OCEAN COUNTY COLLEGE
COURSE INFORMATION OUTLINE
Math 012 INTRODUCTION TO ALGEBRA II
Instructor: Professor C. Showalter
Office: Russell Bldg. Russ 103
Office hours: Monday
Phone: 732 - 255-0400 ext. 2462
Tuesday
e-mail:carolyn_showalter@occ.mailcruiser.com
Thursday
Friday
Spring 2011
9:30 am – 10:45 am
3:30 pm – 4:30 pm
12:30 pm – 1:30 pm
12:30 pm – 1:30 pm
It is my objective to provide you with a quality course that will prepare you for the credit courses offered by the
Mathematics Department of the college. Since you are paying your hard-earned money you should expect nothing less. In
order to benefit fully from this course, I think you should anticipate spending at least 8 hours per week outside of class,
more when a test is scheduled. I wish you a high level of success in the course, and I am ready to assist you in that goal.
Text:
Beginning Algebra: Early Graphing (Bundled with MathXL access code), 2nd Edition by Tobey/Slater/Blair
Used text may/may not have MathXL access code card; New books come bundled with MathXL access code.
Description: Math 012 is designed for the student who is completing basic algebra, or who needs a review of algebraic
topics. This course will cover chapters 3, 6, 7, 8, and 9. This course does not count for graduation credit. Class time
will be comprised of homework review, lecture, individual and group work, and testing.
This course is a continuation of Math 011. Students are expected to have a solid grasp of signed numbers, basic equation
solving, and polynomial operations.
General Education Goals Addressed in the Course: This course will meet General Education Goal #1 to develop the
ability to become an independent thinker through mathematical, scientific, and philosophical reasoning, and Goal #3 to
develop the ability to solve problems by collecting, organizing and evaluating information.
Course Learning Objectives: Upon successful course completion, the student will be able to factor polynomial
expressions, solve quadratic equations using several methods, simplify rational algebraic expressions and radical
expressions, solve rational equations and radical equations, determine equations of lines from given information, and
solve application problems.
All students have accounts on Ocean Cruiser (firstname_lastname@occ.mailcruiser.com) located on the OCC homepage.
Homework, quizzes, announcements, handouts, test scores, attendance, and the current syllabus will be posted on the
site. Your ocean cruiser email will be used for any electronic correspondence so please check it regularly.
Statement of Accommodation: Any student in this class who requires accommodations, please feel free to come and
discuss this with me or a staff member from the Center for Academic Excellence. Bring a copy of your current OCC
semester schedule with you when you present your accommodation paperwork for my signature.
Tutors are available. Their schedules are posted on the door of the tutoring room (Russ 123).
Grading: Your final grade will be based on in-class tests (85%) and notebook review & online Math XL
quizzes (15%). There will be at least five (5) tests. NO TEST SCORE IS DROPPED. If an absence occurs on a test day, a
grade of zero is recorded. You may take a similar version of that missed test once you have scored a 65 or higher on the
next in-class test. For example, you miss test 2. Then once you have taken test 3 and scored at least a 65 on it you will
have 5 school days (M, T, W, R, F) during which to take test 2. This “missed test” option may be used only once during
the semester. Otherwise, the “0” grade remains and will be averaged into the final grade.
The second part of your grade, or 15%, is based on online MathXL quizzes and notebook evaluation. Students are to
maintain a notebook specifically for this course. These notebooks must contain the notes recorded during each class
meeting; they will be collected and graded during the test period. If you are absent, you are expected to copy the notes
from a fellow student or copy the lecture notes from the online video for that lesson. Details are available under our
course on Ocean Cruiser. For MathXL quizzes, an access code is required.
Homework will be assigned daily from the Homework Assignment List. It is your responsibility to complete these
assignments and compare them to the answers in the Student Solutions Manual. The list is on Ocean Cruiser.
GRADES
A 100 - 90.0
B+ 89.9- 87.5
B 87.4- 80.0
C+ 79.9- 77.5
C 77.4- 70.0
F: below 70
DESCRIPTION
Exceptional, outstanding; no conceptual errors.
Above average, competent; occasional conceptual
errors, some careless errors.
Average; frequent conceptual and careless errors.
Unable to grasp concepts at this time.
W (withdraw) To receive a designation of W, students must deliver the signed Drop/Add Form to the
Admissions Office no later than 7:00 pm on Monday, April 4th. After this date, all students will receive one of the six
letter grades listed above.
Calculators: A basic calculator will be provided by the instructor during tests if you need one. You may not use your
own calculator. You may not use any other type of technical device as a calculator.
Cheating/Plagiarism Any form of cheating and/or plagiarism is considered to be totally unacceptable behavior. I will
take action if this behavior occurs in this course. Students should refer to the student handbook and review Policy #5180.
Attendance: This will be taken daily in order to learn names. Any student who misses more than 3 class sessions before
October 30 will be withdrawn from the course. Absent students must obtain missing notes for their notebook.
Etiquette: Come prepared to participate in class...turn off and put away beepers/cell phones…no texting...be on
time...no casual talking...no caps/hats. Failure to adhere to these rules may result in severe penalties.
Quote: "100% of the shots you don't take don't go in." Wayne Gretzky
Campus resources and services: Math Tutoring is available in the mathematics Tutoring Center (room RUSS 123).
In addition, Student Success Seminars are scheduled each week and are posted on the college website under
“Campus Resources and Services. More information on college services can be found by using the A-Z index on the
college website (for example, under “T” for Tutoring or under “S” for Study Strategy Sessions.)
Communications with Instructor
As adults, our communications will be in a professional manner. Anytime that I post an announcement or send you an
email it will be in Standard English. You are expected to do the same. Informal language, such as misspellings and
emoticons, has no place in professional exchanges. When leaving a voice-mail message, be sure to speak clearly, and
leave your first and last name as well as which course you are in. If you want a response, clearly state your phone
number.
Other Meeting Times: To arrange a meeting with your instructor in addition to the regularly scheduled office hours,
please contact your instructor directly or contact the Department of Mathematics (Phone: 732 – 255 - 0368/ Email:
latanasio@ocean.edu).
All individuals should not assume that anything received, sent, or stored in this course or in any course is private.
Students’ written work, assignments, and test results may be used anonymously for college assessment purposes.
Course Content, support materials, and communications (including chats, discussions, emails, and any other forms of
communication) may be used for quality assurance purposes by authorized college administrators.
Disclaimer: Individual faculty members may make reasonable changes to this course outline exclusive of course
requirements, course calendar, and grading procedures.
Failure to pay for this course may result in your being dropped for non-payment.
Important Dates for Spring 2011:
 Monday, April 4 – Last day to withdraw from any OCC course and receive a “W”.
 Monday, March 14 – Sunday, March 20: OCC is closed for Spring Break; No classes are being held.
 Thursday, May 12 – Last day of class for Math 012 sections 16 & 19.
 Monday, May 16 – Last day of the semester.