MAT 1040: Concepts of Mathematics
Section 2
Fall 2008
Dr. Sam Stueckle
12:00-12:50 MWF
GS 110
 

Table of Contents:

PURPOSE:

Here we will consider some of the greatest ideas of humankind – ideas comparable tot he works of Shakespeare, Plato, and Michelangelo. The great ideas we will explore here are within the realm of mathematics. What is mathematics? Mathematics is an artistic endeavor that requires both imagination and creativity. In this course, we will experience what mathematics is all about by delving into some beautiful and intriguing issues. 

We will cover roughly six different topics. Although you will be challenged, the overriding theme of the course is to gain an appreciation for mathematics and to discover the power of mathematical thinking in your everyday life. We will follow the text reasonably closely although we will not cover all the material in class.

The primary prerequisites for this course are an open and curious mind and the willingness to put aside any preconceived prejudices or dislikes for mathematics. This course will be mainly conceptual as opposed to computational. We will not require much mathematical background and the course should be self-contained, for the most part.

The role preparation model for Trevecca's Teacher Education Program is "the teacher as holistic developer." Efforts will be made throughout the course to enhance the student's development in the psychomotor, social, emotional, and spiritual domains as well as the cognitive domain.

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OBJECTIVES:

There are three main objectives for this course:

1. To attain a better understanding of several rich mathematical ideas.
2. To build sharper skills for analyzing life issues that transcend mathematics.
3. To develop a new perspective and outlook on the way you view the world.

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RESOURCES NEEDED:

Textbooks: There two textbooks for this course, one required and one optional:

1. Required: The Heart of Mathematics: An invitation to effective thinking, 2nd ed., by Edward Burger and Michael Starbird, published by Key College Publishing, ISBN 1-931914-41-9. (Make sure you get the manipulative packet with the book)

Each student will need a calculator with memory and square root.

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COURSE REQUIREMENTS:

1. There will be 3 or 4 tests through the course of the term. Test 1 will be after chapter 2, Test 2 will be after chapter 3, Test 3 will be after chapter 5, and Test 4 will be after chapter 6, and if we have time we may have a mini-test or quiz after chapter 7. Tests are to be taken as scheduled except in cases of emergency, in which case the instructor must be notified in advance and the test must be made up within two days of the student's return to class.
2. Homework from the text will be assigned regularly, then collected and graded. Clarity of exposition is important, and one should strive for well written, polished solutions. For the most part, collaboration on homework with other members of the class is allowed, although solutions must be individually written up and collaborators should be acknowledged. Late homework will not be accepted except as noted in 8.
3. Two brief reports in your own words (nothing should be copied from your source) are to be handed in on a "TNU Reading Card" (available in the bookstore) from items of a mathematical nature of your choice from a mathematics or related periodical and video found in our library (no encyclopedias and no periodicals older than 1995). Both reports should contain both a short summary of the source and your response to it. The first report is to be from a magazine article of at least one full page length. It will be due by the beginning of class on October 10. Examples of periodicals are: Scientific American, Science Digest, The Arithmetic Teacher, The Mathematics Teacher, Classroom Computer Learning, School Science and Mathematics, Math Horizons. Reports with incomplete or incorrect bibliographic information will be severely marked down - the instructor must be able to locate the source readily in our library. The second report will be on a video chosen from the following: The Proof (NOVA), Fractals: Colors of Infinity, or one of the 7 volumes from Life by the Numbers. These are all on reserve in the library. This report will be due at the beginning of class on September 19.  If you cannot come to class the day a report is due, send your report with a friend. Each day the report is late will result in a loss of 5 points.
4. A book report on a book of a mathematical nature will be written. You may use any book from sources in the bibliography. Any other book must be approved in advance by the professor. The body of the report must be at least two typewritten double spaced pages, with 1 inch margins and using 12 point times new roman font. You should use correct grammar and composition. Also, make sure you include any references you use. The report should contain both a short summary of the book and your response to it. The report will be due at the beginning of class on November 14. If you cannot come to class the day a report is due, send your report with a friend. Each day the report is late will result in a loss of 5 points.
5. One paper will be written. The body of the paper must be at least two typewritten double spaced pages, with 1 inch margins and using 12 point times new roman font. You should use correct grammar and composition. Also, make sure you include any references you use. A number of books on the Philosophy of Mathematics are in the library and may be helpful if you choose to use them. The paper will address the question "What is Mathematics?" and will be due at the beginning of class on December 5. Late papers will not be accepted.
6. Extra Credit: There will be two opportunities for  students to get extra credit. No student may participate in earning extra credit if they have not completed all of the regular work required for the course. Students will be allowed the exception of up to 2 homework assignments not completed and still be able to earn extra credit.
   a)   One extra credit report may be written on a "TNU reading card" about a book chosen from the sources in the bibliography or on a video chosen from the list above, which are in the library. An alternative book may be used but must be approved in advance by the professor. This report may be turned in any time prior to the beginning class on December 5.
   b)   A 20 minute oral presentation, given by either 1 or 2 students, may also be done for extra credit. The presentation may be given over material that we have not covered in the book, such as sections 2.4 and/or 2.5,  4.2, 4.4, 4.7,  5.4, 5.5 or anything from chapters 7, or 8 that we do not cover. There are several books in the library with additional material for presentations. You may also choose some other topic of interest, but it must contain substantial mathematics and be approved by the instructor. The presentation will be worth up to 30 points (depending on depth and quality) and will be given during the last day of classes (December 8) or during the final exam time (December 11, 10:00-12:00).
7. Regular class attendance. Mathematics is a deductive science and thus most lessons depend upon the previous lessons. It is thus imperative that you miss class only when absolutely necessary. (See attendance policy.)
8. In the event that a student has an excused absence when a homework paper is collected, it is the student's responsibility to make arrangements to hand in the paper the first session he/she returns to class. A zero will result otherwise. All missed work must be made up within two days of returning to class after an absence.
9. Academic Honesty: (See Academic Honesty Policy statement in the student handbook on page 42.)
10. The final exam time for this course is Thursday December 11, 10:00-12:00. This time will be classroom extra credit presentations and/or the last test, which will not be cumulative.

