Course Information
Math 487: Foundations of Geometry - Section
01, Spring 2011
3 Credits: MWF 10:30 - 1:20am Bridges
Room 268
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: W 9:30 – 10:20am Email: jamesju@mnstate.edu
TTh 10:30 – 11:20pm Webpage: web.mnstate.edu/jamesju
MTWTh 1:30 –
2:50pm
F 1:30 – 2:30pm
Other times by
Appointment
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
about 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 homework and quiz scores will be combined
to contribute approximately 180 points toward your final grade.
Project/Presentation: You will be asked to select a project topic from a list of potential
topics. Your project can be completed individually or
in a group with one other student. You
will give an oral presentation based on your project during the student
academic conference. The project and its
accompanying presentation will contribute 50 points toward your final grade.
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 1 Chapter Quiz, 2 Chapter Tests, and 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 Quiz will be worth 50 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.
The final is worth 200 points. The
credit given on exam questions will be proportional to the amount of correct
work shown along with the clarity and precision of your arguments.
Course Grading
Policy: Your final grade in the course will be computed as
follows:
Homework/Quizzes: 180 points
Project and Presentation:
50 points
Reflection Papers 20 points
Chapter 1 Quiz:
50 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: I
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