Marcus McGuff

My office hours are posted on my home page here. I am also available for appointments at other times. Email me or call in advance to set up a time.

Text:College Algebra through Modeling and Visualization by Gary Rockswold, 4th ed.

This is the same book we are using in our "regular" classroom based lecture courses. We will be using MyMathLab software with it. You have the following options to get the book:

1. Buy a new copy of the book with the software included (Hard-cover: ISBN 0-32-157704-3 or Loose Leaf: ISBN 0-32-166511-2).
2. Buy a used copy of the book (ISBN# 0-32154230-4) and then buy the software online (see #3 below for instructions on that).
3. If you don't feel you need an actual printed copy of the textbook, you can just use the software by itself. All of the material in the book is available from inside the software, so you can read it on your computer. (Clearly, you can save a lot of money this way, but don't forget this means you will not be able to carry your book around with you to work on your homework/studying. This is an important issue, so think about it carefully before you decide to go this route.) You can just purchase the MyMathLab software by itself online at www.mymathlab.com/buying.html. (You will receive an email from me with your "Course ID" that you need to know to buy online by the first day of class, if you have submitted the first Orientation Form by then.)

IMPORTANT WARNING: If you buy a new book, the book is not returnable after you open the shrink-wrap covering the book. Please be sure you are in the correct course before you open this shrink-wrap. (See the Getting Started page for information on the Prerequisite Study Sheet for College Algebra you should take before you break the shrink-wrap.)

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• Computer Requirements
• ACC email address (and you check it regularly)
• notebook paper for working problems at the computer and in your homework assignments
• pencils with erasers
• scientific calculator - An inexpensive scientific calculator, which you will need for the entire semester, especially during tests. If you already have a portable (battery-operated or solar) scientific, it should be fine. If you need to buy a calculator, they may be found at most grocery stores, office supply stores, or large discount stores. You may choose to use a graphing calculator to help you on your homework if you wish, you will not be allowed to use graphing calculators on the tests, so be sure you have a scientific calculator available that you know how to use.
• rectangular coordinate graph paper
• some mailing envelopes
• materials provided at this web site that you may need to print out (see my sections on Handouts)

This course is a personal computer/internet based course in which students work on software over the internet and in a textbook, participate in online discussions, do paper homework, and take paper-and-pencil tests in an ACC Testing Center.

The prerequisite for College Algebra (MATH 1314) is a grade of C or better in Intermediate Algebra (MATD 0390) or current knowledge of high school algebra as measured by the Assessment Test. Students who have a great deal of difficulty with the Pretest and/or review and have not had Intermediate Algebra or its equivalent recently should consider withdrawing and taking Intermediate Algebra. (See my page on Advising for details.)

MATH 1314 COLLEGE ALGEBRA (3-3-0). A course designed for students majoring in business, mathematics, science, engineering, or certain engineering-related technical fields. Content includes the rational, real, and complex number systems; the study of functions including polynomial, rational, exponential, and logarithmic functions and related equations; inequalities; and systems of linear equations and determinants. Prerequisites: MATD 0390 or satisfactory score on the ACC Assessment Test.

This course is designed to teach students the functional approach to mathematical relationships that they will need for a business calculus sequence. Other courses, such as MATH 1332, or MATH 1342 are more appropriate to meet a general mathematics requirement. Check with your degree plan as to what math course your college requires.

If you only need one college credit math course for your degree plan, College Algebra may not be your best choice. Please read through my page on choosing the right college-credit math course to take here. Also, if you are required to take Calculus or Business Calculus for your degree plan, you should read that page to make sure you are on the right track.

You are expected to spend a minimum of about 8 hours per week (perhaps more) on the software, working at least three different days during the week. You are also expected to spend about 6 hours per week on paper homework and preparing for and taking tests.

If you are continually caught up in the course according to the course calendar, keeping up with the class participation requirements (see below), and making at least B's on the homework and tests, then I do not require that you spend any certain amount of time on the course.

It is very important that you take the deadlines in the course calendar seriously. This is not a "self-paced" course; you must do your work and prepare for and take the tests on time. If you fall too far behind, I may drop you from the class.

