Math 203J - Contemporary Mathematics - Course Policies
Fall 2011
Kat Shultis
Section 001
[email protected]
10:30-11:30 MWF
My Office: Avery Hall 315
Oldfather Hall 307
Math Office: Avery Hall 203, 402.472.3731
Website: http://www.math.unl.edu/∼s-kshulti1/203J.fall2011.html.
Office Hours: TBA
ACE Outcome 3: This course satisfies ACE Outcome 3. You will apply mathematical reasoning and computations
to draw conclusions, solve problems, and learn to check to see if your answer is reasonable. Your instructor will
provide examples, you will discuss them in class, and you will practice with numerous homework problems. The
quizzes will test how well you’ve mastered the material.
Book: Excursions in Modern Mathematics, by Peter Tannenbaum.
Calculators: A calculator with a square root key is required for this course. Cell phone calculators, and calculators
with QWERTY keyboards are prohibited. You may use your calculator on any assignment for the course, but
remember that your calculator will only do what you tell it to, it cannot read your mind.
Attendance: I will take attendance for every class. If you are going to miss class for any reason, you must contact
me in advance if you are interested in an excused absence. Excused absences will not count against your grade.
Attendance is worth 2 points every day.
Homework: I will assign homework regularly. While I do not intend on collecting your homework, I reserve the
right to do so without warning. Homework is essential to preparing you for the quizzes.
Journals: You will complete four journal assignments throughout the semester, each worth 28 points. I will include
a grading rubric with each assignment. Journals which show an exceptional degree of reflection and creativity may
earn an extra 2 points and receive a score of 30 out of 28.
Quizzes: There will be a quiz for approximately every chapter. Quizzes will be announced several days in advance
through Blackboard. Each quiz will be worth 25 points, and the top 8 quizzes will count towards your score.
Project: Each student will join a group and complete a project throughout the semester. The project will be
worth 100 points (a fairly large portion of your grade). Project topics are flexible; you may (with my approval)
pursue a subject relevant to your interests. Details on the project will be given at the appropriate time during the
semester. You will be expected to give a short presentation on your project in class. If necessary, we will use the
final exam time for any remaining project presentations.
Grading:
Attendance 88 points
Journals
112 points
Quizzes
200 points
Project
100 points
Total:
500 points
The following is an approximate grading scale. I reserve the right to give you
a higher grade than the one indicated by this scale, but you will receive at least the grade indicated by the scale.
A+
A
A-
490-500
460-490
450-460
B+
B
B-
440-450
410-440
400-410
C+
C
C-
390-400
360-390
350-360
D+
D
D-
340-350
310-340
300-310
F
0-300
If you are taking this pass/no pass, you must receive at least a C (not a C-) to pass.
Other Policies
Writing Guidelines: All written assignments that you turn in should be typed in a reasonable (e.g. Times New
Roman) 12-pt. font. Margins should be one inch on each side. Please double space your typed work. Feel free
to ask if you have a favorite font and are unsure if it is acceptable. Also, you should be using proper grammar
when sending emails to me (i WILL ignore ur email if u rite like this).
Respect/Courtesy: Respect is an important part of your classroom behavior. This means you should not be
talking with your neighbors or using any electronic devices during class. Repeated disruptive classroom behavior
will result in lost attendance points. Please treat your fellow classmates with respect by not disturbing them during
class. If you need to leave early or arrive late, please do so quietly.
Participation: Your participation in class is essential. If you have a question, please ask it. If I make a mistake
(and I will), please let me know so that your fellow students are not confused. If I ask a question, please take
a moment to think about it, and then raise your hand when you have an answer.
Website and Blackboard: Most course handouts will be posted on the course website. Please take note of
the site on the reverse side. Additionally, I will use the Blackboard system to allow you to view your grades, and to
make announcements. Please become familiar with Blackboard so that you can use it effectively. The Blackboard
website is http://blackboard.unl.edu. In order to receive the email announcements through Blackboard, you
must ensure that your email address is up to date in MyRED (http://myred.unl.edu), since Blackboard resets
to this email address daily.
