Mat 111 F00 Math
for Liberal Arts
Syllabus, part one
Resources:
Required
Available, so take advantage of:
Class: MWF1 1:00 – 2:20
Spidel 202
Text: Workbook:
You will need to bring $15 to class to
purchase your workbook.
You will need a 1” three ring binder.
Important Tool: Graphing Calculator
Preferably a TI-83 or 84
Professor: Dr. Gretchen W. Whipple
Office: Spidel 207
Office Hours: MWF1 2:30-3:30
TThF2 9:30-10:30
(I am often available when I am not teaching)
Telephone: Ext 3098
e-mail: gwhipple@warren-wilson.edu
 Note: I only read/respond to email in the
AFTERNOON.
Math Tutors: Café Spidel (TBA)
Course Description:
Catalog Description:
This course is a survey of mathematics that may be from a historical, philosophical, computational, and/or aesthetic point
of view. The faculty member teaching this course chooses topics from his or her fields of expertise and interests.
Students may study topics including: history and philosophy of mathematics, systems of numeration, logic, mathematical
modeling, space-time and the Theory of Relativity, probability, problem solving, logarithms and musical scales,
mathematics in art, non-Euclidean geometry, fractals, cryptography, and mathematical puzzles. Triad Requirements:
Mathematics
Specific Description:
Students shall explore the branches of mathematics from a historical, problem solving point of view. Students in this
course will develop problem-solving strategies, consider logical argument structures, and model specific situations.
Students will employ critical thinking, informal/formal logic, and knowledge of common fallacies to solve logic puzzles
and to explore real world situations.
Course Goals:
The successful student will:
 demonstrate a knowledge of the timeline of the history of the development of mathematics
 demonstrate a basic knowledge of the branches of mathematics, the time of their development, and their basic
applications
 demonstrate competence with basic logic, linear functions, and exponential functions
 develop an understanding of the depth and breadth of mathematics
 model situations with linear and exponential functions
 demonstrate competence in estimation, prediction, and interpreting graphs and tables
 experience reading, writing, and speaking about mathematics
Grading:



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The quiz average, Q, will be the average of regular and various in class quizzes. Most quizzes will be open
workbook. The quiz average will contribute 20 points to student’s final grade.
Each homework assignment, including readings with questions, will be checked or collected and graded. The
homework average, HW, will contribute 25 points to the student’s final grade.
Student will do (at least) six (6) Library Readings, will write a reaction paper for each reading and report on at
least one of them in class. Reaction paper and report grades will average to a library reading grade, LR,
which will contribute 25 points to student’s final grade.
Student will write two papers exploring a real-world situation. The first will address a question based on data
provided by the assignment and mathematical skills discussed in class. The second will involve an article or
book with conclusions based on data and mathematical models. Student will make presentation on the article
or book to the class. The average of the student’s grades on these papers and presentations, P, will contribute
30 points to the student’s final grade.
Your final grade will be calculated using the following formula:
Final Grade = 30P + 25LR + 20Q + 25HW
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Mat 111 F00 Math
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Syllabus, part one
Information and Advice: (some of which should insult your intelligence).
It is expected that students will:
 treat each other, the instructor, and the learning environment with respect,
 participate (actively) in class
 This is a learning environment. Class members will be expected to respect the environment and
each other. Thus class members should avoid disrupting the class in any manner: coming in late,
leaving early, making inappropriate, disruptive, comments, or bringing pets, food, chewing tobacco,
or cell phones which are not turned off to class.
One of the skills of life long learning is to actively participate. In this class, this will require:
o on-time class attendance*;
o completion of all assignments in a timely manner;
o when working together listen to one another, and be mindful of disturbing other groups;
o seeking help as soon as you begin having difficulty
*
Out and our bribery: 1 point will be added to your overall average for missing ZERO classes during
the semester.
 It is essential, for your learning and my sanity, that you keep up with the class and that you do the
work required on time. All late work will be assigned a 10% late penalty. Work more than a week
late will not be graded.
 If circumstances cause you to miss and exam be sure to contact me, via phone or email, BEFORE
the exam. Documentation of the circumstance may be required before you are allowed to make up
the exam. If you fail to contact me before the exam, I may allow you to make up the exam, but I will
assign a 10% penalty.
 You are responsible for the material that we cover in each class. You are not excused from learning
the material because you have missed a class, even if you miss class for a very good reason. To that
end, please follow a standard protocol when you miss class:
1. contact a classmate to borrow his/her notes and to get directions for any assignments given
2. if you have looked at a classmates notes and you do not understand the material, make an
appointment with the professor as soon as possible to clarify the material
3. if an assignment was due, contact the professor, by phone or email, to ask if you can still turn in
the assignment; if so, make arrangements with the professor to do so
4. if you are unable to complete an assignment given out the day you missed, contact the professor
to request extra time; if the professor agrees, make arrangements to hand in the assignment
 if you need to miss more than one class in a row, contact your professor – by phone, email,
message in a bottle - to communicate the reason that you have missed class.
