• Homework is where the real learning takes place! Math is a language, and you have to practice it to speak it! Consider speaking math to be reading, writing, and solving problems.

• The more you engage, the comfortable you will get. To help you get ready f or tests, you should be trying to complete all written problems in a neat, organized fashion.

• If you can't get through some of them, you can ask me or go to the math center!

• You need to show your work -- on a test, you have to show all of your work to earn full credit, so it is good practice to do so on your homework. Here are some general guidelines that I adhere to when working a problem:

• 1.Label the assignment with the assignment number,

• 2.clearly label the start of each section and problems.

• Homework will be submitted via Canvas to allow you to keep the problems as study tools for the exams and quizzes.

• Homework will be due by midnight on the indicated due date. I have suggested homework benchmarks listed in Canvas for you to complete specific sections by. However, homework will be officially due the night before each of the exams.

• I do not usually accept late homework, but if something comes up, please ask me about it. I generally am flexible if there is a good reason, and you are not trying to turn in the homework multiple days late!

• Homework is graded on effort, specifically attempting all problems with a course relevant attempt. The only way you will realistically get a zero on a homework assignment is if you do not submit it!

There will be frequent quizzes in our class. These will (tentatively) be biweekly and act as checkpoints for the class and homework. If you are keeping pace with the suggested homework schedule, the quizzes should not pose too much difficulty. If you are finding the quizzes very challenging, first look at when you are working on the homework sections. Quizzes typically cover the most recent 1 or 2 weeks since the last test or quiz. Feel free to ask me what may be on the quiz! I don’t want it to be a secret! These in class quizzes cannot be made up; however, your lowest score on these “checkpoint” quizzes will be dropped.

We have 4 major unit exams, that will cover 1 or 2 chapters. These are specified in the class schedule. The tests will take up one class period. And you will have the whole class period to complete it. The tests are designed to evaluate your ability to understand fundamental concepts and calculations. I don’t want to trick you, the questions are straight forward, if you are working through the homework. At least, I think they are! You can tell me otherwise if you feel I am misleading you here.

Grades will be calculated and assigned as follows.

• Homework = 15%

• In Class Quizzes = 15%

• Tests = 45%

• Comprehensive Final = 25% of your grade.

• As long as you attempt each of the tests (and I am looking for you to try at least some of the problems to count as an attempt) then your final exam percentage will replace your lowest test grade. If it is higher of course! I would never switch out a score for something lower!

• The grade scale is (I hope) the usual one with A = (100 - 90%), B = (89 - 80%), C = (79 - 70%),
  D = (69 - 60%), F = (59% or less)

• I do not assign incompletes without express permission from the school and the dean. I can tell you that this never happens in practice.

*IMPORTANT: I try to make sure to keep grades up to date and accurate to the best of my ability. If I am ever behind, just ask me when I will have grades updated. It doesn’t bother me, so long as you are not demanding anything! Sometimes, I end up grading stuff and then forgetting to upload scores to Canvas. For that reason, make sure to hold onto your work that I hand back in case I make any silly mistakes and type a wrong number in the grade book.