Information Sheet for MA 131

 

Keep for reference

1. Instructor : Mrs. McCollum Lectures are MWF

Office : HA 208B

Phone : 513-2114

E-mail : msmccoll@ncsu.edu (Emails are answered once per day,

Monday through Friday noon-I am not available weekends, fall break or holidays) Type MA 131 in subject line. Begin each email with first and last name. Be brief and expect brief responses.

Office hours: Monday and Wednesday 1:30-2:00 pm, and Thursday, 10-10:30

or by appointment if schedule conflict-state conflict in email and state

times you can not meet between 8am and 4:30pm.

 

 

Recitation Leader: Eun Kim Required Recitations are Thursdays

Office: 201 Hillsboro Street , by appointment only, no office hours.

Post course content /homework questions in the discussion board

of vista. Your recitation leader will check once daily, Monday

through Friday noon. Also on vista is your grades, attendance,

copies of old tests, etc. http://vista.ncsu.edu (Not available until

first day of class)

Phone: 5-7321

E-mail: ekim3@unity.ncsu.edu    

 

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: Friday February 2

                        *Test 2: Monday February 26

                        *Test 3: Wednesday, March 28     

                        *Test 4: Friday, April 20

            Final Exam: Wednesday May 2 8-11 AM Covers entire course

 

The exam grade will replace the lowest one test grade, if higher. Basically this is a curve for those who master previously missed concepts. . No more final grade curves to this opportunity to earn your curve. At anytime you are unhappy with this no more curve policy, your “gift” will be forfeited.

 

 

                        *The final exam grade may be the make-up for 1 missed major test or lowest major test grade OR

Make-up policy (University): All anticipated absences must be excused with official documentation in advance of the test date and a make-up test scheduled if possible in advance of the absence. These include University duties or trips (certified by an appropriate faculty or staff member), required court attendance (certified by the Clerk of Court), or religious observances (certified by the Department of Student Development--515-2441).

            Emergency absences must be reported and make-up test scheduled within one week of returning to class with appropriate documentation PRIOR to scheduling make-up test (illness by an attending physician or family emergencies by Student Development). No other make-ups will be given. It is not wise to miss a test!

(Continue on next page, please)

 

 

4. Final Average:

            60% Tests

            30% Final Exam

            10% WebAssign

There is no make-up/extensions of WebAssign. However, 15 points will be added to the total WebAssign points before determining the WebAssign average to help compensate. Homework from the textbook is not collected, but mastery of textbook homework is necessary for success in the course. Following the due date/time, a video is linked to selected problems to show how to work the problems http://webassign.ncsu.edu (not available until first day of class) Video links of worked out answers to selected questions are available after the due date. Here’s how it works:

 

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.

 

 

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. This is added prior to the exam replacing a lower test score. (A major opportunity to curve your final grade!) Any student who is not an active MA 131 class participant the full 50 minutes (doing other work in class, socializing, sleeping, leaves class, etc) is recorded as absent. READ THAT SENTENCE AGAIN! Mathematics is not a spectator sport!

 

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 ≤ 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+ since this will represent all opportunities for built in curves. Read that again so there are no misunderstanding at the end of the semester!!!!

 

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.

 

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.