Ocean County College
Introductory Algebra II Part II (Math 012)
Prof. V. McMillian Syllabus — Spring 2011
Office: Kable-Russell 111
Phone: 255-0400 x 2361, Office and Voice Mail
Email: vmcmillian@ocean.edu
Office Hours -MCTR: Mon, Thurs 9:30 – 10:45 AM;
Tues, Fri 10:15 – 10:45 AM, 12:25 - 12:55 PM
Students are encouraged to contact me via WebCT private mail with questions or to schedule a chat appointment. If
you wish to meet with me face-to-face you may drop by without an appointment during the posted office hours. If
you need to arrange a meeting outside of the regularly scheduled office hours, please send an email within WebCT.
If you do not receive a reply within 48 hours, please contact the Department of Mathematics by phone
(732.255.0368) or email (latanasio@ocean.edu).
This course is designed to aid students in the development of appropriate basic algebraic skills needed for collegelevel courses. It is an appropriate course for students who successfully completed Introductory Algebra Part I
(M011) or those identified by Accuplacer. Successful completion of this course will enable students to enroll in a
credit-bearing mathematics course(s) required for the AAS, AS, or AA degree. This course does not earn
graduation credit but may be counted toward minimum enrollment for full-time status.
Catalog Description
A continuation of Math 011. Topics include factoring a polynomial, solving quadratic and cubic equations, rational
expressions, equations of straight lines, radical expressions and the application of algebraic techniques to problem
solving. This course cannot be used to satisfy degree requirements.
General Education Goals:
Learning experiences will contribute to the development of the student’s ability to:
 Become an independent thinker through mathematical, scientific, and philosophical reasoning; and
 Solve problems by collecting, organizing and evaluating information.
Course Learning Outcomes/Objectives:
Course assessment will provide students with opportunities to:
 Graph linear equations

