Precalculus Algebra MAC 1140
CLASSES
3 CREDIT HOURS
Fall 2014
MW CRN 12635 4:- 5:15 PM , MW CRN 13123 5:30 – 6:45 PM both in 4-206
TR CRN 11673 4-5:15 PM in 8-123
INSTRUCTOR Jim McCloskey
OFFICE 1-121
PHONE 407-582-2221
EMAIL jmccloskey@mail.valenciacollege.edu
OFFICE HOURS
MW 1-3:30 P.M., TR 2:30-3:30 P.M., 10 A.M.-1 P.M. F P.M., or by appointment
The office is usually the best point of contact for help on the class material. Email is the best way to
contact me with alerts or special requests. Your email should be in normal business English – not all
lower case or filled with texting abbreviations (TIA!). The subject line must contain a subject pertinent to
the email. If you send me an email by replying to one of mine without changing the subject line to the
actual subject of your email, I will delete your email without replying. I also will delete any email
without reading it if the sender cannot find the shift-key or uses lots of texting abbreviations.
PREREQUISITE . Minimum grade of C in MAC 1105 or satisfactory score on entry assessment.
DESCRIPTION
Preparation for the calculus sequence. Topics include a symbolical, graphical, and numerical analysis of
polynomial, exponential, logarithmic, power, and rational equations; matrices, sequences, induction,
binomial theorem, and conic sections. Applications emphasizing connections with other disciplines and
the real world will be included. Technology tools will be utilized in addition to analytical methods.
Minimum grade of C required if MAC 1140 is used to satisfy the mathematics requirement in general
education. (Credit is not given for both MAC 1140 and MAC 1142 or MAC 1147.)
REQUIRED MATERIALS:
Precalculus, 2nd edition by John W. Coburn published by McGraw-Hill (included with ALEKS 360)
ALEKS 360 Access Code (may be purchased at Valencia Bookstore or online at www.aleks.com)
A graphing calculator. Regular computers, phones and/or IPOD type calculators cannot be used on
tests or quizzes. I will be using a TI-83, 84, or 89 for class work and examples.
Graph paper and a Valencia Picture ID.
VALENCIA STUDENT CORE COMPETENCIES:
Valencia's Student Core Competencies are complex abilities that are essential to lifelong success.
This course will help each student develop and demonstrate the abilities to:
Think: clearly, critically, and creatively;
Value: make reasoned judgments and responsible commitments;
Act: act purposefully, effectively, and responsibly; and
Communicate: by speaking, listening, reading and writing.
Many problems and activities will be presented in the context of an application. These applications
will require you to select appropriate information from the problem and communicate effectively how
to arrive at an appropriate solution for the problem.
TIME INVESTMENT
You should be able to spend 6-10 hours a week on this course outside of class. Some students will
need less time and others will need much more time. Some work is required in the testing center
outside of the regular meeting time. Testing center work is generally available over at least a 3 or
4 day period so you can a find time to get to a testing center.
WITHDRAWAL DEADLINES
- The Drop/Refund deadline is September 2, 2014 at 11:59 PM.
- The No Show withdrawal period is the first week of classes. If you do not show up to class during this
period you will be withdrawn from the class with no refund of fees.
- Per Valencia Policy 4-07 (Academic Progress, Course Attendance and Grades, and Withdrawals), a
student who withdraws from class before the withdrawal deadline of November 7, 2014 at 11:59 PM.
will receive a grade of “W.” A student is not permitted to withdraw after the withdrawal deadline. A
faculty member MAY withdraw a student up to the beginning of the final exam period for violation
of the class attendance policy. A student who is withdrawn by faculty for violation of the class
attendance policy will receive a grade of “W.” Any student who withdraws or is withdrawn from a
class during a third or subsequent attempt in the same course will be assigned a grade of “F.” For a
complete policy and procedure overview on Valencia Policy 4-07 please go to:
http://valenciacc.edu/generalcounsel/policydetail.cfm?RecordID=75.
- Note =>Effective July 1, 2009, new rules apply for students on Bright Futures scholarships. Students
who withdraw or are withdrawn from a class must pay the college for the cost of the class (because
the college must refund that cost to the State).
ATTENDANCE You are responsible for all material discussed in class, whether you are present or not.
This includes changes in assignments, test dates, etc. You are expected to attend all classes. If, in my
opinion, missing class is hurting your understanding of the material I may withdraw you from the
class after giving you notice per college policy.
CLASSROOM BEHAVIOR
It does not bother me if you need to leave the room for a few minutes. Just get up and return quietly. If
you come late to class or have to leave early the same rule applies. Just be considerate of your fellow
students. Phones should set so they do not disturb the class or me. Texting in class is stupid but as long
as it does not disturb other students I do not care. Fair warning- well over 50% of the students in my
classes that are regularly texting in class drop before the final exam. I have never had a regular “texter”
get an A in one of my classes. At most a low B. For tests all phones and other electronic gear must be
off the desk and put away. Sorry! No music during tests!
