Course Syllabus

MA 4000PreCalculus and Modeling

•  Home
•  Support
•  Instructor
•  Expectations

About the Course

Precalculus and Modeling is an introduction to the world of higher mathematics.  This course emphasizes the connection between school mathematics and the real world.  The focus of the first semester course is modeling data as mathematical functions, transforming functions, and combining functions.  The second semester focuses on a detailed analysis of exponential, logarithmic, and trigonometric functions.

Course Learning Objectives

By the end of this (two-part) course, students will be able to...

1. Model real world data using a variety of mathematical functions
2. Create new mathematical functions by transforming parent functions
3. Create new mathematical functions by combining two or more functions
4. Apply exponential and logarithmic functions to solve real world problems
5. Apply trigonometric functions to solve real world problems

Instructional Materials

The purpose of the instructional materials is to enrich and support the learning outcomes for students. In addition, instructional materials are meant to increase student achievement by supporting student learning.

REQUIRED MATERIALS

• Contemporary PreCalculus Through Applications
  

  • Department of Mathematics. Contemporary Precalculus through Applications. (Third Edition), North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics, 2021.
    

• Other materials will be posted to Canvas.

REQUIRED SUPPLIES

• Pen/Pencil
• Loose leaf lined and/or graph paper
• Graphing Calculator
• Laptop Computer

Attendance Policy

It is the responsibility of every student at NCSSM to attend all scheduled classes, meetings or other required activities on each academic day. Instructors enter a report of student attendance into the school database for all class periods.

Faculty members record students who are not in a class or required activity as absent in the school database. The Attendance Coordinator will determine the reason for the absence and then enter the appropriate coding designation. If an absence is coded as Medical, Counseling, Excused or Approved, instructors are obligated to allow students to make up the work they missed as a result of the absence. The student is responsible for arranging the make-up work at the convenience of the Instructor and the student.

If an absence is coded as Unexcused, instructors are not required to provide students an opportunity to make up work missed during the unexcused absence. A summary of all reported class or other absences (regardless of coding) is readily available to students and their parents online in the school’s student database. Students who believe they have received and Unexcused absence or Tardy incorrectly have up to 3 academic days from the date of notification to present written documentation to the Attendance Coordinator (or Academic Programs Office) that the coding is incorrect. It is the student’s responsibility to address any such absences/tardies and the coding will not be altered after this deadline.

As per school regulations on absences and tardies, any tardies that exceed 20 minutes will be marked as unexcused absences. Four tardies per class also count as an unexcused absence for that course.  

About Your Instructor

Find out information about your instructor and how to contact her.

Communication Policy

• When you email your instructor, you can expect a response normally within 24 hours.
• All minor assignments will be graded within 5 business days from the due date.  Major assignments, such as term papers and projects will be graded within 10 business days of the due date. Feedback will be provided when assignments are graded.

Grading Policy

HOMEWORk

Homework problem sets will be assigned every two weeks, with one week to complete these exercises.  By the end of the week, students will submit their work online.  Homework problem sets will be graded according to a pre-determined rubric.  At the end of the semester, the lowest homework score will be dropped from the student's average.

Applications

Every two weeks (alternating with homework sets), students will complete a connected problem set based on a real-world setting.  These applications may contain problems using any course material up to the date when the lab was assigned.  Applications may be individual or partnered assignments.

PROJECTS

Students will complete a mid-term project worth 10% of the total grade and a final project worth 20% of the total grade.  Teams of students will be given a week of class time to complete these projects.  Projects will be graded based on a pre-determined rubric.

PROCEDURE FOR REQUESTING RELIEF

In the case that a student has an unusually large workload during a given week, the student may request relief from some amount of work by having due dates extended.  To request relief, students must follow the following process:

1. As soon as possible, students should write one email, including all relevant instructors as recipients, to explain the situation and ask if any of the instructors are able to grant an extension or an opportunity to submit an assignment early. Instructors can then communicate with the student and each other by replying to all email recipients.
2. If a resolution cannot be reached by Step #1, the student may contact the Academic Programs Office for assistance. The student must submit, in writing, a list of the courses, instructors, and assignments involved. The request should be submitted as early as possible, but no later than two academic days in advance. Academic Programs needs time to contact instructors and determine the best course of action. The student and instructors are then notified of the approved change. (Page 84 of Student Handbook (Links to an external site.))