Grade Dispute Guidelines: If you would like to dispute a grade on an assignment, you should compose a
written argument detailing why you believe you deserve a different grade. Your argument should be between half
a page and two pages. Your argument will only be considered if it follows the writing guidelines. If the dispute
is minor (for example, if I made a mistake in adding up your points), you may speak with me during my office
hours. You may only dispute a grade within one week of receiving it.
Academic Dishonesty: Don’t even think about it. Everything you turn in should be your own work, or
referenced appropriately. Please don’t hesitate to ask questions on how to reference your sources (including the
textbook). Any form of academic dishonesty will NOT be tolerated, and may result in a failing grade for the
course!
I reserve the right to make changes to the above class policies at any time.
Any changes will be announced in class and through Blackboard.
The Department of Mathematics does not tolerate discrimination or harassment on the
basis of race, gender, religion, or sexual orientation. If you believe you have been
subject to discrimination or harassment, in this or any math course, please contact the
department. If, for this or any other reason, you believe your grade was assigned
incorrectly or capriciously, appeals may be made to (in order): the instructor, the
department chair, the departmental grading appeals committee, the college grading
appeals committee, and the university grading appeals committee.
Approximate Schedule
Disclaimer: This is an approximate plan of what we will cover this semester. The topics are subject to change,
especially since I would like your input on what you are most interested in learning about.
Part 4
Statistics
Part 1
Social Choice
Other Topics
These are
some options
Chapter
Chapter
Chapter
Chapter
Chapter
Chapter
Chapter
Chapter
Chapter
Chapter
Chapter
13
14
15
16
1
2
3
4
7
8
10
Collecting Statistical Data: Censuses, Surveys, and Clinical Studies
Descriptive Statistics: Graphing and Summarizing Data
Chances, Probabilities, and Odds: Measuring Uncertainty
The Mathematics of Normal Distributions: The Call of the Bell
The Mathematics of Voting: The Paradoxes of Democracy
The Mathematics of Power: Weighted Voting
The Mathematics of Sharing: Fair-Division Games
The Mathematics of Apportionment: Making the rounds
The Mathematics of Networks: The Cost of Being Connected
The Mathematics of Scheduling: Chasing the Critical Path
The Mathematics of Money: Spending it, Saving it, and Growing it
The current plan is to study statistics, data, and graphs until about the end of September. I plan on covering voting
theory during the month of October. At some point we will vote on which other chapters we would like to cover.
Important Dates:
August 22
August 29
September 2
September 5
October 17, 18
November 11
November 23, 24, 25
December 9
December 16, 10am-noon
First Day of Class (obviously)
Last day to add a class
Last day to drop a class
Labor day - no class
Fall break - no class
Last day to withdraw from a class
Thanksgiving break - no class
Last day of class
Our final exam time (which I hope not to use)
First Few Assignments
Disclaimer: While this is my plan for the first two weeks and their assignments, it is subject to change. If I
make changes, I will announce them both in class, and on Blackboard.
Due Date
Wednesday, 24 Aug
Friday, 26 Aug
Monday, 29 Aug
Wednesday, 31 Aug
Friday 2 Sep
Assignment
Read pages 494-499, (introduction, § 13.1)
Start finding an article you’re interested in, that includes statistics
Start filling out the vocabulary page
Read pages 499-507, (§ 13.2, 13.3)
Work problems: pg. 517, #28, 30
Read pages 507-509 (§ 13.4, 13.5)
Work problems: pg. 515-517, #17 − 24, 31, 32
Bring your article to class
Read pages 509-514 (§ 13.6, conclusion, George Gallup profile)
Work problems: pg. 519-521, #45 − 48, 69, 70
Vocab handout due
My goal is to have the Chapter 13 quiz this day, so homework is to study!