TESTING CENTER Tests, Aleks assessments, and/or quizzes may be given in the East Campus Testing
Center in 4-123. To use the testing center you must have a Valencia ID. Get your ID at the Student
Development Office, Building 5, Room 212.
STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES
Students with disabilities who qualify for academic accommodations must provide a notification from the
Office for Students with Disabilities (OSD) and discuss specific needs with the instructor, preferably
during the first two weeks of class. The Office for Students with Disabilities determines
accommodations based on appropriate documentation of disabilities. The East Campus Office is located
in Building 5, Room 216.
BAYCARE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH Valencia College is interested in making sure all our students
have a rewarding and successful college experience. For that purpose, Valencia students can get
immediate help that may assist them with psychological issues dealing with stress, anxiety, depression,
adjustment difficulties, substance abuse, and time management, as well as relationship problems dealing
with school, home or work. Students have 24-hour unlimited access to the BayCare Behavioral Health’s
confidential student assistance program phone counseling services by calling (800) 878-5470. Three free
confidential face-to-face counseling sessions are also available to students
ASSIGNMENTS AND TESTING
Objective Work will be done with the Aleks system accessed at www.aleks.com. ALEKS is a webbased learning and assessment system that uses artificial intelligence to map the details of each
student’s mathematical knowledge. You will need to purchase an ALEKS Access Code (20characters long) and visit www.aleks.com to create an account and register. I will give you the
Class Code (10-characters long) needed to register and a two week free access code. Use that code
at the start of the course. Once you register, you will be instructed to take an initial assessment that
pinpoints your current mathematical knowledge state. Answer the questions in this assessment
honestly without outside help to gain the most benefit from the artificial intelligence that powers
ALEKS. The system will then give you tailored questions and areas to work on based on your
current knowledge state throughout the remainder of the course. The artificial intelligence will
recognize when you master new concepts and skills and update the questions it asks of you
accordingly. Please take the initial assessment in ALEKS seriously. The results of this assessment
will pave your way for the remainder of the course.
Tests are on material covered in lecture, your textbook, and Aleks. The tests will be multipart.
Part 1 is no calculator, no notes. This will usually be the longest part of the test.
Part 2 is graphing calculator required and one notebook size page of notes.
Part 3 is an Aleks Assessment taken in the testing center during the week of the paper test.
For each test I will scale the Assessment score based on the percent of the Aleks pie that should
have been completed. I will let you get up to 115% (Yea! Extra Credit) on this part. If you do
not take the Assessment I will allow you to take it later with a maximum grade of 70% .
Parts 1 and 2 tend to emphasize the written homework material. Part 3 is all Aleks.
Written Homework will consist of assignments that you will turn in to me on paper. Many of these
problems will be on Part 1 and 2 of your tests.
Quizzes in Aleks will not be part of your grade. They will be posted to give you more practice on
some topics before a test.
Quizzes in class with paper and pencil will be part of your grade. They will be given in class on
topics covered in class or in Aleks.
Aleks Participation – Each week I will record an Aleks Participation grade for you based on your
time in Aleks and the number of topics you have mastered. You can see these grades in the Aleks
grade book. Your participation grade each week is the largest of your time and topics grades for
that week. If your Test Objective Average for that unit is higher that your participation grade for
that Unit I will use the Test Objective Average grade in place of your participation grade.
The Final Exam is comprehensive and required of all students.
Part 1 is no calculator, no notes.
Part 2 is graphing calculator required and one up to legal size page of notes.
The Final Exam will be in our classroom on
MW 4:00-5:15 P.M. the exam is on M, December 8, 2014, from 5-7:30 P.M.
MW 5:30-6:45 P.M. the exam is on W, December 10, 2014, from 5-7:30 P.M.
TR 4:00- 5:15 P.M. the exam is on T , December 9, 2014, from 5:00 – 7:30 P.M.
Part 3 is the average of all your Test1-4 Part 3 grades.
You must get at least 50% on the final exam to get a 'C' or above in the course. Any registered
student not taking the final exam will receive a grade of ‘F’ for the course.
GRADING POLICY
The course is divided up into units of 100 points each. After each test I take your participation, homework
and quiz averages for the material covered by that test along with your test grade to get a unit score.
The unit score is calculated as follows:
Unit Score = Unit Test Score  60%  Unit Homework Average 10% + Unit Weekly Aleks Participation Average  20%
+ Unit Quiz Average 10%.
The lowest Test Score I will use in your Unit Score is 50% as long as you attempt the test.
EVALUATION
Your grade in the course is calculated as follows
Course Grade  Average of your Units  67%  Final Exam Score  33%.
