Math 302: Fall 2009
Course Information
Instructor: Dr.
Class
Number: 18537 (MWF 12:00 p.m. – 12:50
p.m.) Class Room: MH 512
Office: McCarthy 33A
Office Phone: 657-278-7678
Office Hours
|
Mondays: 11:00 - 12:00 noon, 4:00 - 5:30, and 7:30 - 9:30 pm |
|
Tuesdays: 7:00 - 9:00 pm (at Del Taco, on St. College and Nutwood) |
|
Wednesdays: 1:00 - 2:00 pm and 7:30 - 8:30 pm |
|
Fridays: 11:00 - 12:00 noon |
Note: If these times
are not convenient for you, you are always welcome to set up another
appointment with me outside of my regular office hours. Also, you are always
welcome to drop by anytime without an appointment to see if I'm available.
E-Mail: sannin@fullerton.edu
Webpage
Address: http://math.fullerton.edu/sannin
Note: The webpage will be
VERY important for the operation of this course. You must go to the
webpage regularly to find homework assignments, solutions, and other course
materials and announcements.
Text: Abstract
Algebra (2nd edition), 1997,
by Thomas Hungerford
Course
Description: Introduction to abstract algebraic
structures, including groups, rings, integral domains, and fields. Examples of these will be drawn from
integers, rational numbers, real numbers, congruence
classes of integers, matrices, polynomials, permutations, and others. The idea is to take our pre-derived notions
of how algebra and arithmetic work in familiar settings (such as from Calculus)
and study more abstract algebraic structures that may or may not obey the same
rules of algebra and arithmetic.
Important broad topics to be emphasized: congruence arithmetic with
integers and polynomials, homomorphisms and isomorphisms, and sub-structures and quotient structures.
Grading: Homework and Quizzes (15 %) Two Midterms (20 % each), Final Exam (40 %). Whichever of the four components of your
grade (homework/quiz, midterm 1, midterm 2, or final) is highest will receive
an extra 5% weight in your course grade computation. Also, I reserve the
right to raise or lower your class percentage by 2-3% on the basis of a
qualitative measure that I call "qualitative performance" (see
below). Note: University policy allows for plus/minus grades to be given, and I will use them as appropriate.
Exams: The dates of the tests are:
Test Dates
|
First Midterm |
Monday, October 5 |
|
Second Midterm |
Friday, November 20 |
|
Final Exam |
Friday, December 18 (12:00 – 2:00
pm) |
Note: In-class exams are closed
book, closed notes, closed calculators. No make-up exams
are allowed, so check your schedule now to ensure that you have no time
conflicts with the above exam schedule.
Important
Dates pertaining to Withdrawal:
·
Tuesday, September 8: Last day to drop without
grade of “W”. Students
drop by using New Titan Online.
·
Friday, October 2: Last day the Math Department will be flexible on the approval of late
withdrawal requests. Beginning Monday, October 5, students must have a
serious and compelling reason for withdrawing (e.g. medical reason) and must
provide supporting written documentation for their reason (poor academic
performance does not constitute such a reason).
·
Friday, November 13: Last day to withdraw with a
truly serious and compelling reason that is clearly beyond the student’s
control. Students must document
their reason.
Holidays: No
classes on Monday, September 7 (Labor Day) and during the week of November
23-27 (Thanksgiving Break).
Furlough Days: As you are probably aware, CSUF’s budget for this year has been significantly reduced affecting all areas of the campus. Faculty and staff are required to take furlough days without pay meaning that instruction and usual services will be disrupted at various times during the year. This semester, the Math Department Office will be closed on designated staff furlough days, which are posted outside MH54. Further, classes will not meet formally on those days where a furlough day is observed by the instructor. The specific days when a class will not meet will vary from course section to course section and instructor to instructor. For this class, the furlough dates are Friday, September 4, Wednesday, September 9, Wednesday, October 21, Friday, October 23, and Monday, November 30. These days have been identified in the course syllabus. Class will not meet those dates, but an alternative assignment and suggestions for study on these dates will be given. This is a very difficult time for all of us. We are working to provide the best education possible given the resources available to us.
Homework
and Quizzes: Homework assignments
will be due to the envelope outside of my office door by 10:00 p.m. on the date
it is due. Please print your name, my name, and your class time at the top
right corner on the first page of each assignment and always STAPLE your
assignment before turning it in.
At least one assignment will be due per week. No late papers can be
accepted. For each assignment, some problems will be graded in detail for
mathematical correctness, and some credit will also be given for the overall
completeness and quality of the work, regardless of the correctness. Points in this category may be deducted for
sloppy work, illegible writing, or poorly organized and difficult-to-follow
steps. Some problems may
require you to provide a written explanation, and this should be done
carefully, using complete sentences.
The homework is very important, and you should work hard at it and allow
sufficient time to do a thorough job. You may work together with friends and
get any help from me you need, provided your final solution write-up is done in
your own words and is not merely copied. I will supply formal solutions to some
of the problems on the webpage. Quizzes may be scheduled with as little as one
class period advance notice.
Qualitative
Performance: I may use the following
qualitative factors to raise or lower your class percentage by 2-3 %
(basically, to deal with borderline grade cases): attendance, participation in
class discussions, hard work, improvement, office hours, etc....
Free
Tutoring: The
Academic
Integrity: Students
who violate university standards of academic integrity are subject to
disciplinary sanctions, including failure in the course and suspension from the
university. Since dishonesty in any form harms the individual, other
students, and the university, policies on academic integrity are strictly
enforced. This includes receiving a
disciplinary F in the course and having your name and the incident reported to
the appropriate academic deans. I expect that you will familiarize
yourself with the academic integrity guidelines found in the current student
handbook. Examples of academic
dishonesty include, but are not limited to: (1) copying from another
student’s homework, quiz, or exam, (2) allowing another student to copy
your written work, (3) copying solutions from a text solutions manual.
Emergency
Procedures: In
the event of an emergency, such as an earthquake or fire, take all your
personal belongings and leave the classroom. Use the stairways located at
the east, west, or center of the building. Do not use elevators---they
may not be working once the alarm sounds. Go to the lawn area towards
Final
Thoughts: I'm looking forward
to working with you all this semester! I *want* to help you learn the material
and do well in the class. If you are having any problems or concerns with the
class, I hope you will be comfortable talking to me about it. I'll do my best
to give advice to keep you on track. To help me learn your names and to show
you where my office is, I would like each of you to drop by my office sometime
during the first two weeks for 5 minutes to introduce yourself. I’ll drop your lowest homework
score if you do this in the first two weeks. This will help me get to know you and
vice versa, and it won’t take long.
Have a great semester, and good luck.