Math 085, Algebra II
  
   

This class covers algebraic skills, such as factoring polynomials, manipulating rational and radical expressions and solving quadratic, rational and radical equations. This course is designed for the student who has successfullycompleted Algebra I in the recent past (earned a C or better). We will move through the material at a steady pace, so anyone whose Algebra I is rusty needs to do some extra reviewing as we go along. Some of you will find that the algebra material looks familiar, but you just can't quite remember what to do with it. This is expected if it has been a few quarters since you took any algebra or any math. Let me assure you that the math you once knew will come back to you quickly as long as you attend class regularly, get help when you need it, and practice by doing the homework.

With respect to the needs of the business community and in accordance with the Seattle Community College District Mission Statement, a group component (cooperative learning environment) has been included in this course. Most of the work done in this class will be done in groups. All quizzes and most worksheets and projects are cooperative activities between three or four individuals assigned to a group. There will be three different group assignments throughout the quarter.

Cooperative learning groups promote positive student-to-student interaction and give students a network of fellow students with which to work. Cooperative learning groups get and keep students involved with the course materials, as well as give the students the chance for oral rehearsal of the terms, processes and topics they are learning. Cooperative learning groups help students become responsible for their own learning and allow students a realistic taste of the business world.

The class format consists primarily of instructor lectures. Questions and answers on specific homework problems are usually not handled in class. Some resources for help are the instructor (me!), your groupmates, your classmates, the MAST (RSB-018), CLIC (RSB-67) and your knowledgeable friends and family members.

The material we will cover is the second half of your Math text book. We will cover Chapters 5.1 - 9.3. We will be covering about one section a day for much of the quarter. The Class Schedule outlines the planned class activities and homework for each day. The Class Schedule is located on this website. Read and follow it carefully.

You need to have a straight-edge (or a ruler) and a calculator for this course. More specifically, you need a scientific calculator. The calculator I will use in class is a TI-89 or a TI-86Plus. Any other scientific calculator is acceptable. The calculator will NOT take the place of your brain. It is merely a tool to speed up computations and short-cut activities that you already know how to do. You are expected to know how to do all the work that your calculator does for you. Note: The math department policy is that you must know basic number operations without the use of a calculator, so make sure you can do most of the arithmetic without your calculator. However, for the tests in this class, you are free to use a scientific calculator.

You may wish to take advantage of the Calculator Rental Option available on campus. Ask your instructor about renting a graphing calculator for one quarter at a cost of $15. (Note: A fine scientific calculator can be purchased for about $15 at a variety of stores! I recommend a TI-30XIIs calculator.)

I DO take attendance. I DO grade you on attendance. Students who attend class and pay attention during class usually do much better than those who do not attend regularly. Achievement in any class and completion of that class are related to attendance. Hence, you will have an attendance grade as part of your grade in this class. Your attendance grade is the same as one test grade. You start with an attendance grade of 100 points. For every day you miss after the third day of the quarter, your attendance grade will drop 2 points. As with any class, when you miss a class period, you are responsible for any material or information discussed, mentioned, or covered in that class. (I suggest that you exchange phone numbers with your groupmates. You can contact one of them for any missed notes or information.) Be aware that if any graded work is done during a missed class, you will receive a zero on that work. However, for any excused absence, you may make up the missed attendance points by doing the synthesis problems in your text from the section discussed during class that day, to be turned in within one week of the absence date.

If you need course adaptations or accommodations because of a disability, or if you have emergency medical information to share, or if you need special arrangements, or if you have other concerns you would like to share, please feel free to call, email or meet with me. If any special arrangements are necessary, you must meet with Roxanne Tillman. Roxanne Tillman, the Director of Special Student Services, is responsible for helping students who require access to special services. Go to her office which is located at RSB-012, call her at 206-763-5137 or email her at rtillman@sccd.ctc.edu.
If you are hesitant or unsure of whether you need, want, or qualify for special considerations, then fill out the Special Needs Information Sheet located under Handouts on this website and turn it in to me to give to Roxanne Tillman.

Homework will be assigned and collected daily. See the Homework Directions and Homework Explanation Sheet under Handouts on the website, for additional directions regarding the homework requirements. Homework will be accepted only on the due date or on the day after the due date. That is, you have two days - the due date and the next class day (the "day of grace") - to turn in each homework assignment for credit. Late homework will not be accepted! Be sure you understand what specific problems are assigned to be done as no substitute problems are accepted. You are held accountable for all the material assigned. It is expected that you will do more than the assigned problems if you need more practice in order to understand the material and to keep up with the lectures. The homework grade is 25% of your final class grade.

You are expected to have a Math Notebook, a three-ringed binder, dedicated to this one class where you can easily access and organize all your work and the materials for this math class. Read about the Math Notebook under the Handouts section of the website.

There will be five 50-minute tests and one 2-hour final exam. Each test and the attendance grade will be worth 100 points. Tests are scheduled at the end of each chapter. I do not like to give make-up tests, but I will grudgingly do so if you have proof of extenuating circumstances that are not under your control (illness, family problems, death of family memeber, etc.). The lowest score of your five tests and attendance score will be dropped. The final exam is worth 200 points Check the Class Schedule for specific dates. The final exam is scheduled for the last day of class, Thursday, August 20th, so plan to be here! Absolutely always, if possible, notify your instructor when you have to miss class.

At the end of the quarter, the scores on the tests, homework, final exam and any other graded work will be totaled. (The lowest score of the five tests and the attendance grade will be dropped.) Your final grade will be based upon the following percentages as compared to the possible points. Here is a brief summary of the grading scale. The complete grading scale is found under Handouts on this website.
      Homework                             ~300 points      25%
      Five Tests & Attendance           500 points       41.6%
      Quizzes & other graded work   ~200 points       16.7%
      Final Exam                              200 points       16.7%
      Total                                         ~1200 points     100%

Here is a brief summary of the grading scale. The complete Grading Scale is found under Handouts on this website.
Note: This is NOT a flexible scale.
I do not grade on the class curve.

• 90% - 100%     3.5 - 4.0    A
• 80% - 89.9%    2.5 - 3.4    B
• 70% - 79.9%    1.5 - 2.4
    C
• 60% - 69.9%    0.7 - 1.4
    D
• Below 60%           0.0         F

The option to take a grade of an NC (No Credit - which does not affect your grade point average, but may affect your Financial Aid status) is open to you only if all of the following conditions are met.
     1.) You have been attending class regularly (80% or more).
     2.) Your grade is less than 2.5.
     3.) You bring a written request to me by the last class meeting before "finals week".

Any of the above contract is subject to change. You will be given fair warning should a change take place.