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ATTENDANCE POLICY:

You will be expected to have no more than 3 absences, excused or unexcused, in this course (see the university attendance policy). Two tardies will be counted as one absence. Leaving class before it is over will be counted as a tardy. Coming to class for attendance and then leaving will be counted as an absence. Excessive absences will result in withdrawl from or failure of the course. 

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EVALUATION PROCEDURE:

All grading will be based on the work done and procedures used, not on the answer obtained. This means that partial credit will be given for correct or partially correct procedures. Also, a correct answer does not necessarily imply that full credit will be given.

Final grades will be determined by a combination of all tests, reports, and homework graded. The assignments from each section will be graded on a scale of 0-3 points. The total of all assignment grades will count as half a test. Each report and the paper will be worth 25 points and together they will count as one test.  So, there will be a total of 550 points, with each of the 4 tests 2 counting 100, the reports and paper each counting 25, and the homework counting 50. The extra credit book report will be worth up to 15 points and the extra credit presentation will be worth up to 30 points and these will be added to the grade for the reports and paper. Hence we have the following:

Grading

Tests                  400 points
Reports                75 points (25 points each)
Paper                   25 points
Homework             50 points
(EC Report            15 points
 EC Presentation    30 points)

The following cutoffs can be use as a guide for the final grade:

A+ , 97%; A,93%; A-,90%; B+,87%; B,83%; B-,80%; C+,77%; C,73%; C-,70%; D+,67%; D,63%; D-,60%.

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ADDITIONAL POLICIES:

Cell Phone and Laptop Computer Policy

Cell phones must be turned off during class.  No phone calls are to be made or received during class. There will be no text messaging during class. In addition, laptop computers are not allowed in class. Any exceptions must be approved by the professor.

Disability Policy:

Trevecca Nazarene University provides disability support services. Students who have a disability and who would like to receive accommodations must register with the Academic Support Center in the lower level of the Waggoner Library.