 Determine equations of lines given specific

information

 Factor polynomial expressions: GCF,

Special Cases, and Trinomials

 Simplify rational expressions
 Operations with rational expressions

 Simplify radical expressions

 Operations with radical expressions
Solve rational equations
Solve radical equations
Solve quadratic equations by factoring
Solve quadratic equations by square-root method
Solve quadratic equations by completing the
square
Solve quadratic equations by the quadratic formula
Solve application problems using quadratic,
rational, and radical equations
Learning Tools:
We, the faculty and bookstore staff, are aware of the high costs of books and have made every effort to make the
bookstore bundle as affordable as possible. Even so, it is best to purchase the bundle immediately and use all of
the resources routinely so that you complete the course successfully – the first time you register (or this time if you
are repeating the course)!
Beginning Algebra: Early Graphing, Second Edition, Tobey/Slater, Prentice-Hall 2009. The textbook and
supplemental tools are packaged together and available for purchase from the OCC bookstore with ISBN #
0321632095.
Math XL is a online homework, tutorial, and assessment system aligned to the textbook. It is an individualized
program that engages students in active learning and records progress towards course goals so each student must
have their own access code. The access code is included with the new textbook bundle from the OCC bookstore.
The access code may be acquired apart from the text if you purchase a used text. Students who have a MathXL
account from the Fall 2010 semester will not need to purchase an additional access code. Students may access an
electronic text from within MathXL so a print textbook is optional. However, the access code is MANDATORY! The
access code must be in your possession at class time on Jan 27.
Other tools include a binder or folder with lined paper to contain your notes and homework, Calculators may be
used at the instructor’s discretion and only when indicated by the instructor.
Course Assessment, Evaluation
Assessments generate numerical representations of a student’s mastery of skills which are then used to assign a final letter
grade for the course based on the following:
A Outstanding or consistently excellent work – “Awesome, not Average”
Student can consistently recall and apply most mastered skills in new contexts and combinations
B Above average or very good work — “Better than Most, Best Effort for some”
Student can consistently recall and apply most mastered skills in previously studied contexts and combinations
C Average performance —“Consistent, but Commonplace”
Student can recall and demonstrate mastery of most skills, but without context or in limited combinations
F Failure to demonstrate mastery of skills
Grades will be assigned according to the following percentages:
 A: 90 - 100
 B+: 87 – 89
 C+: 77- 79
 B : 80 – 86
 C : 70 - 76
 F: Below 70
Four (4) exams will be given as indicated in the course schedule. Make-up exams will not be administered; failure to take an
exam will count as an absence and result in a grade of 0 for the exam. A cumulative final exam may be administered at the
instructor’s discretion. MathXL will be utilized to monitor progress toward mastery of content objectives
Course grades will be determined according to student performance on exams and other designated learning activities based
on the following weights:
Course Assessment:
Course Grade:
80% Proctored Exams
A
90 – 100%
10% Online Homework
B+
87 – 89%
B
80 – 84%
10% Online Quizzes
C+
77 – 79%
C
70 – 74%
F
Under 70%
Course Requirements, Standards, Expectations
You must make a commitment to the course – a commitment that extends beyond “showing up” to class and completing the
exams. Develop a schedule which includes reading the text, completing the homework exercises, and completion of online
activities. Successful students usually spend 8-10 hours each week reviewing and practicing skills, seeking one-toone help from tutors or the instructor when needed.
Class attendance is an essential element for course success. I expect students to be in attendance at every class meeting. I
realize that emergencies and illness will occur -- but only occasionally, not routinely. Therefore, no grade penalty will be
assessed for the three absences. Students accruing four absences prior to the last date for withdrawal (April 4) may be
subject to immediate administrative withdrawal without further warning. After April 4, each absence will continue to incur a 10
point deduction from the corresponding exam grade. After April 4, each absence will continue to incur a 10 point deduction
from the corresponding exam grade. Late arrivals and early departure are better than an absence but it should be the
exception, rather than the rule. However, students arriving more than 10 minutes late or leaving more than 10 minutes early
will be recorded as absent. Please note the attendance policy above.
Students are expected to be actively engaged in all learning activities during class. Students will not be permitted to sleep or
remain as passive observers. After one warning, students will be asked to leave class and an absence will be recorded.
Students will be respectful to other students and faculty, which includes taking precautions not to unintentionally
disrupt/interrupt the instruction and learning process. Therefore, turn off your phone or set it to silent (this is NOT the same as
vibrate) and place them out of sight. Students observed texting (reading or sending) will be asked to leave class immediately
and an absence will be recorded. Long gone are the days of removing hats indoors, to be replaced by hats as a fashion
statement. However, hats will NOT be permitted during exams. Laptop computers may only be used when the whole class is
engaged in lab activities; laptops will not be permitted in the traditional classroom.
Other
In addition to office hours, tutoring is available at no additional charge to students on a space available, walk-in basis.
Professional tutors for this course are available at both each day but with varying hours and locations. You may drop-in the
Mathematics Tutoring Center for the complete schedule or contact them by phone at 732.255.0400 x 2341. In addition,
Student Success Seminars are scheduled each week and are posted on the college website under “Campus Resources and
Services.”
You are responsible for all information contained in the OCC Catalog and the Student Handbook. Be familiar with all policies
relating to academic honesty, attendance, withdrawal from course, etc. Cheating in any form will not be tolerated; Policy
#5180 will be strictly enforced.
Students accruing four absences prior to the last date for withdrawal (Apr 4) may be subject to immediate administrative
withdrawal without further warning and assigned a grade of W or F according to college policy. College policy mandates that
students withdrawing after Apr 4 must be assigned a grade of F. Therefore, students electing to withdraw from the course
with a grade of W must submit a request in writing on or before Mar 30 in order to allow time for processing.
If there is any student in this class who has special needs because of learning disabilities or other kinds of disabilities, please
feel free to come and discuss this with me during office hours or meet with a staff member in the Center for Academic
Excellence.
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.
Important Notes
Ocean Cruiser is the official email communication for students at OCC (firstname_lastname@occ.mailcruiser.com)
Failure to pay for this course may result in your being dropped for non-payment.