MAS 100 Concepts of Mathematics Fall 2022
Course Syllabus
last update: 2022-12-06
Course policies and calendar are subject to change, at the
discretion of the instructor.
Update Log:
10/16/2022 clarification of policies on excused quizzes and possible makeup
9/12/2022 clarification on daily graded homework
11/28/2022 clarification in reading and problems list
12/5/2023 clarification of course goals and objectives
Table of Contents
1 Course Description
2 Prerequisites
3 Requirements Met
4 Required Text(s) and Materials
5 Required Technology
6 Instructor
7 Class Meetings, Office Hours
8 Course Calendar
9 Exam Dates (Tentative)
10 Reading and Problem List
11 Course Goals, Objectives, and Learning Outcomes
Learning and Study
12 Learning
13 Study Strategies
14 Sample Study Aids
15 Portfolio
Grades and Other Policies
16 Graded Work
17 Graded Homework
18 Quizzes
19 Makeup Assignments and Extra Credit
20 Letter Grades
21 Attendance
22 Class Engagement
23 Collaboration versus Plagiarism
24 Honor Policy
LVC Official Syllabus Material
25 LVC Policies and Statements
26 Quantitative Reasoning (QR)
1 Course Description
This course examines topics in fairness and manipulability in social
decision making including voting systems and division of goods.
2 Prerequisites
There are no prerequisites beyond high school algebra skills.
3 Requirements Met
Credit Hours: 3
Constellation LVC Component: Quantitative Reasoning (QR)
4 Required Text(s) and Materials
- Textbook: COMAP, For All Practical Purposes 10th edition
- Lyons, Sample
Textbook, 9/2021 edition
- Calculator for homework and quizzes. Business and graphing calculators are
allowed, but not required.
5 Required Technology
- PDF scanner app for your phone (or other device) for scanning
homework and quizzes to a single pdf file. Scan-to-pdf capability
is a built-in feature of Android and Apple phones; there are also
many free apps
- Canvas app for your phone (or other device) for submitting
homework and quizzes
- Any device with a webcam and microphone and running Zoom in case
we have to switch to online class meetings
6 Instructor
David W. Lyons, Professor
Department of Mathematical Sciences
Lebanon Valley College
Email: lyons (at) lvc.edu
Phone: (717) 867-6081
Office: LYN 283H
7 Class Meetings, Office Hours
Meeting times and locations for classes and office hours will be kept up to date on the
Instructor's
Schedule.
8 Course Calendar
The course calendar is maintained on Canvas. It includes class meetings,
graded homework assignments, and quizzes. All dates are subject to change.
9 Exam Dates (Tentative)
Subject to change, quizzes will be given at the beginning of class every
Wednesday. One last quiz will be given during the scheduled final exam
period.
A schedule of quiz dates, announcements about the subject matter and length
of each quiz, and sample quiz solutions will be maintained on Canvas.
Final Exams
===========
Monday 12/12 15:30--18:00 MAS 100-02 (3pm class)
Wednesday 12/14 15:30--18:00 MAS 100-01 (2pm class)
10 Reading and Problem List
Course reading assignments are the text sections listed below. The
amount of problem solving practice needed to achieve mastery varies by
individual. Here are two extremes.
- Maximum practice needed: work all of the end-of-chapter "Skills Check
Exercises", work all of the odd-numbered "Exercises" for each section
- Minimum practice needed: work approximately every other odd-numbered
problem in the "Exercises" for each section
Reading Notes
======= =====
9.1
9.2
9.3
9.4
9.5
10.1
10.2
10.3
10.4
10.5
11.1
11.2
11.3
11.4
12.1
12.2
12.3
12.4
12.5
13.1
13.2
13.4
14.1
14.2 reading: omit last paragraph, "new states paradox", p585
14.3 reading: omit d'Hondt method pp592--593, omit Sainte-Lague method p596
problems: keep 17,19,29,31,33 (omit others)
14.4 problems: keep 35,37,41 (omit others)
11 Course Goals, Objectives, and Learning Outcomes
The primary goal of the course is understanding and
skill in the use of mathematical concepts. Student learning objectives are
proficiency in reading, analysis and problem
solving, and clear, concise communication. Achievement
of goals and objectives requires desire for learning,
willingness to work hard, time commitment (at least two hours on
homework outside of class for each hour in class), and persistence.
