

E-mail : msmccoll@ncsu.edu (Emails answered once per day, Monday through Friday-I am not available weekends, fall break or holidays) Type MA 131Q in subject line. Begin each email with first and last name. Be brief and expect brief responses. For course management (grades, copies of old tests, etc), go to http://vista.ncsu.edu (Not available until first day of class)

 

Suggested textbook problems


Office hours/email catch up: Monday, Wednesday and Thursday 10:30-11:30am or by appointment if schedule conflict-state conflict in email and state times you can not meet between 8am and 4:30pm.

 

2. Text: (1) Calculus and its Applications, 11th edition, Goldstein, Lay and                                                             Schneider

            (2) MA 131 Supplement-Difference Equations and Applications to                                                          Finance

3. Test Dates: *Test 1: September 19 / 20 (no calculator/calculator)Difference

equations, Textbook 1.1 through 1.7

                        *Test 2: October 24/25 (no calculator/calculator) Textbook 1.8-

2.7, 3.1-3.2, 4.1-4.3

                        *Test 3: November 28/39 (no calculator/calculator) Textbook 4.4-

5.2, 6.1-6.4, 9.1, 9.3

                        Final Exam: Monday December 17 8-11am Covers entire course

 

The final exam grade will replace the lowest one test grade, if higher, or a missed major test. If 2 tests are missed, then documentation for both missed tests must meet university guidelines for a comprehensive make-up test covering concepts of both missed tests. http://www.ncsu.edu/policies/academic_affairs/courses_undergrad/REG02.20.3.php

This grade will replace the 2nd missed test. The first missed test will be replaced with the final exam grade.

 

            * Three (3) short quizzes = 1 Major test 4 grade will be given on Wednesdays September 5, October 3 and November 7. If you miss one of these 3 short quizzes, then this major test 4 can be replaced with the final exam grade.

 

          

 

 

4. Final Average:

            60% Tests

            30% Final Exam

            10% WebAssign and 1 FYI project.

 

A sample of homework will be submitted and graded instantly over the Internet by WebAssign. (Note the due dates and time! Note this is only a Òsample of homeworkÓ. You will need to work the problems in the textbook for mastery.) You will have 5 submissions to earn a perfect score. Immediately following your 5th submission, the correct answers will appear so that you can learn from your mistakes. Also, short video links to selected questions will allow you to see and hear the problem worked after the 5th submission.

 

Here is how the videos work:

1. IF you submit 5 times with incorrect answers in your assignment, the answer key with video links are available.

2. If you submit less than 5 times (you have all correct or even some incorrect answers), the answer key will not become available until the due date/time. It takes 5 submissions for an answer key.

3. If you get all the answers correct before the 5th submission, (you have not submitted 5 times), the answer key is not available until the due date/time. In other words, it takes 5 submissions before the answer key is available. That is, if you get all the answers correct in submissions 1 or 2 or 3 or 4, you will not get the video links until after the due time. IF you get all answers correct finally on the 5th submission, then you get the answer key because you made the 5 different submission.

 

 

You can give yourself multiple WebAssign 24-hour extensions past the due date with penalty of 5 points per 24 hour extension. You can request a second extension only after the first extension has expired. You can request a third extension only after the second extension has expired. (If you try to give yourself a second extension while you still have 4 hours remaining on the first extension, WebAssign will only grant you the remaining 4 hours and you have wasted an extension. The total number of self-extensions is 3. That is, it is possible to have 36 full hours of extensions past the due date. After that, no further extensions for any reasons. Be sure you do not view the answer key if you plan to grant yourself an extension. Otherwise, no possible extension for any reason. If your score on an assignment is less that zero due to the extension, I will override the minus score to a zero at the end of the semester.

 

 

Homework from the textbook is not collected, but mastery of textbook homework is necessary for success in the course

 

5. Attendance: Roll is taken at the beginning of class. If you are not in your seat when the roll is taken, you are absent or if you leave class. Be sure to take care of all bathroom trips prior to coming to class. There are no tardies! You are either absent or present. You are expected to arrive to class a few minutes early. I always begin class on time. Attendance is expected in all classes and will be recorded Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday. There is no distinction between excused and unexcused absences. Students arriving after roll is taken or leaving before the end of class are marked absent. Students with 5 or fewer absences (excused or unexcused) may have 10 points added to their final exam grade.

 

6. The prerequisite for MA 131 is MA 107 or placement via Level Two Achievement Test. Credit is not allowed for more than one of MA 121, MA 131, or MA 141.

 

7. Corrections to the grading: If you feel that an error was made in the grading of a test, present and explain the error in writing to the instructor within 2 class periods after the test is returned. Do not alter the original work.

 

8. Grading Scale: 90 < A < 100

                        80 ² B < 90

                        70 < C < 80

                        60 < D < 70

                            F < 60

            The plus/minus grades are based on 2 points at either end of the range. For example, an 88 average is a B+, while a 62 average is a D- and 69.9 is a D-

 

10. You must take responsibility for seeking help when needed. Communication with the instructor and the recitation leaders is essential to your success. We want to help. The Multi-media Center (HA 244) has video taped lectures of MA 131 as well as tutoring on a limited basis. Online Lectures are also available here.

 

11.Official documentation on students who violate University regulations on academic integrity will be submitted to the Office of Student Conduct.

 

12. Students with disabilities: "Reasonable accommodations will be made for students with verifiable disabilities. In order to take advantage of available accommodations, students must register with Disability Services for Students at 1900 Student Health Center, Campus Box 7509, 515-7653. For more information on NC State's policy on working with students with disabilities, please see the Academic Accommodations for Students with Disabilities Regulation (REG02.20.1)"

 

13. Be respectful to your peers and to me. All cell phones are turned off during class and no eating, drinking, or any tobacco products are allowed in the classroom. Students who do not follow these guidelines may be asked to leave class.