Course
Contract
Math 114
Math and
Human Society
Spring Semester, 2017
INSTRUCTOR: Erik
Sorensen
PHONE:
831- 5667
OFFICE: 210 Walker Hall
OFFICE
HOURS: Monday,
Wednesday, and Friday (11am-noon, 1pm-2pm) or by appointment
CLASSROOM LOCATIONS: 8am (Section 01-Cook
Hall 311), 9am (Section 02-Cook 311), 10am Class (Section 05, Cook 311), Noon
Class (Section 03-Young 406).
E-MAIL: esorensen2@radford.edu
HOMEPAGE:
http://www.radford.edu/~esorensen2
TEXT: Math and Human Society;
Kendall Hunt Publishing by C. Case, W. Case, Corwin, Mistele,
and Sorensen
Grading: Your grade will be based on the
following: Tests: (60%); Homework (10%), Attendance (5%); Final Exam:
(25%).
Letter
grades will be assigned based on the following
scale:
89.5 - 100 A
87.5 - 89.4 B+
79.5 - 87.4 B
77.5
– 79.4 C+
69.5 - 77.4 C
59.5 – 69.4
D
0 – 59.4 F
Course
Content: The 3 hour course will cover approximately the
following sections/topics from the text:
Chapter 1 (Scientific Notation, Percentages, and Math Modeling)
Chapter 2 (Financial Math)
Chapter 3 (Descriptive Statistics)
Chapter 4 (Voting and Apportionment)
Tests: There will be three tests given during the
semester. Each test will count for 20% of your course grade.
Final: This course has a common final
exam; in other words, all sections take the same final. The final
is comprehensive and counts for 25% of your course grade. The date of
the final will be Saturday after classes end (Saturday, April 29) at a time and
location TBA.
Make-up
tests: There
are no make-up tests with the only exception being for Radford University
sanctioned events. If you miss a test, the final exam will count as the missed test grade
as well as your final exam score. For example, if you miss one test, the final
exam will count for 25% plus the percentage of the test(s) you missed.
Student Goals and Objectives of the
Course: Intended
primarily as a quantitative literacy course for students whose professional interests
and pursuits require them to be able to understand and analyze the social and
physical world in its many quantitative aspects. Students will acquire
knowledge and techniques that permit them to understand and employ mathematical
methods for measuring, assessing, modeling, and forecasting. Additionally,
students will be able to comprehend quantitative claims and data, and be
armored against the intentional or unintentional use of statistics or argument
to deceive and distort. Students
will be able to use the tools of mathematics and quantitative reasoning to
conceptualize and solve problems.
Students will be able to:
a. identify
and interpret relationships among numeric, symbolic, and graphical information
b. generate
mathematical models using numeric, symbolic, and graphical information for use
in real-world applications
c. solve
problems using numeric, symbolic, and graphical information
Attendance
Policy:
Attendance at all class meetings is expected and strongly recommended. It's
your responsibility to sign the class roll each day: if your name isn't on the
roll, you're absent that day. If you miss class for any reason, it is your
responsibility to get up to speed on anything you missed before the next class.
Please do not fall behind. If you need help, let me know immediately!!
Snow Policy: Please be alert to Radford University’s homepage for inclement weather updates and check your email before coming to class should there be inclement weather pending.
Homework: Homework problems will
generally be assigned for each class meeting. Another big trap you can fall
into is to not do the homework regularly and to try to simply rely on the
solutions that are presented in class. The previous sentence is the most important
statement on this page. The old adage Mathematics is not a good spectator sport
was never truer than in this course. OTHER THAN THE FIRST 2 WEEKS OF CLASS, NO
LATE HOMEWORK IS ACCEPTED FOR ANY REASON! I DROP 2 FREEBIE HOMEWORK GRADES AT
THE END OF THE SEMESTER.
Materials/Calculators: Students are encouraged to
use calculators. You will need at least a scientific calculator or graphing
calculator for the course. No restrictions are placed on the use of calculators
in homework, in class, or on tests. We will be also using Microsoft's Excel
spreadsheets for some class and homework assignments.
Additional Help: There is a
Tutoring Center (Learning Assistance and Resource Center: LARC) located in
Walker Hall, room 126. There will be math tutors available at various times
throughout each week of the semester. The phone number is 831-7704. The web
address for the center is www.radford.edu/~larc. You are always welcome to come to
my office during office hours or by setting up an appointment.
Students with Disabilities: If you are seeking academic accommodations
under the Americans with Disabilities Act, you must register with the
Disability Resource Office (DRO). Submit disability documentation to the
DRO in the lower level of Tyler Hall Suites 54-69, by fax to 540-831-6525, or
by email to dro@radford.edu. Once documentation is
received and reviewed, a Disability Services Specialist (DSS) will contact you
for an interview. You will be notified via RU email when your accommodation
package is complete. Meet with each course professor, during his or her
office hours, to discuss the accommodations and return signed documents to the
DRO. For additional information and disability documentation guidelines,
visit www.radford.edu/dro or call
540-831-6350.
Radford University Honor Code
Policy: By accepting admission to
Radford University, each student makes a commitment to understand, support, and
abide by the University Honor Code without compromise or exception. Violations
of this academic integrity will not be tolerated. This class will be conducted
in strict observance of the Honor Code. Refer to your Student Handbook for
details.