One of the drawbacks to taking a distance learning course is that students can't interact with each other and the instructor as easily as they can in a classroom-based course. Since this is such an important part of learning, we will use an online discussion board to allow some interaction between everyone in the class. We will use the Course Compass course management system to allow this. I will also post all class announcements on this system and you can check your grades on this system as well. Before you log onto Course Compass for the first time, go here for instructions. Please note that using Course Compass is not optional in this course; it is a requirement.

As part of your grade in this course, you must participate in the class through the online discussion boards. To receive full credit for your class participation grade, you must participate at least once each week during the course (or do some of the other possible participation activities listed below). Before you post to the message boards, be sure to read the instructions here about use of the message boards and what I consider appropriate behavior. You will only receive credit for posts that follow these guidelines.

You may receive class participation credit for any of the following activities (remember, you need credit for at least one thing each week):

• Post a math related question on the message boards. (See guidelines.)
• Answer someone else's question on the message boards. (See guidelines.)
• Email me a "status report" on your learning. (See guidelines; notice that there are specific questions that you must answer with this.)
• Come and ask me questions during my office hours - I will consider giving credit if you call me with math questions during my office hours as well, though some things really can't be answered over the phone. (Be sure to remind me by email to give you credit if you do either of these.)
• Attend a review session for one of the tests - There will be a review session for the final exam, as well as possibly one other session earlier in the semester. (Be sure to remind me by email to give you credit if you do either of these.)

Additionally, you may do the following for a one-time participation credit:

• Post a "personal introduction" about yourself in the "Welcome, Introductions, and Other Stuff" section of the message boards - You may receive credit for this only once, and only during the first 2 weeks of class. (See guidelines. Please don't post anything private that you wouldn't want to be read by everyone.)
• Post a "wrap-up" message at the end of the semester about what you liked, disliked, felt good about, or had a lot of trouble with in taking an online math course like this. - You may receive credit for this only once, and only during the last week of class. (See guidelines.)

Each of these activities will receive a grade of either 2 points (you made a serious attempt to contribute to the class), 1 point (well, you did something, but you didn't really put much effort into it), or 0 points (you didn't really do much of anything). At the end of the semester, all of these will be added together and divided by the total required number of points to determine your class participation grade.

Class participation grades can be earned ONLY at the indicated time. More posts to the message boards later won't replace missing posts earlier, as far as the participation grade. It will only count during the week it is actually posted (and you cannot carry over posts from one week to the next for credit). Honestly, I really hope that you get so used to asking and answering questions on the message boards that you know you will get 100% on your participation grade. (You can always post more than the minimum, if you find it helpful...)

It is your responsibility to check the message boards regularly so that you know what questions other people are asking (that you might want to reply to) and if someone replies to a question you posted.. If you do not receive an answer to your question from one of your classmates or from me in a few days (I usually won't jump in right away answering questions), you can always email me your question. Also, you are responsible for checking for announcements in Course Compass several times a week. This is how I will communicate with the class as a whole; all important announcements will be posted on Course Compass/MyMathLab.

All of your tests and the final exam will be paper and pencil tests administered at one of the many ACC testing centers. (They will not be on the computer.) When you fill out the Online Orientation Forms, you will choose the testing center you will use for all of your tests. For each test, there will be a scheduled time period during which you must go to this testing center and take the exam (see the schedule for deadlines). (You are also required to keep working on new lessons in the material during that time.)

This is not a self-paced course. If you are working ahead and want to test early, please contact me at least one week before you want to take it to see if I can get the test to your testing center early. No make-ups or retests will be given, but I will consider alloging you to take at test late if you contact me before the deadline. Questions about late tests are answered here.

Before you go to a Testing Center, read the rules at http://www.austincc.edu/testctr/

Be sure to pay careful attention to the hours of the Testing Center and the rules. Some of the testing centers are fairly crowded and so you may have to wait in line, especially if you go in the late afternoon or early evening. Do not wait until the last day to take the test and NEVER start a test if you don't have at least 1 1/2 hours available to take it before the Testing Center closes and you must leave. Allow more time if you are slow at working the problems in your homework.

