Purpose and Characteristics of this Course:  Most of the material in this course will build on previously learned concepts from Algebra I and Geometry.  This is the first course that you will have to recall and use concepts from previous courses (we call this “transfer”).  To aid in this process you have been given the “Transfer of Algebra I and Geometry Concepts for Algebra II or Algebra II/Triig” ( Note:  to shorten the reference to this document, we will refer to it as the “Transfer Package”.  You must keep this package available throughout the year, just like your text book.  The first page of the “Transfer Package” contains more detail on how this package is used.

 

Almost all college preparatory students will eventually take Calculus, either as an Advanced Placement course in high school, or in college.  In most cases a good Algebra II/Trig course will meet the pre-requisite requirements for AP Calculus AB or a college Calculus course.  Therefore, this course is a pre-calculus course, as any Algebra II/Trig course should be, but it is not a Pre-AP Calculus course. 

 

Textbook:  Algebra and Trigonometry, with Analytic Geometry, by Earl Swokowski and Jeffery Cole.

 

Course Content:  Topics covered in this course include:  Radicals and radical equations, factoring, quadratic forms, functions, rational exponents, complex numbers, exponential functions, logarithmic functions, trigonometric functions,  polynomial functions, rational functions, systems and matrices.

 

Homework and Quizzes:  . You will have an assignment almost every day.  To learn math you must be actively involved with algebra concepts and problems.  Therefore, doing homework is essential.   Homework points will be awarded in one of two ways.  As often as we can, we will give a quiz on the homework.   When a quiz is given the following "homework-quiz" policy described below will be used:

 

1. The homework will be collected, usually at the first of the class period.

2.  It will be graded as to completeness, form, and "general correctness."

3.  During class, usually right after the homework is collected, you will be given a quiz over the homework.

4.  If the homework is acceptable you will be given the points you earn on the quiz.  If your homework is not acceptable or not done, you will be given a zero for that quiz.

5.  If no quiz is given, you will be given 2 points for an acceptable assignment.

 6.  Late homework will not be accepted for credit.  The only exception is for some absences.  If the absence is due to a school event, such as a field trip or athletics, then both assignments are due on your first day back.  If you know you will be absent because a school event, let me know because I may have some lecture notes that I can give you.   If your absence is due to non school event then the due date will depend on the number days of absences.

 

We will also occasionally give a low value quiz at the end of class, usually a problem from that night’s homework.  The purpose of this is to make sure you can get started on your homework before you do it on your own.  Homework/quiz points usually accounts for about 30%  of the grade.  You can have difficulty passing algebra from a homework perspective if you consistently do not hand in your homework (because of the zero quiz score), or if you do not really study (such as copy your homework), because you will make a low score on your quiz and tests.

 

At the beginning of each unit you have been given assignment sheet for that unit.  As we proceed through that unit you will be given other handouts, such as homework sheets and “concept summaries”.  Make sure you receive all handouts.  You will always complete the next assignment on the list unless told otherwise.  The day before a test you will have an assignment that is due the day after the test.  You do not have an assignment due the day of a test.  It is important to realize that you are given the assignment sheet and other materials for your convenience.  You should be very careful about working ahead, because many times the discussion in class will supply important information.  Also, we are not giving you the assignment ahead of time so that you can do your homework during class.   You should never do any homework for any subject during class without permission.

 

Tests:  You will be given a test every week, except when we have a very short week.  The tests will be constructed to be 30 minute exams, but you will be allowed to work on them for the full class period, if you desire.

 

Grade:  Your points, from each of the following sources will be totaled and then divided by the total number of possible points:

 

1.  Homework quizzes or homework points.  (2 points for homework when no quiz is given, 5 to 10 points on quiz)

2.  Tests. (Usually 50 points per test), Every week..

 3.  First Semester Final Exam. (About 200 points):  Added to second quarter and fourth quarter. Note that the semester exam will be used to decide grade in borderline cases.

 4.  Trig identities (Later in the year, total value to be determined): 

 5.  Semester Final Exam (200 points):  This exam will be a comprehensive exam over all important material in the course.  This exam will be given during the second semester final exam period and will be included in the fourth quarter points..

Grading Scale:                        Range                    Grade                           

                                                 90-100%                       A    

                                                 80- 90%                        B     

                                                 70- 80%                        C

                                                 60- 70%                        D

                                                 0 - 60%                         F

 

Make-up Policy

 

1.  Quizzes will not usually be made up.  You will be given a no-grade for missed quizzes.  These scores do not add into your grade as possible points.  Your homework should still be handed in on your return to class.

2.  Tests will be made up as soon as possible. .

 

General Comments:

 

1.  You should realize that you learn mathematics by learning concepts first and then doing problems to make sure you understand and can use the concepts.  You do not learn mathematics by doing problems first to determine concepts.  That is, mathematics is not learned by “drill and practice”.

2.  The “concept summaries” are concise collections of the major concepts in the course and should organize note taking for some topics.  For many of these documents you will have to complete part of them.

3.  You will be required to use pencil in this class on all homework and tests.

 4.  You are required to have a Scientific Graphing Calculator for some of this class. If you are buying a calculator a TI-84 Plus Silver Edition would be your best bet.  Your text will give command sequences for the TI-83 Plus and TI-86.  However, a TI-82 can be used.

5.  You are required to label all problems clearly and show work clearly.  That is answers only on tests and homework will never be acceptable.

 6.  Extra Help.  Since so many of our students participate in extra curricular activities, the best time for help is during break (activity period).  However, we can schedule time before or after school when necessary.  After school is usually better because of unpredictable traffic and many times quick meetings between faculty or duplicating needs to be done in the morning.

7.  Grade, Test and Assignment Communications:  Assignments will be placed on the web weekly.  After major tests you will receive an up-to-date printout of your grade, usually the day after the test.  Because of illness and the high participation in activities, it often takes several weeks to make up tests, so it may take a while to return tests.  If we notice a problem on a test, we will follow-up as soon as possible.

 

Calculators:

 

There is a lot of controversy in the educational world concerning the use of calculators in upper division courses.  About ten years ago there was a strong movement toward using graphing calculators in Algebra II, pre-calculus, and Calculus courses.  There is now a serious movement toward restricting the use of calculators in these courses.  The reasons are as follows:

 

1.  The general feeling that students are focusing on calculations instead of learning concepts.

2.  Students tend to use the calculator when not needed, thus increasing the amount of time to do their work.

3.  Students use calculators to do intermediate calculations instead of using calculator ready equations.

 

As a result we will use calculators in a very focused manner.

 

1.  We will graph functions for study.

2.  We will use calculators for calculations associated with matrices.

3.  When arithmetic calculations are needed you will develop the “calculator ready equation” before calculating.