INTERMEDIATE ALGEBRA

I. GENERAL INFORMATION

Instructor: Thomas Hartfield

Office: Academic III 120

Office Phone: 678.717.3858

Fax Number: 678.717.3778

Office Hours:

 Mon-Wed 10:00 am – 11:00 am, 1:15 pm – 3:00 pm
Tue-Thurs 10:00 am – 11:30 am, 3:15 pm – 4:00 pm (Tue only)

Additional times available upon request.

Important Dates:

1. Course changes and late registration end: Tuesday, January 13, 2009

2. Mid-Semester Drop Date:

Monday, March 2, 2009
Dropping a course after this date means an automatic "WF" unless the
Dean gives specific approval. Prior to this date, a "W" will be awarded.

3. Final Exam: Mon-Tue, April 27-28, 2008
Given in class over two days

4. Compass Exit Test:

8:00 class: 7:50 am Monday, May 4, 2009
9:00 class: 10:20 am Thursday, April 30, 2008
Location to be announced at a later date

II. TEXT AND OTHER MATERIALS

Required:

MyMathLab by Pearson Education (hosted by Course Compass)
Spring 2009 course ID: hartfield97139
A non-graphing scientific calculator
Headphones (explained under VIII. Additional Information)

Text:

 Beginning & Intermediate Algebra, Third Edition, by K. Elayn Martin-Gay
(Book or Online Form acceptable)

Supplements:

Computer tutorials, videos and extra worksheets on specific algebra skills are
available in the ACTT Center. Videos can be checked out from the library.

Compass Prep:

Use the path below on any GSC campus computer to access Compass Practice:
Start, GSC Menu, Counseling, Career & Testing, COMPASS Test Preparation

III. COURSE DESCRIPTION

A course for students needing supplemental preparation in intermediate algebra skills. The
course is required for students whose placement test scores indicate a need for the course, or any
student who placed in and completed MATH 0097 with a “C” or better. Topics include linear
equations, graphing, systems of equations, inequalities, polynomials, factoring, functions, rational
expressions, radicals, quadratic equations and functions, complex numbers, and problem solving

IV. COURSE OBJECTIVES:

Global Math Goals:

1. To present the basic algebraic skills necessary in a beginning level college algebra course.
2. To present algebra as a tool useful in subsequent math, natural science and social science
coursework.
3. To establish a satisfactory level of mathematical competency as measured by the University
System exit examination.

Performance Objectives:

1. To solve linear equations.
2. To perform basic operations on polynomials.
3. To factor polynomials.
4. To solve quadratic equations
5. To perform basic operations on rational expressions.
6. To solve linear inequalities.
7. To define functions, using standard function notation.
8. To evaluate functions.
9. To graph linear functions.
10. To find equations of lines.
11. To solve systems of equations.
12. To solve rational equations.
13. To perform basic operations on radical expressions.
14. To solve radical equations.
15. To define complex numbers.
16. To add complex numbers.
17. To graph quadratic functions.
18. To find the distance between two points.
19. To solve a variety of application problems.

V. COURSE CONTENT & CALENDAR

VI. COURSE POLICIES

Attendance:

Attendance for classes is mandatory. Students who must miss a class session are responsible for
getting assignments and notes from the dates they are absent. Ceasing to attend a class will not
automatically withdraw you from the class – you must use the withdrawal process within Banner or
visit your advisor to complete a withdrawal form to turn into the Register’s Office.

Academic Dishonesty:

Academic regulations are defined by the Student Code of Conduct and students violating these
regulations are subject to sanctions. Instructor-defined sanctions can range from a warning,
through a zero on an assignment, up to failing the course, according to the severity of the
infraction. Serious violations and repeat violations will be reported to the Office of Student
Development and Enrollment Management following Due Process Procedures outlined in the
Student Code of Conduct. Any violation initially to be resolved by the instructor that cannot be
resolved will also be sent to the Office of Student Development and Enrollment Management to be
addressed.

