CLASS ATTENDANCE and ONLINE MATERIALS:
Class attendance is essential for success in mathematics because the material builds on previous knowledge. Class activities and discussions prepare the brain for the next class. For this reason, students missing a class are expected to go to GaView Vista calendar on the day of class, find the assignment, figure out the material, do activities, find answers to any questions and confusions, and be prepared to turn all work in on time.

This course has a required online component. Notice that this is a 4 credit course but we meet face to face only 3 hours. To earn the additional hour credit, we will access and use online materials in MyMathTest and GaView that support the course.

You may have learned that in college for every hour you spend in class, you should be spending at least two hours studying outside of class. This means, you should plan to spend at least 8 hours a week outside of class working on assignments, doing assignments in MyMathTest, reading the online and course materials, and posting questions and comments. It is helpful to begin by writing down a weekly schedule of all your obligations so you can see where you will fit it the time to do your mathematics.

Attendance is taken at the beginning of each class. It is the policy of Waycross College that any student missing more than ten percent (10%) of learning support classes (equivalent to 3 class days) MAY be dropped from the class by the instructor--or you may drop the class yourself before midterm--unless this course is your only LS course. If excessive absences are the result of extenuating personal hardship occuring after midterm, consider applying for withdrawal (contact your advisor or instructor for help.)

Students who stop attending before the last four weeks of class but do not complete the drop/withdrawal process before midterm (or apply for a W due to hardship after midterm) will earn a grade of F or WF. This will count as one of the 4 attempts allowed in DS mathematics. So, DO NOT DISAPPEAR!! Call me; contact me; take action. We will work something out. (NOTE: Grades of both F and WF are equally detrimental to Financial Aid Eligibility and may affect your fulltime status.)

ASSIGNMENTS:
Assignments will come from class activities, the text, and MyMathTest. For those attending class, class activities will be an automatic grade. If you are absent for a class activity, you will have until the beginning of the first class after your absence to make up the work. Assignments from the text that are collected will have a deadline and will be collected at the beginning of the designated class. Students missing the deadline may turn the work in on test day but will miss the opportunity to receive feedback that will aid in achieving high test scores.

MYMATHTEST:
All MyMathTest unit tests are due at the beginning of class on the day of the test for that unit. The MyMathTest grade is the average of the most recent attempt for each required unit test. Skipped tests will earn a grade of 0 and will be averaged in.

UNIT TESTS
There are four unit tests. Each paper-and-pencil test will be taken in class. If you know you will need to be absent the day of a test, you may make arrangements with me to take it early. If you miss class the day of a test (or earn a low test grade), you will have an opportunity at the end of the term to take a cumulative make-up exam to replace that test grade. If you miss more than one test, consider whether you are ready to do what it takes to pass this course.

COMPASS EXIT EXAM
Students who pass the course with a grade of 70% or better will earn the opportunity to take the COMPASS exit exam.

COURSE GRADING SYSTEM:
NOTE: Successful completion of MATH0099 requires both of the following:
1) a final average of at least seventy percent (70%) for the course and
2) a satisfactory score (>37) on the University System of Georgia ACT COMPASS Exit Exam.
Both the course AND the Exam must be passed.

The final grade will be determined with the following weight values:

The following grading scale will be used:

	A 90% - 100%	Excellent work - high achievement.
	B 80% - 89%	Achievement is sufficient for enrollment in Precalculus or Math Modeling.
	C 70% - 79%	Achievement of minimum standards required for Math Modeling.
	IP* below 70%	Progress shown, but minimum achievement not acquired. The course must be repeated (not eligible to take the COMPASS Exam)
	F below 70%	Insufficient progress shown and course not completed, course must be repeated.

*To qualify for a grade of IP instead of F, it is necessary to attend class regularly and work consistently for at least 2/3 of the course.

Borderline grades will be determined by class participation, online postings, and the in-class test average.

Note that a passing average in Math0099 (>70%) is needed in order to qualify to take the COMPASS. If you earn a passing average, but do not earn a satisfactory score on the COMPASS, the final grade will be IP and the course must be repeated.

REMEMBER: All Learning Support Mathematics requirements (Math0097 and Math0099) need to be completed in four total attempts. This includes all attempts within the University System of Georgia. (See your college catalog for details about exceptions.)

COURSE LEARNING OUTCOMES:

This course focuses on strengthening the skills needed to satisfactorily complete Math Modeling and/or Precalculus. The learning outcomes for this course are to:
1. Demonstrate use of algebraic tools (equations, graphs, tables, words) to organize and analyze patterns.
2. Develop graphical and analytical approaches for use in solving a variety of problem situations.
3. Understand the differences between expressions, equations, and functions, and be able to use function notation.
4. Solve and apply first degree equations and inequalities in one variable, systems of linear equations in two variables, and second degree equations.
5. Solve simple exponential, rational, and radical equations.

