ahowe@casciahall.org

 

Syllabus - Algebra II

 

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 “Algebra II Transfer Package”.  You must keep this package available throughout the year, just like your text book.  The first page of the “Algebra II Transfer Package” contains more detail on how this package is used.

 

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, 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 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 may 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.  Please keep your handouts and notes in a notebook.  It is possible that you may be permitted to use your ‘official’ Algebra II notebook for some quizzes, or in class assignments.

 

We may also give a low value quiz at the end of class, usually a problem from that night’s homework.  Basically, we are finding that we must have some problems from the homework done during class to avoid problems associated with lack of concentration during class and too much help after class (such as tutors that work on current assignments or copying).  Total points on homework will be around 250 to 300 points per quarter.  This will represent from 30% to 50 % of the grade, depending on the quarter.  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 will be given an assignment sheet for that unit.  As we proceed through that unit you will be given other handouts, such as homework sheets and “concept summaries”.  Always make sure you receive all handouts, and put them into your notebook.  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 until class discussions are completed.

 

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.  Major Quizzes.  We may need to give a major quiz when we have covered material that needs to be tested, but have not covered enough for a test.  (25 to 75 points)

3.  Tests. (Usually 100 points per test; about 3 tests per quarter).

4.   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.

 

Grading Scale:                        Range                    Grade                           

                                                   90-100%                       A    

                                                   80- 90%                        B     

                                                   70- 80%                        C

                                                   60- 70%                        D

                                                   0 - 60%                         E or 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.  The instructor reserves the right to give an oral exam as the make up exam.

 

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.  Just like Algebra I, the concepts in Algebra II will be used in future courses and you need to be able to recall them.  That is, you are learning the concepts for more than just the next unit test.  Therefore we may give a “Comprehensive Algebra Exam (ACE-II) at the end of the year.  Part of the reasons you are using the “concept summaries” is to have the main concepts you are covering in a compact and organized structure that will allow you to routinely remind yourself of the concepts you have covered.  Therefore, the way you prepare yourself for this exam is to routinely, maybe once a week on weekends, take five or ten minutes to remind yourself of the major concepts up to that point.  In class we will give short unannounced one problem quizzes (called transfer quizzes) over older material.  This should help you to keep dealing with previously learned material.

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

5.  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.

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

7.  Extra Help.  Since, so many of our students participate in extra curricular activities, the best time for help is during the activity period.  However, I am usually available before or after school when needed.  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.

8.  Grade, Test and Assignment Communications:  Assignments will be placed on the Teacher Web weekly.  In the middle of the 1^st quarter your grades will be available on the web, so you will be able to see your test scores and averages as soon as they are posted.  Until that time I will try to figure out a way to give you test scores and averages after tests.  After major tests you will receive an up-to-date printout of your grade, usually the day after the test.  We give tests to evaluate, not to teach with, therefore you will not be allowed to keep tests.  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.

4.  We will periodically deal with general operation of the graphing calculator so you will understand the capabilities of your calculator.