(UNL: Buildings & Maps) (Fortune Cookie of the Day!)
Ch. 10 quiz: Click here
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Current Assignments: Click here
for assignments and due dates.
For some fun Java applets, click here
or here.
Harbourne's Spring2000 Math 203
Instructor: Brian Harbourne Class Room: Avery Hall 352
Office: 935 Oldfather Hall Time: 11:30 -- 12:20pm MWF
Tel.: 402-472-4476
Email: bharbour@math.unl.edu Web: http://www.math.unl.edu/~bharbour/
Office Hours: 12:30-1:30 MWF, and other times by appointment,
but feel free to drop by my office anytime. If I'm busy, we can
make an arrangement for later.
Text: For All Practical Purposes, by COMAP (Fourth Edition)
Calculator: You will need a calculator with a square root key on it.
- Philosophy: This course will go beyond mechanical
mathematical skills (like adding columns of numbers
or doing algebra), and explore the thinking and
attitude that are an even more important (but sometimes
neglected!) component of mathematics.
I hope you will find that much of
what we'll do is interesting,
relevant, and different from what you've done before,
but most of all that it's fun!
- Goals:
- to work hard but have fun learning
- to develop problem solving and logical thinking skills
- to better appreciate and enjoy math
by seeing it in real world contexts
- to develop and practice writing skills
- Exams, Quizzes and Webtests:
Chapters 1-3 and chapters 5-8 will be tested
by 2 in-class exams; later chapters will be tested
by in-class quizzes.
For each chapter before the in-class exam or quiz,
there will be a take home quiz.
The in-class quiz on the final chapter we study will be offered
during our final exam slot (Friday, May 5, 10-Noon)
but may be taken early, if desired, in class the previous Friday.
There will also be two untimed webtests, which you will take
outside of class in a
computer lab (more details on this later).
You may take each webtest up to three times, but you'll
have a window of approximately one-week in which to do so.
Only your best score on each one will count.
- Projects and Journals: This course meets Integrated
Studies requirements, so a significant part of the course
involves writing assignments which will
be commented on by the instructor.
There are two types of writing
assignments: projects and focused journals.
- There will be 2 group projects during the semester.
Specific guidelines for each project will be handed out well in
advance of the due date. Projects
will be graded for spelling, grammar and punctuation, as well as
content. Good communication is a skill which can be learned.
To help you develop and practice this skill, you may turn in a revision
(your grade will be the average of the two).
- There will be 5 focused journal assignments, each to be
at least 300 words long,
which must be emailed to me at bharbour@math.unl.edu.
In addition to giving you practice writing,
the journals are a way for you to help me
know how things are going and for me to
give you my thoughts in return.
Thus, I will assign a specific question for each
journal assignment, but you may also in addition write about anything
else you wish to tell me. Each journal will be graded on a 10 point basis
(3 points each for spelling, grammar and length, and 1 point
for addressing the question posed). I will give you a chance to revise
your journal submission to earn back any grammar points lost, but
not points lost for spelling, length or relevance-these are all things
you can guarantee yourself ahead of time (please use a spell-checker!).
- Reading Homeworks: Reading homeworks are short (1 or
2 problem) assignments due daily, based on the reading to be
completed for that day. Each reading homework will be graded on a
3 point basis -- 3 points means that you turned it in and it's
correct, 2 points means that you turned it in and it's more correct
than not, 1 point means that you turned it in and it's more incorrect
than correct, and 0 points means that you did not turn it in.
Your reading homework average counts as extra credit.
- Homework: We all learn by doing, so homework will be
assigned almost every day. It won't be collected, but
the beginning of most class periods will
be spent going over homework, with students being asked to
give their solutions at the board.
- Late Penalties: To get the most out of this
class it's important to keep up. Thus there will be a penalty
assessed for a late journal, project or revision that does not have my prior
approval: 5% off for missing the deadline, an additional 10% off
for not turning it in by the next class period, an additional
15% off for not turning it in by the period after that, and no credit
at all if it's not turned in the following period.
However, take home quizzes, reading homeworks, and webtests
cannot be accepted late; in case of extraordinary circumstances,
please see me ahead of time.
- Grades:
2 Computer exams, worth 50 points each
2 In-class exams, worth 50 points each
Take Home Quiz average, worth 100 points
In-class Quiz average, worth 100 points
2 Projects, worth 50 points each
Journal average, worth 100 points
Reading homework average, worth 50 points of extra credit
Total 600 points
- Departmental Grading Appeals Policy: Students who
believe their academic evaluation has been prejudiced or capricious
have recourse for appeals to (in order) the instructor, the
departmental chair, the departmental appeals committee, and the
college appeals committee.
Mail Comments to: bharbour@math.unl.edu