LATE SUBMISSION POLICY

Assignments are due at the time and place indicated. Please, make every reasonable effort to meet these deadlines. If you need to request an extension, you must do so in advance of the class for which the assignment is due. Clear and open communication is essential. Be prepared to explain why you need an extension. Be aware that your instructor may not always be able to grant your request.

• Students are expected to complete and submit all coursework, exams, quizzes, and labs by the deadlines established by the instructor.
• Instructors will publish all classroom regulations including penalties for late work in their Course Expectations.
• All sections of the same course must have the same regulations for late or make-up work.
• All Instructors will be mindful of the significant demands of our student course load and consider timely requests for rescheduling the submission of individual assignments.
• Final exams and final assessments must be completed no later than the final scheduled examination period.
• Reasons for having to request an extension may include but are not limited to
  • major sport tournaments (not regularly scheduled games),
  • extracurricular events that conflict with the due date (HOSA conferences, debate tournaments, etc.),
  • scheduled school or family trips, scheduled school breaks (during which your proctor will not be available to administer a test).
• No point deductions will occur for assignments submitted after the due date; however, assignments submitted more than 48 hours after the due date will not be graded.
  
  • If you experience extenuating circumstances (e.g., you are hospitalized) that prohibit you from submitting your assignments on time, please let me know. I will evaluate these instances on a case-by-case basis.

LATE WORK AT THE END OF THE SEMESTER

No work (other than final exams) may be accepted after the last class day in each term. Counselors may request administrative extensions for students who have documented extenuating circumstances, such as a family emergency, medical issue, or mental health issue. If administration grants an administrative extension, make-up work must be prioritized over recreational activities upon completion of final exams and must be submitted to instructors by the deadline specified by the administrative extension. (pages 100-101 of the Student Handbook (Links to an external site.)) 

Grade Scheme

The following grading standards will be used in this class:

Academic Integrity

Authentic learning is a hallmark of courses at NCSSM.  Students who successfully complete coursework are prepared not only for the next academic course, but also for applications of mathematics in a real world setting.  As such, it is vital that students invest the time and effort necessary to produce work that is a reflection of their own understanding of course material.  Cheating, whether receiving or giving unauthorized assistance, demonstrates both a lack of integrity and a lack of understanding.  CHEATING WILL NOT BE TOLERATED.

NCSSM ACADEMIC HONESTY POLICY

All work turned in by you should be the result of your own efforts unless otherwise instructed. All tests and quizzes should be done individually with no help from others. Specific instructions on how to collaborate are given for any assignments that are completed with a partner or a group. Tutorials may be available to you, but only if your teacher allows you to get help on an assignment. It is always to your advantage to make a serious attempt at an assignment before seeking help.

For essays and research assignments, students must cite all sources for ideas that are not their own. For a guide to citing sources and avoiding plagiarism, a student should confer with the course instructor and Purdue Online Writing Lab's citation guides (Links to an external site.).

The following are considered a breach of academic honesty:

1. Giving or receiving help during a test or quiz;
2. Discussing the contents of a test or quiz;
3. Programming unauthorized information into electronic devices to be used during a test or quiz;
4. Completing graded assignments for other students - violation for both the giver and recipient of the work;
5. Collaborating on assignments that have clearly been designated as individual work; unless the submissions notes a group assignment, it is considered an individual assignment.
6. Not citing correct sources for ideas and evidence in written and, in some cases, oral work (including copying or heavily paraphrasing summaries or abstracts from scholarly or academic work and representing them as your own)
7. Taking credit for more work on an assigned group project than was actually contributed;
8. Submitting work previously done for another class at NCSSM or elsewhere without acknowledgement.

An instructor who suspects that a student has violated academic honesty expectations should discuss the situation with the student and, on the basis of that discussion, decide whether the perception is accurate or inaccurate. If the instructor believes that a violation did occur, the procedures stated in the Code of Student Conduct should be followed. In accordance with school-wide policies and the list above, the instructor sets the standard for what does or does not constitute academic dishonesty in a specific class.