SPECIFIC COURSE OBJECTIVES:
1. Understand how the brain works, how learning happens, and what it means for the way you study math.

2. Understand that algebra is the language of math used to organize and analyze patterns. The tools used in algebra to organize and analyze are graphs, tables, equations, and words.

3. Understand that an expression can only be simplified, a single variable equation can have multiple solutions, a function has paired solutions that often occur in a recognizable pattern, and a linear system (consistent, independent) has one solution represented by the point of intersection of the two lines in the system.

4. Be able to solve single variable equations
   1. by simplifying both sides of the equation and then reversing the order of operations to isolate the variable,
   2. by eliminating fractions or decimals,
   3. by graphing the expressions to the left and right of the equal sign,
   4. that are identities (all real numbers are solutions) or contradictions (no solutions),
   5. by translating from words,
   6. and identify restrictions to the domain.

5. Solve a literal equation (formula) for a specific variable.

6. Given a linear inequality or compound inequality, be able to solve it and show the result on a number line, in interval notation, or in set-builder notation.

7. Given a function (including linear, quadratic, cubic, absolute value, and radical)
   
   1. evaluate the function for specific values,
   2. make a table of values by hand and with a calculator,
   3. draw by hand and with a calculator the graph of the line described by the equation,
   4. interpret the information in a graph of a function,
   5. determine restrictions to the domain,
   6. for linear functions,
      1. find the slope,
      2. find the intercepts and sketch the graph,
      3. determine whether the equation describes a horizontal or vertical line,
      4. write the function description as an equation,
      5. find the point of intersection with a second linear equation.

8. Given a system of equations (including dependent or inconsistent systems), be able to solve the system using at least one of the following methods:
   1. Sketch the graph (using the intercepts or a table of values) and read the solution from the graph.
   2. Create the graph or table on the calculator and read and interpret the solution from the calculator.
      (NOTE: If using this method, you need to give your "y=" entry as it appears in the calculator window AND the window or table settings.)
   3. Write and solve the equation or system of equations using an analytic approach (substitution method, or elimination by addition method.)

9. Given a word problem be able to solve it using this method:
   1. Identify your variables (knowns and unknowns.)
   2. Translate into an equation or equations.
   3. Solve the equations(s).
   4. Answer the question in a sentence.
   5. Check your answer.
      

10. Be able to simplify higher order expressions:
    1. Know and be able to use the rules of exponents with both integer and rational number exponents.
    2. Be able to add, subtract, multiply, and divide polynomials.
    3. Be able to use factoring techniques to factor polynomials or determine that they are prime.
       1. Identify and factor out the greatest common factor (GCF) OR the negative of the greatest common factor.
       2. Factor by grouping.
       3. Use either ac or guess-and-check method to factor trinomials.
    4. Be able to cancel common factors in order to simplify, multiply, and divide rational expressions.
    5. When given radicals, be able to
       1. simplify radicals,
       2. add and subtract radicals,
       3. multiply and divide radicals,
       4. rationalize a denominator,
       5. use your calculator to check that the original expression is equivalent to the final expression.
    6. Be able to solve a second degree equations by
       1. using your calculator to graph each side of the equals sign,
       2. using the quadratic formula,
       3. setting the equation equal to zero and factoring,
       4. using the Power Property to isolate the variable (AKA Extracting Roots).

ACADEMIC SUPPORT CENTER (ASC):
The Academic Support Center located in the Dye Student Center Building is a resource center that is available to all students enrolled at Waycross College. It is there to assist you in mastering this material. Student tutors are available free of charge. Just walk in and ASK.

The ASC hours and Testing Lab hours are posted in the ASC and on the ASC website Waycross College ASC website. Scroll down the website to see that the Testing Lab hours are not the same as the Academic Support Center hours.

ACADEMIC NOTES:
Students with special needs due to learning or physical disabilities should feel free to discuss these needs with their instructors. Supplemental materials are available in the ASC. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 prohibits discrimination on the basis of handicap and obligates colleges and universities to make certain adjustments and accommodations to ensure that handicapped persons have the opportunity to participate fully in all educational programs and activities. The College is committed to providing accessibility to all students in accordance to ADA/504 guidelines. Students should contact the Director of Student Life or their instructor regarding accessibility issues.

Plagiarism is prohibited. Plagiarism is defined by Webster as the stealing and passing off of the ideas or words of another as one's own. It is unacceptable behavior. Alleged violations involving plagiarism and other academic misconduct will be handled according to the procedures outlined in the Waycross College Student Handbook.