Math 114

Math and Human Society

Course Contract

Fall Semester, 2017

INSTRUCTOR:  Erik Sorensen 

PHONE:     831- 5667

OFFICE:  210 Whitt Hall

OFFICE HOURS: Monday, Wednesday, and Friday (10am-11am, 2pm-3pm) or by appointment

CLASSROOM LOCATIONS: 8am (Section 01-Waldren Hall 200), 9am (Section 02-Waldren Hall 200), 10am Class (Section 03-Young 221), 12pm Class (Section 04-Young 402A), 1pm Class (Section 05-Young 402A).

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, December 9) at a time and location to be announced in class towards the end of the semester.

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!!

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: Students seeking academic accommodations under the Americans with Disabilities Act must register with the Center for Accessibility Services (CAS) to determine eligibility. Students qualified for academic accommodations will receive accommodation letters and should meet with each course professor during office hours, to review and discuss accommodations.  To begin the registration process, complete a Student Registration Form and submit documentation to PO Box 6902, Radford, Virginia 24142, or deliver to the Russell Hall, Room 325, by fax to 540-831-6525, or by email to cas@radford.edu (See documentation guidelines).  For more information, visit the Center for Accessibility Services (CAS) website 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.