I will post your grades in the online gradebook in Course Compass/MyMathLab. You may go over your tests with me during office hours in person or (in some cases) by telephone. Individual appointments outside of office hours are also possible, depending on my schedule. When reviewing the test, please have a copy of the problems on the relevant Test Review handy. I have found that trying to review tests via email doesn't work very well if you have missed more than about 10 or 15 points. The best thing to do is to come into my office so you can actually see what you did wrong, if this is at all possible.

Final Exam

Your final grade in this course will be determined by five components.

Grades will be assigned as follows based on your total course average:

• A : 90% or better with a grade of at least an 80 on the Final Exam.
• B : 80% - 89% with a grade of at least a 70 on the Final Exam.
• C : 70% - 79% with a grade of at least a 60 on the Final Exam.
• D : 60% - 69% with a grade of at least a 50 on the Final Exam
• F : Less than 60%.
• I : Incomplete Grades (I) are given only in very rare circumstances. Generally, to qualify for a grade of "I", a student must have completed at least 80% of the course, including all exams, homework, and assignments, have a passing grade, and have a personal tragedy occur within the final 20% of the course that prevents course completion.

Class Participation Credit:

Late Homework:

Late Tests:

It is the student's responsibility to initiate all withdrawals in this course. The instructor may withdraw students who fail to make the minimum time commitment of the course for two weeks, but makes no commitment to do this for the student. (If you decide to stop working on the course, you had best make sure that you drop the course. While I MIGHT do this, it is YOUR responsibility. If you fail to do so, you could receive an F on your permanent record.) After the withdrawal deadline, neither the student nor the instructor may initiate a withdrawal. If you are withdrawn by mistake, I will only consider reinstating you if you have taken all necessary tests, are current in your homework, and are caught up in all coursework to the point at which you are requesting reinstatement.

Please check the schedule page for the withdrawal deadline for the semester.

Students who withdrew or were withdrawn generally will not be reinstated unless they have completed all course work, projects, and tests necessary to place them at the same level of course completion as the rest of the class.

Acts prohibited by the college for which discipline may be administered include scholastic dishonesty, including but not limited to, cheating on an exam or quiz, plagiarizing, and unauthorized collaboration with another in preparing outside work. Academic work submitted by students shall be the result of their thought, work, research or self-expression. Academic work is defined as, but not limited to, tests, quizzes, whether taken electronically or on paper; projects, either individual or group; classroom presentations; and homework.

Students who violate the rules concerning scholastic dishonesty will be assessed an academic penalty that the instructor determines is in keeping with the seriousness of the offense. This academic penalty may range from a grade penalty on the particular assignment to an overall grade penalty in the course, including possibly an F in the course. ACC's policy can be found in the Student Handbook page 33 or on the web at: http://www.austincc.edu/handbook/

Each ACC campus offers support services for students with documented physical or psychological disabilities. Students with disabilities must request reasonable accommodations through the Office of Students with Disabilities on the campus where they expect to take the majority of their classes. Students are encouraged to do this three weeks before the start of the semester.

Students who are requesting accommodation must provide the instructor with a letter of accommodation from the Office of Students with Disabilities (OSD) at the beginning of the semester. Accommodations can only be made after the instructor receives the letter of accommodation from OSD.

Institutions of higher education are conducted for the common good. The common good depends upon a search for truth and upon free expression. In this course the professor and students shall strive to protect free inquiry and the open exchange of facts, ideas, and opinions. Students are free to take exception to views offered in this course and to reserve judgment about debatable issues. Grades will not be affected by personal views. With this freedom comes the responsibility of civility and a respect for a diversity of ideas and opinions. This means that students must take turns speaking, listen to others speak without interruption, and refrain from name-calling or other personal attacks.

Classroom behavior should support and enhance learning. Behavior that disrupts the learning process will be dealt with appropriately, which may include having the student leave class for the rest of that day. In serious cases, disruptive behavior may lead to a student being withdrawn from the class. ACC's policy on student discipline can be found in the Student Handbook page 32 or on the web at: http://www.austincc.edu/handbook/

Clearly, since this is a distance learning course, there is no actual "classroom" per se, but this policy applies to use of the message boards, email, and other class-related activities.