Disruptive Behavior:

Students who exhibit behaviors which disrupt a class or obstruct its learning activities will be
considered under the Board of Regents Policy on Disruptive Behavior.
This instructor defines disruptive behavior to be an intentional action, physical or verbal, which
interferes with another student’s ability to learn or interferes with the professor’s ability to teach.
The instructor asks that cell phones, pagers, and beepers be placed on a setting which does not
produce sound during class. During tests, all communications devices should be stored away out
of sight and turned off, unless permission to have the device turned on is granted. A failure to
cooperate can result in a 0 for the test.
Students who exhibit disruptive behavior will be given a verbal warning by the class teacher. If the
disruptive behavior persists, the student will be given a written warning in a meeting with the chair
of the Department of Mathematics and Computer Science. Any further infractions would be
referred to the Disciplinary Committee of the College.

Make-Up Policy:

No make-ups or retakes will be allowed except as permitted by circumstances listed below.
Exceptions to make-up policy: A student will be allowed to make-up a test as soon as feasible if
he or she misses class for one of the following documented reasons:
1. jury duty or subpoenaed attendance in a legal matter
2. military call-up (beyond normal duties)
3. hospitalization of student, student’s spouse, or student’s dependents
4. college-sponsored activities with the dean’s approval

Supplemental Course Information:

Standard information for Inclement Weather, Students with Disabilities, Academic Dishonesty,
Smoking Policy, Plagiarism, Copyright, Course Withdrawal Process, Administrative Office Hours.

Other Course Requirements:

Each student has a maximum of three semesters to complete the Learning Support math
sequence, MATH 0097 and MATH 0099. A grade of "W" will not count as one of those semesters.

If a student withdraws from any Learning Support course, he must withdraw from all regular credit
courses. However, if the student remains in at least one Learning Support course, he will be
allowed to remain in GSCE/ESLO 1101.

VII. COURSE GRADING

1. Final grades will be determined as follows:

2. Grade distribution:

*. Students with an average of 70.0% or higher are eligible to take the University System exit exam.
Each student is required to meet or exceed the minimum score on the exit exam in order to exit
the course. If a student has an A, B, or C average and fails the exit test on the first attempt he or
she is eligible for one retest. Students failing the exit exam twice will receive a grade of “IP” and
must repeat the course unless an alternate grade is required (see item 3 below.)

**. A grade of "IP" is given to a student who has earned between 60.0% and 69.9%. A student
receiving an "IP" is required to repeat the course. Students with averages below 60.0% may
receive either an “F” or an “IP” at the instructor’s discretion unless an alternate grade is required
(see item 3 below.)

3. A grade of "U" may be given for any semester during which the instructor feels that the student
has made insufficient progress. A grade of “U" must be given to a student who has not completed
all Learning Support math requirements by the end of three semesters. Upon receiving a “U”, the
student will be suspended from all state institutions for three years.

VIII. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

All e-mail communication regarding official class business will be sent through GSC e-mail account – I
will not send out confidential information to an off-campus e-mail address (such as yahoo.com,
bellsouth.net, aol.com, hotmail.com, etc.). Please check your GSC e-mail regularly.

Class meetings will be captured for podcasting. Video will come directly from the SmartBoard used in
class while audio will come from the classroom at large. Students should be aware that recording of
audio will occur from the time class begins until its conclusion unless otherwise announced by the
instructor. The purpose of these podcasts is for student academic use only.

In the event class is delay, ended early, or outright cancelled, the instructor may create lecture videos
to makeup for the lost classroom time. Lecture videos will be stored in the instructor’s shared files
folder which may be accessed from on campus or off. To watch the videos on campus, you will need
headphones to hear the audio. A broadband connection for viewing the videos off campus is strongly
recommended.

The grade book for this class will be stored in the MyMathLab program at CourseCompass.com.
Students should check grades regularly. Homework and Quizzes in MyMathLab will be due at 11:59
P.M. Eastern Time on the date given in section V of the syllabus. In the event that a test date is
changed, the due date of all MyMathLab assignments associated with that test will be changed also.

Individual assistance and tutoring is provided through the Math Lab in Academic III.

Calculators may be checked-out for in-class use from the ACTT Center.

SPECIFIC DETAILS OF THIS SYLLABUS MAY BE SUBJECT TO CHANGE.