Homework (3 points per day): Homework is checked daily for quality of effort.  One problem will be collected for thorough grading and feedback.

• 1point for having (most of) your homework done, 1 point for turning in the collected problem, and 1 point if the collected problem is worked essentially correctly (with work shown).  A list of answers (no work shown) will not earn the first point, and a correct but unjustified answer (no work shown again) will not earn the final point.
• Zero:  Homework not submitted, or unexcused absence.

Classwork (100 points per quarter):  You start the quarter with 85 points (letter grade: B). 

• Earn points for doing exemplary work in your group, and for perfect attendance.
• Lose points if you detract from your group's work (you’re "out of order").  You can also lose a point by being late for class or for an excused absence.
• Lose two points for unexcused absence or unexcused tardy in excess of 10 minutes.

Oral Presentation (10 points per quarter):   At least once per quarter, you will make a brief (2-minute) oral presentation.  You will be given the topic of your presentation a day or two in advance.  A typical presentation might be to explain one of the problems from the homework, or to begin a class discussion of a new topic, to expand on a topic already under discussion, or to be prepared to answer questions from the homework.  You will be expected to stand at the front of the classroom and (if appropriate) use the chalkboard, the overhead calculator, or the computer as part of your presentation.   You will be graded on your preparation (evidence that you were ready to present) and your presentation (use of correct terminology and symbols, in addition to clarity of speaking and effectiveness).  These are equally weighted in the overall presentation grade.

• A:  preparation/presentation thorough, no significant errors.
• B:  preparation incomplete, presentation uses incorrect terminology or symbols but essentially correct.
• C:  preparation inadequate, presentation has some key ideas correct.
• D:  presentation has problems with one or more key ideas.
• F:  no evidence of preparation, presentation essentially incorrect or incomprehensible.
• 0 (zero):  unexcused absence or tardy on day of presentation.
• You may ask your teacher for help in preparing, if you are uncomfortable with the process!  There is no extra charge for this service.

Tests/Quizzes:  Tests (100 points) and quizzes (10-50 points) you're probably familiar with.  Included in your online grade within 2-3 days (usually).  One test per unit, one or more quizzes per unit; announced at the beginning of each unit.

Tests or quizzes scheduled during a pre-planned absence (including field trips and medical appointments) must be made up in advance of the absence.  Tests or quizzes missed due to excused absences must be taken within the number of days prescribed in the attendance policy.  Tests or quizzes missed due to unexcused absences will result in a grade of zero.  Students who miss only part of the day MUST TAKE THE TEST OR QUIZ ON THE DAY IT IS SCHEDULED; I can be available during lunch, a free period, or after school.

• Test Corrections:  After each test (unless it’s an unexcused absence), you will have the opportunity to submit a correction within 3 school days if you did not earn an A for the test.  You may use your textbook and/or your own notes.  Turn in your original test and a separate page on which you provide detailed corrections, fully explained, for any major errors (generally scores of 4 or less on a problem); minor errors may be corrected with colored pencil on the original test.  In order to assure fairness, students may not receive any help except from their teacher on test corrections.
• Grading—problems corrected with good explanations may earn a score of up to 4 (a problem originally scored “4” may earn up to 4.5).  Problems partially corrected, or with incomplete explanations, will earn less.  Your test grade will be adjusted (including the online grade) and your average recomputed.  Late corrections will be graded, but your average will not be re-computed.

Notebook (10 points per check): Notebooks are collected and checked during tests (your teacher has to have something to do while you take your test!).  They are checked for neatness and quality of notes, with suggestions offered if there are significant problems.  The class will determine how notebooks are graded (rubric).

Internet (online) Quiz—Announced well in advance.  Many units will have an on-line quiz.  Each on-line quiz is worth 10-40 points.  Included in your on-line grade as soon as you take it.

• Online quizzes are graded by computer.  Generally, each problem (or part of a problem) is weighted equally.  Quizzes may be re-taken up to five times; the best score is reported.  Quizzes taken late are assessed a 10%-per-day penalty. 
• You may use a textbook, YOUR OWN notes (not someone else’s), and your calculator.  You may NOT use help from anyone, whether in person, via instant messaging, or any other electronic or paper medium.

Projects—long- or short-term, group or individual.

• Projects are graded for mathematical content, quality of writing, overall appearance, and quality of presentation (when required).  Mathematical content, including ideas, calculations, etc., count for 60-80% of the project grade (the longer the duration of the project, the more weight the math carries).  Generally equivalent to a quiz (up to 50 points); exceptions announced in advance.

Final Exam—there will be a comprehensive final exam for this course, during finals week.  It will be mostly multiple-choice and short answer, but there will be some extended response questions.

• Part of the final exam will be open-book, open-note, and will require your graphing calculator; part will be closed-book, closed-note and will not allow use of a calculator. 

A:

for the student who masters course content.

The student has earned 90% of all possible points, without an excessive number of absences and/or tardies (4 or fewer)

B:

for the student who understands most course content

The student has earned 80% of all possible points, without an excessive number of absences and/or tardies (4 or fewer)

C:

for the student who is familiar with most course content, struggling with some.

The student has earned 70% of all possible points, without an excessive number of absences and/or tardies (5 or fewer)

D:

for the student who struggles with the course content, or is in danger of failing.

The student has earned 60% of all possible points, without an excessive number of absences and/or tardies (5 or fewer)

F:

for the student who is failing

None of the criteria above has been met.

Unit

Reference

Mathematical Content

Duration

A.  Intro to UniMath

Class Notes

Review arithmetic; become familiar with vocabulary and notation; graph equations with two variables.

~1 week

1.  Descriptive Statistics

MC1a Unit 1

Measure center and spread, construct and interpret displays of data; learn to use the graphing calculator; use absolute value and square root functions.

~4 weeks

2.  Intro to Algebra

MC1a Unit 2 and Class Notes

Learn and use properties of numbers and operations, solving linear equations; learn to use exponents and scientific notation; use logic in algebra; perform operations with polynomials.

~5 weeks

3.  The Line

MC1a Unit 3

Understand linear equations from graphical, tabular, analytic, and verbal standpoints; learn to graph lines from equations and find equations from graphs.

~4 weeks

4.  Lines from Data

MC1a Unit 4

Estimate, interpolate, and extrapolate from near-linear data; learn basic linear regression.

~3 weeks

5.  Systems of Lines

MC1b Unit 5

Describe situations with equations; solve systems of linear equations; use tree diagrams and other algorithms.

~4 weeks

6.  The Function

MC1b Unit 6

Define the function; understand vocabulary of functions (domain, range, inverse); use various representations (including recursive); learn step and exponential functions.

~6 weeks

Q.  Quadratics

Class Notes

Working with quadratic equations; graphing quadratic functions; solving quadratic equations by graphing, factoring, completing the square, and the quadratic formula.

~3 weeks

7.  Counting and Probability

MC1b Units 7 and

Understand the Fundamental Counting Principle; use tree diagrams, Venn diagrams, and set notation.  Intuitive outcomes of random experiments; simulation; describe sample spaces and compute (simple) theoretical probabilities.

~3 weeks