Syllabus

Summer 2008

Instructor: Jim Henriques X2665. Office PS B

Text: Basic Mathematics, 6th ed, by Charles McKeague

Email: jhenriques@cerritos.edu

Office Hours: M-Th 4:15-5:00

Welcome to your first college math course :)

Grades: We will have five tests and a cumulative final on the last day of class. The breakdown is this:

The lowest test will be dropped. Exams will always occur at only the scheduled time and date as announced in class. If you get an A on all five tests, you may skip the final exam. The final exam is written by the Math Department and may be more challenging.

Homework: You should do as many problems out of each chapter as you can. Only through practice will you become proficient in basic math skills. Your homework needs to be done neatly on clean paper with all the work shown, answers boxed.

My grading scheme is this:

A "C" in this course says that your success in Math 40 is questionable. I grade numerically, so if your average is 74 your grade is a C, no last minute bribes allowed! NOTE (from the Math Department Chair): "EXPECT TO SPEND 10 - 20 HOURS PER WEEK IN HOMEWORK AND STUDY FOR THIS CLASS." She's not kidding! I'll be here four days a week for office hours: please come by if you need extra help.

Attendance: Signing up for a course is a commitment. If you stop attending (missing more than four consecutive days) or leave early repeatedly you will receive an "F" for the course. If you plan to withdraw, do it yourself through administration!

Other considerations: Calculators will eventually be allowed, but we won't use them in class until we've mastered basic hand computation. Not until the chapter 4 test will you be allowed to use your calculator during an exam.

I suggest that you get a scientific calculator. You can get scientific calculators at Target, Costco, or Radio Shack for $10-15, and I recommend that you do so.

Classroom Etiquette: All electronic devices such as cell phones, pagers, etc must be in non-audio form (vibrate), while you are in this classroom. Your conduct in this classroom is expected to be respectful of other students and the instructor at all times. Disruptive behavior will result in removal from the class.

Cheating will not be tolerated. Please consult your Schedule of Classes for policy concerning academic honesty.

Schedule

Tentative: I may try to push us in the beginning so we have more time for the difficult material.