Before you can use the software, I need to send you signup information. By the first day of class, I will send this to everyone who is on my class roster and has submitted Orientation Form 1 (including your score on the Review for the College Algebra Pretes). If you want to start early, you must contact me in advance, though I can't allow you to start until your name shows up on my roster.

You cannot begin working in the software until you have a license code. This should come in the MyMathLab information you buy. You should work enough in the first week in order to not get behind. If you have taken the Review for the College Algebra Pretes and have submitted Orientation Form 1 and don't have a username and password by the day classes begin, please email me right away and ask me for it. If you enroll after classes begin, please send me your Orientation Forms 1 immediately.

Getting started with Course Compass - Once you have your license number and the "Course ID" (which I will email to you once you have filled out Orientation Form 1 and registered for the course, by the first day of class), you should read this on how to sign in for the first time and set up your account/login/password.

Don't forget to bring your username and password with you if you go to use the software in a Learning Lab. You might also want to take along the web address for MyMathLab - www.coursecompass.com.

In order to use this program, you will need a computer with the following minimum requirements:

This section of the course uses the MyMathLab computer software package. The software provides video explanations and includes an audio component so that you may listen to the explanations. You will do a significant part of your work on the computer.

For more information about using MyMathLab software and how you should work in the course, it is very important for you to read and watch the following tutorials:

• Working in MyMathLab - How to work your way through the course (what order to do things in, which problems to work, deadlines, etc.)
• Entering answers, doing homework, and taking quizzes in MyMathLab - How to actually use the math part of MyMathLab to enter answers, do homework, take quizzes, etc.

Before you can start doing any actual work in the course, you must take the online Quiz labeled "College Algebra Pretest" (under the "Online Quizzes" menu item). You must make an 80% on this quiz before you can move on in the course. Relax, there are two bits of good news about this: First, you can take it as many times as you need to (and see what mistakes you made and how to fix them between times), and, second, it doesn't count towards your course grade in any way. It covers material that you should already know before you start this class. You should review for it before you take it by taking the Review for the College Algebra Pretes (you are required to work through this before you submit Orientation Form 1, in fact). If you are having serious problems passing this pretest, you need to contact me right away, so we can discuss whether you need to be in a different class. Once you make an 80% or better on this pretest, you can move on and begin working on the chapter 1 homework. (If I see that you haven't passed this pretest in a reasonable amount of time, I will contact you to discuss your situation if I haven't heard anything from you.)

First, get started with the software and view the different tutorials (see above). (You can't use it until you have your login and password.) Start with Lesson 1.1. Be sure to work your way through the section according to the instructions in the tutorial. You should be able to make your way through most of chapter 1 pretty quickly (it should all be review). Work through the sections until you have completed the first quiz (Quiz 1-A under "Online Quizzes"). Then, you need to go in and complete Orientation Form 2 to show me that you understand how you should work in the course.

In this class, you will be in charge of your learning in a way that is different from a traditional lecture class. The format of the course is somewhat self-paced, which means you may complete the material before the end of the semester. It also means that you may spend less time on familiar topics and more time on troublesome topics. In order to complete the course within the semester, you must generally keep up with the weekly schedule and test schedule provided. In order to succeed in this class, you should plan to spend about 9 to 15 hours each week (or more, if necessary) working on the material, depending on how much of the material is already review for you. The program is available all day everyday, so you can work on it at times that are convenient for you.

Even if you start working on the course early, you may not take tests right away. Especially early in the course, the tests may not even be available right away. If you are working ahead and want to test early, please contact me at least one week before you want to take it to see if I can get the test to your testing center early. It is possible to finish the course early if you work enough hours and learn quickly enough.

Be sure to go to the Getting Started checklist (make sure you haven't forgotten anything) and that you have completed the different Orientation Forms by the appropriate deadlines. If you don't submit these in time, you may be dropped from the course.

Free tutoring is available at the Tutoring Centers (Learning Labs) at most ACC campuses. Visit http://www.austincc.edu/tutor/ for more information.

Online tutoring is also available through the MyMathLab Math Tutor Center