Syllabus for Intermediate Algebra 1
2008-2009 Room 26 Gil LeFranÁois
Texts: Discovering Geometry by Serra (4th edition © 2008 Key Curriculum)
Algebra I by Bellman, Bragg, Charles, Hall, Handlin, & Kennedy (© 2007 Prentice Hall)
Equipment: Graphing Calculator (prefer the TI-83 Plus, TI-84 Plus, or TI-84 Silver), spiral notebook, at least 25 sheets of graph paper (4 or 5 squares per inch), 3 colored pencils, 2 black expo dry erase markers (chisel tip, low odor), centimeter ruler, protractor, and compass.
Expectations:
1. There is daily homework with each assignment worth 4 points. The purpose of homework is to practice a particular skill and then to make connections to previously studied material. The points are earned for completion of the assigned problems. Your homework is to be done in pencil and I encourage you to do in-class corrections with a different colored pencil. Expect to spend up to 30 minutes per assignment [you may stop doing your homework once you reach 30 min. of focused work]. Late assignments may be submitted up to a week after the due date with the loss of a single point. After four missing assignments a note will be sent home and your effort grade may be lowered.
2. There are two types of quizzes, the daily quiz, which is one problem from the previous nights homework, and the weekly quiz, which will cover the material of the past week. The quizzes will typically be administered without the use of a calculator. The daily quiz is worth 2 points while the weekly quiz is worth about 20 points.
3. Tests are given after each chapter with a total of fourteen tests in the school year. The tests are cumulative and have two sections, a calculator and a non-calculator part. The tests are comprised of skill-based problems that examine your mechanics as well as multi-step problems that use two or more concepts. There will also be an open notebook-based test each marking period. Tests are worth from 90 to 150 points.
4. If you are unexpectedly absent, you should read the missed section from the text and then do the assigned problems that can be found on your assignment guide. If you have difficulty with the material you should immediately seek help from a classmate or me. If you have a planned absence such as an ortho appointment or early dismissal for sports, it is your responsibility to inform me, submit any work that is due, and take any quiz or test prior to the absence.
5. Be prepared for class by being on time and equipped with your book and supplies. You should immediately sit with your group and discuss the previous nights homework. If you will be late to class, bring a late slip from either the office or a teacher. Unexcused tardies and absences will lower your effort grade as well as your letter grade.
6. You will take notes and do all of your homework in your spiral notebook. You are strongly encouraged to work cooperatively on your homework (though not on quizzes and tests). This does not mean that it is okay to copy someone elseís work! Rather, what I expect is that you will help each other by explaining the algorithms and underlying concepts.
Web connections:
then navigating to Faculty WebPages and selecting my name. The site will contain copies of class handouts, assignment guides, answer keys, and links to web based applets along with the publisherís on-line support
Grading: The marking period grade is comprised of homework (~20%), notebook (~10%), projects (~10%), quizzes (~20%), and tests (~40%). The semester grade is comprised of the two marking period grades at roughly 40% and 45% with a final exam at 15%. Students are informed of their current grade after each chapter. Grading is done on a 90%=A, 80%=B, 70%=C scale. Plusses are for *7, *8, or *9 %ís while minuses are for *2, *1, or *0 %ís. Please note: the prerequisite for Comprehensive Geometry next year (as opposed to Core Geometry) is a minimum average of A-.
Hints for Success: Keep up with your daily work. Take good notes, complete with examples. Be involved in the class discussions and the working of example problems. Work cooperatively with your peers. Strive to understand concepts and donít rely on memorizing algorithms for solving specific problems. Review your math book. See me if you have difficulty (my free periods are C, D, F, and H blocks).
Course Outline
SEMESTER I Ongoing Algebra & Arithmetic Review
Algebra: Variables, Functions, Graphs, & Real Numbers
Linear Equations: Solving & Graphing
Geometry: Vocabulary
Constructions
SEMESTER II Ongoing Algebra & Arithmetic Review
Algebra: Systems of Equations
Exponents
Quadratics
Trigonometry
Geometry: Reasoning
Modeling
Right Triangles
Supplement Problem Solving, Boolean Algebra, Circuit Design
Education is the kindling of a flame, not the filling of a vessel.
ñ Socrates
Spoon-feeding, in the long run teaches us nothing but the shape of the spoon.
ñ E. M. Forster
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