Course
Information
Math 487: Foundations
of Geometry - Section 01, Spring 2010
3
Credits: MWF 8:30 - 9:20am Bridges Room 269
Textbook: Survey of Geometry, 1st ed. (online text), by Timothy Peil
[Required]
Instructor: Justin James, Mathematics Department
Office: MacLean
375M Office Phone: 477-4011
Office Hours: MTWRF 9:30 –10:20am Email: jamesju@mnstate.edu
M 10:30 –11:20am Webpage: web.mnstate.edu/jamesju
MTWR 12:30 –
1:20pm
W 3:00 – 4:00pm
Course Description:
Systems of geometry such as Euclidean, non-Euclidean, coordinate, synthetic,
transformational and projective. Models in geometric systems.
Prerequisite:
MATH 323, MATH 327
Course Requirements: You are expected to complete all homework
assignments, projects, and writing assignments, and to take and pass all exams
and quizzes at their scheduled dates and times. You will also be expected to
write a report and given an in class presentation on a geometric topic and to
become familiar with a program called the Geometer’s Sketchpad.
Course Objectives and Student Learning
Outcomes:
Upon
completion of the course, students will be able to do the following:
·
Solve real
world problems using mathematics/logical systems.
·
Express
mathematical/logical ideas clearly in writing.
·
Explain what
constitutes a valid mathematical/logical argument (proof).
·
Be able to
construct a valid proof.
·
Apply a
variety of higher-order problem-solving and modeling strategies.
·
Exhibit
mastery of computational skills and the ability to make reasonable estimates.
·
Understand
and be able to apply the concepts of graph theory and Boolean algebra.
Instructional
Strategies: Lecture, discussion, group
projects, in class presentations.
Attendance and Academic Expectations: You
are expected to attend class regularly and on time. The penalty for unexcused absences is that missed assignments cannot be made
up. You are expected to read the assigned
material prior to each lecture and to attempt the assigned homework
problems. When working in groups, you
should participate in what the group is trying to accomplish. You are encouraged to form a study group to
work with outside of class.
Homework:
I will
collect and grade homework several times
during the semester. Even when homework
is not collected, you should work enough homework problems to learn the course
material. I will spend some class time answering
homework questions, but the bulk of our time will be spent covering new
material. You are encouraged to discuss
homework with your classmates and with me outside of class time.
Quizzes:
I will give quizzes
at least once a week during the course.
Most will be short in-class quizzes.
I typically announce quizzes one class period before I give them so you
have time to prepare for them. Quizzes
will be worth from 5-10 points, depending on their length and scope.
Your best
homework and quiz scores will be combined to contribute 170 points toward your
final grade. Expect at least one homework grade and at
least one quiz grade to be dropped.
Projects:
You will be assigned 1 project during the course.
These projects can be completed either individually or in a group with
one other student. You will be asked to
give an oral presentation based on your project in class at some point during
the semester. The project is worth 30
points and the oral report 20 points.
Reflection
Papers: Twice during the semester you will be given a short
writing assignment in which you will be asked to give your personal thoughts
and reflections on different aspects of the course. These papers must be typed and should be at
least 1 page long (typed, double spaced).
These informal papers will be graded mainly on their content and
completeness, but you should write in complete sentences and clearly express
your thoughts.
Each reflection paper will
contribute 10 points toward your final grade.
Exams: This
course will have 3 Chapter Tests plus a final exam, as outlined on the course
syllabus. Be sure to mark the date of
each exam on your calendar, especially the final exam. Exams will be closed book, and closed
notes. Since Chapter 1 is quite short,
the Chapter 1 Test will be worth 60 points.
The other 2 Chapter Tests are worth 100 points. Half of the final exam will be on Chapter 4
material and the remainder is comprehensive and is worth 200 points. The credit given on exam questions will be
proportional to the amount of correct work shown. Little to no credit will be given if sufficient
work is not shown, even if the final answer is correct.
Course Grading Policy: Your final grade in the course will be computed as
follows:
Homework/Quizzes: 170
points
Project: 30 points
Oral Report 20 points
Reflection Papers 20 points
Chapter 1 Exam: 60 points
Chapter 2 and 3 Exams: 200 points
Final Exam: 200
points
Total: 700
points
I will compute the
percentage of the total possible points each student earned during the semester
(rounded to the nearest .1%), and will then assign letter grades based on the
following scale. I may make slight
adjustments to this scale (down, never up), but don’t count on this happening.
96.5-100.0% A+ 81.5-86.4% B 69.0-71.4% C–
91.5-96.5% A 79.0-81.4% B– 66.0-68.9% D+
89.0-91.4% A– 76.5-78.9% C+ 60.0-65.9% D
86.5-88.9% B+ 71.5-76.4% C <60.0% F
Make-up Work: Because you are allowed to drop several scores, I will
only give make-up assignments for extreme personal emergencies or for
absences which are officially sanctioned by the University. I will expect written documentation in either
of these cases. If you miss an exam and
a make-up exam is not warranted, you may replace your grade on one missed exam with your un-scaled percentage score on the final
exam.
Special
Accommodations: Students
with disabilities who believe they may need an accommodation in this class are
encouraged to contact Greg Toutges, Coordinator of
Disability Services at 477-5859 (Voice) or 1-800-627-3529 (MRS/TTY), CMU 114 as
soon as possible to ensure that accommodations are implemented in a timely
fashion.
Academic
Honesty: You are expected to do your
own work. You may work with others and get help on assignments, but the
work you submit must be your own. During exams and quizzes you will not
be allowed to get help from others. Cheating and plagiarism will not be
tolerated in any course at any level. See the MSUM Academic Honesty
policy for more information on the possible consequences of cheating.
Thanks, And Let’s Have A Great
Semester!!
Math 487 –
Section 01 Course Page