 Note: There is no such thing as an official “excused absence”. Therefore limit your
absences so that when you need to miss class for a legitimate reason your success in the class
will not be in jeopardy.
 Note: This class will not be canceled the day before a break. I will not count
your travel plans as a good reason to miss class.
 Your assignments will include many writing assignments. Writing is a very important form of
communication – even in mathematics. Do NOT whine about writing in a mathematics course. Do
NOT plagiarize; use The Bedford Handbook as a writing guide and/or the http://citationmachine.net/
to reference your sources correctly.
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Syllabus, part one
 To assure that you receive the credit you deserve for your work, please: (Guidelines for anything to
be handed in)
o put your name on your work
o be neat, what I can't read, I can't give you credit for;
o avoid inks that bleed through the paper, or write on only one side of the paper
o clearly label each assignment
o assemble the sheets containing your solutions in the correct order
o DO NOT STAPLE SHEETS TOGETHER
o use complete sentences and proper grammar when responding in writing
 Students will be encouraged to work together on some assignments. However, ANY work submitted
with a single name should represent ONLY that student’s work. Credit should be given to ANY
supporting source, including classmates. Submitting a copy of work done by others – another
student, an author of a book, something on the internet – will result in a grade of 0 (zero) on
the work, and as a result, potentially an F in the course.
 If you have specific, physical, psychiatric, or learning disabilities and require accommodations,
please let me know early in the semester, this week, so that appropriate accommodations can
be arranged.
o Documentation of your learning disability must be on file with Deb Braden, Educational
Access Coordinator, Mitchell B208, x 3791.
o If you feel you have an undiagnosed disability, please contact Deb Braden, Educational
Access Coordinator, Mitchell B208, x 3791.
Further Resources:
The Department of Mathematics has a Calculator Rental program. If you anticipate needing a TI83 for this course only, consider renting a calculator. Renting a calculator will cost $25 for the
semester. We require a $75 deposit. See Gretchen W. Whipple in Spidel 207.
The Department of Mathematics provides tutors in Spidel Café (Spidel 209).
Academic Counseling and Tutoring: Lyn O’Hare (x 3012 or lohare@warren-wilson.edu)
Mitchell B207
Academic counseling is designed to assist students in developing and improving study skills
and habits that will enhance their academic success. The Director of Academic Support
Services works individually with students to define areas of need and to develop a plan for the
improvement of academic performance.
Educational Access: Deborah Braden (x 3791 or dbraden@warren-wilson.edu)
Mitchell B208
The educational access coordinator assists students with documented disabilities in designing plans with reasonable
accommodations for equal access to their educational program. The EAC serves as a resource and provides
consultation to the student, faculty, and staff in implementing the accommodation plan.
A useful link that addresses college transition issues and students with disabilities is www.ed.gov/ocr. A publication
entitled Students with Disabilities Preparing for Postsecondary Education: Know Your Rights and Responsibilities is
available through this link.
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Syllabus, part one
Writing Center: Julie Wilson (x 3003 or jwilson@warren-wilson.edu)
See: http://www.warren-wilson.edu/~writingcenter/
Sunderland Basement
The Writing Center supports a wide variety of student writing, from creative stories to organic chemistry. A writers’
group meets weekly at the Center. Workshops on a variety of writing issues are offered through the Writing Center.
Literary journals and other resource materials are also available.
Writing Tutoring: Peer writing tutors are available on an appointment basis throughout the week and during limited
hours on the weekend to work with students on all facets of college writing, including brainstorming writing topics,
paper structure, grammar and final editing.
Health Center: Web Page: http://www.warren-wilson.edu/~healthcenter
Counseling Center: Monday-Friday 8:30-12 and 1-5
Art Shuster, L.C.S.W. Director, (x 3773 or ashuster@warren-wilson.edu)
Anne Riddle Lundblad, L.C.S.W. (x 3700 or alundblad@warren-wilson.edu)
Jil Meadows, L.C.S.W. (x 3905 or jmeadows@warren-wilson.edu)
Health Center
Counseling Center services include short-term individual counseling; referrals to community therapists, treatment
programs, and 12-step programs; emergency crisis counseling, personal development groups on special topics;
training for Residence Hall Directors, Resident Assistants, and Peer Group Leaders; community education; and
consultation to campus groups. Counseling services may also be utilized as a link between the student and parents, or
others considered a part of one's personal network. We also have a psychiatrist who is on campus four hours each
week to assist with psych evaluations and prescribing and monitoring medications. Students are scheduled through an
appointment with one of the counselors
The library is a wonderful resource. You will use it to find books for your library reading
assignments. It is both a place to find quiet and a place to find answers.
Mondays-Thursdays 8 A.M.-10:30 P.M.
Fridays 8 A.M.-5 P.M., Saturdays 12:30-5 P.M. and Sundays 1-10:30 P.M.
The Cole Study Room is open 24 hours a day 7 days a week.
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