If you score below 50% on the final exam the highest grade I will give you for the course is a "D"
(even if the formula above would come out to a 70% or greater average).
GRADING SCALE A 90% or above, B 80% - 89%, C 70% - 79%, D 60% - 69%, F below 60%
MAKEUP'S
If you miss a single test due to an emergency, the grade you get on the final will substitute for the
missing test grade. If you miss more than one test I will usually withdraw you. Any missed homework or
quizzes cannot be made up.
HONESTY
"All work submitted by students is expected to be the result of the students individual thoughts, research,
and self-expression."
DISCLAIMER
Changes to this document or the tentative schedule may be made at the discretion of the instructor.
Free Two Week Access Code (Also sent via email)
Aleks Information for Fall Precalculus MAC 1140 CRN Instructions for the student:
Your Course Code and financial Aid Access Code are given below
Class
MW 4 PM
MW 5:30 PM
TR 4 PM
Course Code
9NRA4-ENKWP
RR6W6-MD6MF
CVYPJ-YMFP9
Financial Aid Access Code
8AC09-B52F6-D4B41-BE10D
61DDC-0A9FB-9EC54-AB7A9
A1A5A-EF8BF-1634C-5A920
Tentative Schedule for MW MAC 1140 Session Fall 2014
Week 1
Week 2
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
08/25
08/26
08/27
08/28
08/29
09/04
09/05
09/11
09/12
09/18
09/19
09/25
09/26
1
2
Syllabus, 8.2
8.3, 8.4
09/01
09/02
Labor Day
09/03
3
8.3, 8.5
Week 3
Week 4
Week 5
09/08
09/09
4
5
8.5, 8.6
8.7, 8.8
09/15
09/16
7
9.2
Test 1
09/22
09/23
09/29
Week 10
Week 11
11
0
10/08
10/09
10/10
10/16
10/17
10/23
10/24
10/30
10/31
10/06
10/07
13
10/13
Test 2
10/14
14
15
11.2, 11.3
10/20
10/21
17
3.2, 3.3
3.4
10/27
10/28
10/29
18
19
3.5
Test 3
11/03
11/04
11/10
11/05
11/12
22
23
4.3
11/18
11/19
11/07
Widthdrawal
3..7
11/11
4.1, 4.2
11/17
11/06
21
Deadline
11/13
11/14
11/20
11/21
25
Test 4
0
11/26
11/27
11/28
26
No Classes
No Classes
No Classes
4.5
0
0
0
12/03
12/04
12/05
12/11
12/12
11/24
12/01
11/25
12/02
27
28
10.4
Week 16
10/22
16
4.4
Week 15
10/15
10.7, 11.1
24
Week 14
10/03
10.2
3..6
Week 13
10/02
10
20
Week 12
10/01
9.5, 10.1
10.3
Week 9
0
9.4
09/30
12
Week 8
09/24
9
9.2, 9.3
Week 7
09/17
6
8
Week 6
09/10
12/08
TBA
12/09
12/10
Tentative Schedule for TR MAC 1140 Session Fall 2014
Week 1
Week 2
Week 3
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
08/25
08/26
08/27
08/28
08/29
1
2
Syllabus, 8.2
8.4, 8.3
09/01
09/02
Labor Day
3
09/03
4
0
8.3, 8.5
8.6, 8.7
09/08
09/09
09/10
5
Week 5
09/15
09/22
09/16
7
8
9.2, 9.3
09/24
9.4
09/29
09/30
Week 8
10/13
10/07
Week 10
10/27
Week 12
11/10
0
10/14
10/15
10/21
Week 14
Week 15
11/24
12/01
17
3.4
10/29
10/24
10/30
10/31
19
0
0
11/06
11/07
20
21
Widthdrawal
3..6
3..7
Deadline
11/13
11/14
11/11
11/05
11/12
23
11/18
4.3
11/19
11/20
24
25
4.4
Test 4
11/21
11/25
11/26
11/27
11/28
26
No Classes
No Classes
No Classes
4.5
0
0
0
12/02
12/03
12/04
12/05
28
12/09
TBA
12/10
Final Exam
0
10/17
Test 3
11/04
10.4
12/08
10/23
16
27
Week 16
10/10
11.2, 11.3
10/22
4.1, 4.2
11/17
10/16
3.2, 3.3
10/28
10/03
15
22
Week 13
10/09
No Classes East
3.5
11/03
10/02
13
18
Week 11
0
Test 2
10.7, 11.1
10/20
09/26
10
10.3
10/08
14
Week 9
09/25
12
10.2
10/06
09/19
9.5, 10.1
10/01
11
Week 7
09/18
Test 1
09/23
09/12
9.2
09/17
9
Week 6
09/11
09/05
6
8.7, 8.8
Week 4
09/04
0
12/11
12/12