Syllabus — MTH 299 (Transitions)

PEOPLE AND PLACES:

COURSE OBJECTIVES: The course is an introduction to the project of higher mathematics. You will learn about basic logic, set theory, integers, natural numbers and induction. You will learn to use mathematical proof to tackle problems in number theory and analysis. The course will prepare you for the core courses of a math degree: linear algebra, analysis and algebra.

PREREQUISITES: Calculus I, either AP or MTH 132. Some sections of the course may require extra work if you haven't studied, or aren't currently studying, Calc II (MTH 133).

TEXTBOOK: Chartrand, Polimeni and Zhang, Mathematical Proofs: A Transition to Advanced Mathematics. 3rd Ed. ISBN-10: 0321797094

COURSE WEBSITE AND FORUM: https://piazza.com/msu/fall2014/fs14mth299004/home

The course website is mandatory reading for the course. Reading assignments from the textbook, homework and supplementary reading materials will be posted there.

The website is a Piazza class page which provides a forum for asking and answering questions about the course. The system is highly catered to getting you help fast and efficiently from classmates and myself. Rather than emailing questions to myself or the TA, I encourage you to post your questions on Piazza. (If you have any problems or feedback for the developers, email team@piazza.com.)

CLASS EXPECTATIONS:

You are expected to attend every lecture and recitation.
You are expected to pay attention and participate in class.
You are expected to own the text book and complete all reading assignments.
You are expected to spend at least 90 minutes between consecutive lectures doing homework and reading the book.
If you do not understand the subject, you are expected to reread the book, repeat homework assignments and ask questions in lecture, in recitation and online until you do.
You are expected to write proofs. This is a writing course! It is important that you take the time to present your solutions and proofs in clear, well written, English prose. Solutions that are incompletely or poorly written will not be considered correct, even if it appears that the mathematical content is correct. From time to time, you may be asked to revise and resubmit homework problems that are not well written.

EVALUATION: Your course grade will be based on turned in homework assignments, quizzes and exams.

HOMEWORK: Homework will be assigned at most lectures.
- Assignments are to be turned in two lectures afterwards. That is, excepting weeks with holidays, homework assigned on Monday is due Friday; homework assigned on Wednesday is due on Monday and homework assigned on Friday is dues on Monday.
- Homework will not be accepted late unless you were absent with an excused absence.
- Selected homework problems will be graded from each set.
ESSAY HOMEWORK: There will be several essay homework assignments. These will involve somewhat more writing. You will be given more time to work on these assignments and will be asked to revise them and turn them in again, possibly several times.
QUIZZES: A quiz will be given at each recitation, excepting dates when there is an exam.
- You are expected to complete quizzes on your own, without collaboration or the use of outside resources. In particular, no notes, books, calculators, phones, tables or computers will be allowed.
- There will be no make-up quizzes for any reason.
- The quiz component of your grade will be the average of all your quiz scores, excepting
  - The first quiz.
  - Quizzes that occurred on dates for which you have an excused absence.
  - Your lowest quiz grade from the remaining dates.
EXAMS: There will two 80-minute midterm exams given in recitation.
- You are expected to complete exams on your own, without collaboration or the use of outside resources. In particular, no notes, books, calculators, phones, tables or computers will be allowed.
- You are expected to take all exams. Make up exams may be given only in case of an excused absence.
- The exam dates are:
  - October 2
  - November 13
COMMON FINAL EXAM: The common final for all sections of this course is scheduled for Wednesday December 10, 3:00 to 5:00 pm.
- All students are required to take the Common Final Exam.
- The final exam will be comprehensive. All material covered during the semester will be relevant.
- You are expected to complete the final exam on your own, without collaboration or the use of outside resources. In particular, no notes, books, calculators, phones, tables or computers will be allowed.
- The date for the exam is fixed. You are expected to make end of semester travel arrangements accordingly. Travel will not be sufficient excuse to have the exam rescheduled.
- The location of the final exam will be announced at a later date.

GRADES: The components of your grade will be weighted as follows:

Your final grade will be computed based on the following scale:

IMPORTANT DATES:

Further information can be found HERE.

TIPS FOR SUCCESS:

Understand the homework. All of it.
Frequent my office hours, use the math learning center and ask questions in the online forum.
When your body is in class, have your mind in class. Put away your cell phone. Don't check your email. Multi-tasking doesn't work.

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: As noted above, you are expected to complete quizzes and exams on your own, without collaboration or the use of outside resources. Any violation of this rule will be treated according to the MSU policies on academic integrity. If you have not already, please familiarize yourself with these policies.

On the other hand, you are encouraged to collaborate with your peers on homework assignments and exercises in recitation. However, there is one simple rule that must be followed in any collaborative work:

Never present another's ideas or words as your own.

To do otherwise is called plagiarism — it is unethical and a basic violation of academic integrity. In particular, you are expected to

Write solutions in your own words.
Cite your collaborators and sources.

That is, work with other students but when you are done the time to sit by yourself and write the homework up in your own words and let me know who you worked with and what sources (if any) you looked at. You may be asked to revise and resubmit a proof that appears to be a near verbatim copy of another student's work.

CAMPUS EMERGENCIES: If an emergency arises in this classroom, building or vicinity, your instructor will inform you of actions to follow to enhance your safety. As a student in this class, you are responsible for knowing the location of the nearest emergency evacuation route or shelter. These directions appear on the maps posted on the walls throughout this building. If police or university officials order us to evacuate the classroom or building, follow the posted emergency route in an orderly manner and assist those who might need help in reaching a barrier-free exit or shelter. To receive emergency messages, set your cellular phones on silent mode when you enter this classroom. If you observe or receive an emergency alert, immediately and calmly inform your instructor. (See also www.alert.msu.edu.)