Honors Algebra II/Trig Course Syllabus
2009-2010

Fr. Chris Thiel, OFMCap
cthiel@sfhs.net - (818) 790-0325 x638
website: www.mathorama.com
podcast: precalcproblems.blogspot.com

Homework (Assignments)

Weekly Quizzes

Chapter Tests

Chapter tests are administered after covering a significant body of work, usually after each chapter of the text (usually every other week). Sometimes however, a large chapter is divided into two parts, with a Chapter Test after each. Since everyone can have a "bad day" for whatever reason (stress, illness, difficulty with a particular topic, etc.), the lowest test of the quarter does not count. Chapter Tests are timed tests that are worth 20 points.

Projects

Projects are assigned to encourage the communication of mathematical insights and to help deepen your understanding of a particular topic. Projects take on a variety of forms including online quizzes and activities, making web pages, videos, posters and presentations. Projects are either 5 or 10 point assignments.


Class Preparedness

You start with 20 points at the beginning of the quarter. Any class where you fail to be prepared, you lose a point. An example of not being prepared is not having the previous homework, notes, pencil or textbook out at the start of the lecture, or failing to bring your book, paper, pencil and calculator to class. If you were absent, you must bring your yellow re-admit slip to the next class.

Extra Credit

The grade for this honors course is based upon mastery of the curriculum, so there are no extra credit assignments.

Final Exam

There is a special schedule during "Finals Week" to allow for a long, cumulative examination of your mathematical skills. The final exam counts as two chapter tests (40 points). To help your test taking skills, the test employs the "SAT" style of questioning. There are only thought provoking questions, and an average student only answers half of them correctly. These exams are therefore graded on a curve, based on the average and standard deviation of those taking the exam this year. The top student will always score all 40 points.

Classroom Discipline

  1. DO NOT DISRUPT CLASS For the sake of the majority of the class, those who disrupt a class lesson by talking, disturbing someone, or throwing any object will not be tolerated. Disciplinary measures may include written assignments or cleaning of the classroom. Chronic disruptions warrant a phone call home and/or a "Saturday".

  2. DO NOT ABUSE SCHOOL PROPERTY You are responsible for your work place and will be held accountable to keep your desk and its environs clean. Feet should remain on the floor, never on the desk. All four feet of the desk must also remain on the floor. Be gentle when using a school computer. If you are banned from the use of the computer, all computer based assignments are replaced with extensive written assignments.

  3. DO NOT ABUSE YOUR TIME Take advantage of the group work sessions. This is the time to do your talking---so long as you get the work done. Abuse of this privilege will result in individual loss of the privilege as well as the disciplinary measures mentioned above. Talking without permission during quizzes or tests can and will be interpreted as cheating. Consult the student handbook for the consequences of cheating. As per the student handbook, students are responsible for work missed due to absence the day they return. If you are present and a quiz or test is scheduled, you must take it. It is a good idea to have the phone number of several classmates to see what material and assignments were covered during your absence. If you miss a quiz you cannot gain any points for it. Usually one test score and one quiz score will be dropped each quarter. If you know you will be absent for a test, you may schedule to take it before the actual test date if prior arrangements have been made with the instructor. In the case of an extended illness special arrangements should be made with the Academic Vice Principal, Mr. Trujillo.

  4. LIVE UP TO YOUR GOOD NAME You are expected to exhibit the attributes of a St. Francis Golden Knight: courteous attention, gracious cooperation, and dedicated study. Each can readily be seen in the thoroughness and orderliness of your work, as well as how you offer, ask and accept help from others.

Grading

  1. Homework=4 points (max.), (roughly worth one test each quarter)
  2. Quizzes=10 points (max.), (lowest quiz is not counted against you--worth half of a test)
  3. Homework Review Quizzes=1 point each.
  4. Chapter Tests=20 points each (lowest test is not counted against you--each test worth half the final)
  5. Math projects=5 or 10 points each (worth half or the same as a quiz)
  6. Class Preparedness=1 point per day (one quarter's worth is about the same as a test)
  7. Quarter Exams=40 points each. (worth two tests)
Since the number of tests and quizzes and the number of weeks of homework vary from quarter to quarter, the percentages are approximate. The overall letter grades are computed by using the standard percentage ratio:
.

Since the lowest 20 point Chapter Test and 10 point quiz each quarter is usually not counted in the overall score, the percentages are NEVER rounded up. I'm already basing your grade on your best work, so the percentage of the best work is used to see (like in the high jump) which letter grade you earned. Therefore, the average is converted into letter grades strictly as follows:

90% to 100%
A
80% to 89.9999%
B
70% to 79.9999%
C
60% to 69.9999%
D
0% to 59.9999%
not a D

Are you Ready for Calculus?

At the turn of the century (2005), some (like R. James Milgram at Stanford) claimed that over 40% of graduating seniors in California were not prepared enough to enroll in college level mathematics courses. Before enrolling in a Mathematics class at the UC, Cal State and Cal Poly schools students must take a an Entry Level Mathematics exam (ELM) and at most University of California campuses they require passing a Mathematics Diagnostic Test (MDT).

You can link to the Mathematics Diagnostic Testing Project web page here. Half way through the year you should be able to pass the Math Readiness (MR) test, which is what would be required to enrolled for the Precalculus Course at a four-year university. At the end of the year, you should be able to pass the Calculus readiness (CR) test, which is what would required before enrolling in Calculus at a 4-year college or university.

Before attempting them, get at least two (2) sheets of blank paper (no calculators allowed) and allow yourself one hour in a quiet place. Unlike an AP or SAT exam, try not to guess. The idea is to find out which skills you need to improve, and you don't want a lucky guess to hide an area of deficiency. At the end of the test it tells you which of six (or eight for the CR test) areas of math each question is evaluating.


Send e-mail to instructor: cthiel@sfhs.net