Course Policy, Math 425A/525A-1, Fall 08

Math 425A/525A-1	Course Policy	Fall 2008

Last modified Aug 26, 2008 7:24 AM

Course Web site: http://math.arizona.edu/~laetsch/425084/

INSTRUCTOR:

Dr. Ted Laetsch $NO IT!$
Office: Room 205, Math Building

Phone: 621-6860

email: laetsch@math.arizona.edu

For quick access to some of the information below, click on the following links:

Academic Integrity	Attendance Policy	Course Content	Disabilities
Exams and Grading Policy	Homework	Incompletes

OFFICE HOURS/DISCUSSION TIMES: To be announced on course website. Please feel free to ask for an appointment at any reasonable time, or, if you want to take the chance, just stop by my office and see if I'm there.

TEXTBOOK: Advanced Calculus, 2nd ed., by Patrick Fitzpatrick

PREREQUISITE: The prerequisite for this coure is Math 323. Students who do not have credit in Math 323 or its equivalent may be administratively dropped from the course.

INTERNET ACCESS: Students are assumed to have access to email and to the internet, both of which will be used to distribute and to post course information. Email should be checked daily. Students are reponsible for being aware of all material on the course website and all announcements made by email.
Please send me (by email ) your email address.

(Note: Some of the links given in the online version of this policy may not be active or MAY NOT BE CORRECT immediately, but they should all become operational before the second week of classes.)

COURSE CONTENT: Chapters 1-4, 6-9.

ATTENDANCE/ABSENCE POLICY: In general, attendance is not monitored; however, students who miss the first two or three days will be administratively dropped, and students with many consecutive absences during the semester (e.g., more than 4 classes, together with missed homework or exams) may be administratively dropped. This applies also to students to students who are auditing the course. Students who miss an exam and do not attempt to arrange a make-up exam may be administratively dropped. (See University Administrative Drop Policy.) It is highly unlikely that you can keep up with the material in the course if you miss class. This is especially true in Math 425/525.

All holidays or special events observed by organized religions will be honored for those students who show affiliation with that particular religion. Absences pre-approved by the UA Dean of Students (or Dean's designee) will be excused. Since attendance is not required, this will be an issue only in connection with examinations, and with sufficient notice to the instructor, exams can be scheduled to avoid any conflicts.

STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES: If you anticipate issues related to the format or requirements of this course, please meet with me to discuss ways to ensure your full participation in the course. If you determine that formal, disability-related accommodations are necessary, it is very important that you be registered with Disability Resources (621-3268) and notify me of your eligibility for reasonable accommodations. We can then plan how best to coordinate your accommodations.

HOMEWORK: Problems will be assigned reuglarly and you will be asked to turn in some of them to be graded and/or given quizzes over the assigned material. Assignments will be posted on on the course web site. Although consultation among students is encouraged, the work turned in should not be a copy of someone else's work. More information on Homework is or will be online at Homework Policy, Homework Writing Policy, and Homework Format.

CAVEAT EMPTOR: It is not guaranteed that I will catch all the mistakes you make when I grade your papers. Your making an egregious error which I accidentally overlook is NOT necessarily an excuse for making the same error on the exams.

EXAMS/GRADING POLICY:

There will be at least three "one-hour" exams and a comprehensive Final Examination. See Exam Guidelines for more information on how to write your exams. Make-up exams will be given at the instructor's discretion and only if an exam is missed for a valid, serious reason. You must notify me of the need to miss an exam as soon as possible. See below for information on incompletes.
In Math 425, there MAY be several "Projects" assigned during the semester which will contribute to your exam points.

The exams assume familiarity with ALL material presented in class, in addition to the material in the textbook and assigned for homework.

The dates for the "one-hour" exams will be announced in class at least two lectures in advance. The Final Exam will be on the date determined by the University, as stated in the Schedule of Classes. (No exceptions for travel plans; be aware of your Final Exam dates BEFORE making travel plans.)

At the end of the semester, course grades will be determined as follows:

: 300-350 points will come from the total of all "one-hour" exams and Projects (300 in Math 425; no Projects).
: 200 points will come from the comprehensive Final Exam.
: 50 points may come from homework.

The following cutoffs are guaranteed . Percentages are usually calculated out of 500 exam points; HW may be included, for a total possible 550 points, if it improves your % or your standing in the class:
A: 90% , B: 80% , C: 70% , D: 60%

In addition to the specific topics listed in the syllabus, students who get a C or better will have demonstrated proficiency in a majority of the following general mathematical skills, and students will not pass unless they have demonstrated proficiency in at least some of them, if these skills are tested on the exams:

Understanding that MATHEMATICS MAKES SENSE, and avoiding NONSENSE when doing homework, quizes, and exams.
The ability to deal intelligently with standard mathematical notation; in particular, the ability to understand
- the difference in the role of the symbols S, f, b, c, on the one hand, and the symbol x in statements such as
  For all x in the set S, f(x) = sin(bx+c)
  and
- the difference in the role of the symbols n and a, on the one hand, and the symbol i in expressions such as
A thorough understanding of functions and of convergence (limits).
Understanding thoroughly the difference between the assertion and proof of a statement of the form "if p then q", a statement of the form "if q then p", and a statement of the form "p if and only if q". This includes
- Using, where appropriate, the standard method of proving that two given sets are equal, or that one given set is a subset of another given set (using the method I call "element chasing").
- Not doing proofs "backwards".
- Understanding the importance of definitions and how to use definitions properly in problems and proof.
Knowing how to begin the proof of a universally quantified statement.

INCOMPLETE: The University Policy stated in the General Catalog will be followed in awarding incomplete grades. An incomplete is not to be used as a substitute for a poor grade.
In general, the grade of I will be not be given unless ALL the following conditions are met:

The student has completed all but a small portion of the required work.
The student has scored at least 50% on the work completed according to the scheme described in Withdrawals above.
The student has a valid reason for not completing the course on time.
The student agrees to make up the material in a short period of time and reaches a written agreement with the instructor which specifies the period of time allowed and the work to be made up.
The student asks for the incomplete before the Final Exam or, if all work up to the Final Exam is completed and an emergency forces the student to miss the Final Exam, within 48 hours of the scheduled Final Exam.

DISHONEST SCHOLASTIC WORK AND INAPPROPRIATE BEHAVIOR: Your work in this class is covered by the University's Code of Academic Integrity, and any violations of the code will be dealt with as prescribed in the Code. See also the University policy on threatening behavior (pdf document) and the complete Student Code of Conduct.

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