Learning Outcomes Summary. Through the medium of the mathematical
concepts of this course, a student who achieves the course learning objectives will:
- demonstrate proficiency in reading skills
- demonstrate proficiency in analysis and problem solving skills
- demonstrate proficiency in clear, concise communication skills
Learning and Study
12 Learning
The process of reading, mastering vocabulary, solving problems, and writing
is the only way to achieve real understanding and skills. No one else
can read, think, or write for you. It can be very helpful to watch other
people solve problems and explain ideas in class, in a video, in a study
group, or in a tutoring session, but there is no substitute for study
that you do yourself.
The time expectation for out-of-class work is two hours outside of class for
every hour of class meeting time. Plan your study time in your weekly
schedule.
The quality of your out-of-class study translates directly into success. Low effort or
too little study time guarantees lack of success in the course;
consistent high quality studying guarantees a positive learning
experience. Here is an outline of the work flow for each section in the text(s).
- BEFORE class discussion
- Read the text section(s) indicated on
the course calendar.
- Write vocabulary study cards (or study lists) for
terminology, facts, and formulas from the new text
section.
- Solve at least a few of the low numbered problems
from the new text section.
- Note your questions, problems, and
difficulties. In the reading, where, precisely, do you
have trouble understanding? With the problems, what,
precisely, is obstructing you from completing a
solution?
- AFTER class discussion
- Reread text sections listed for previous
class meetings.
- Revise your vocabulary and
fact note cards; make sure your vocabulary list is complete.
- Solve and check solutions to all of the problems listed in
the "Reading and Problem List" in the
syllabus. Prepare complete written solutions, using
complete sentences. Compare your solutions to the
answer keys in the text(s) and solutions manual(s).
- BEFORE the quiz
- Assess your progress and mastery. Have
you addressed all the questions and difficulties
noted previously?
- Rehearse vocabulary using the cards or
lists you have prepared.
- Practice solving problems using a timer.
- Follow up on any questions or gaps
that remain.
- AFTER the quiz
- Assess (again!) your progress and
mastery. Rework and check solutions to all quiz
problems for which you received less than full
credit.
- Follow up (again!) on any questions or gaps
that remain.
13 Study Strategies
- Plan for two hours of study outside of class for each hour of class.
- Keep an organized paper binder or electronic notebook with reading notes, homework solutions, and
class notes (see the Portfolio section below). Mark your questions clearly with sticky notes or some
other device and follow up every question, either in class
or in office hours, until you gain understanding.
- After reading, summarize the material in your own words.
- Use flash cards or lists to learn
vocabulary. Write each term on one side of a card. Write a definition
(using complete sentences, not sentence fragments) and an example on
the back of the card.
- To prepare for quizzes and exams, do the following, beginning some
days to a week in advance.
- Make an outline of course topics and problem types.
- Memorize vocabulary, including examples.
- Work and check solutions to problems from previous quizzes, exams,
and homework.
- If clock management during exams is an issue, practice working a few
exam style problems once a week with a timer running.
- If test anxiety has a negative effect on your performance, here
is some advice.
- Do not become sleep deprived. Trading sleep for study time is
counterproductive.
- Eat a healthy diet and exercise every day. Eating poorly and
lack of physical activity reduce your mental abilities.
14 Sample Study Aids
15 Portfolio
Keep your work organized. Use electronic or hard copy media, whatever
works best for you. Whatever method you use, it should be designed to
facilitate sorting, searching, planning, and tracking. A complete
portfolio includes the following:
- Calendars, weekly planners, progress tracking sheets
- Vocabulary notecards
- Reading and class notes
- Solved problems
- Completed quizzes
Bring your portfolio to office hours or to "workshop" class days if you
wish to discuss class performance.
Grades and Other Policies
16 Graded Work
Your cumulative average is determined by graded work in the categories listed
below with the indicated weights. Details and instructions are given in
the sections that follow.
| Graded Work
|
Weight
|
| Graded Homework |
10% |
| Quizzes |
90% |
17 Graded Homework
Homework is reading course material, mastering definitions of terms and
statements of facts and formulas, solving problems, checking your
solutions, and following up on questions. Only a small bit of homework
is graded. Before midnight on the day before each class meeting,
except for days marked "Workshop" on the Course Calendar, you will show
evidence of engagement with the text by submitting at least two
vocabulary study items (terminology, facts, or formulas) for the text
section(s) listed on the Course Calendar for the next day's class
meeting. For each vocabulary item, give a definition of the term or a
statement of the fact or formula using one or more complete sentences,
and give an example that illustrates the term or fact. Good examples
require careful reading and thought. Sometimes, even the simplest
examples may take up more space that will easily fit on 3 by 5 inch
notecard. In this case, just add another card. In the unusual
circumstance that a text section has only one or perhaps even no new
vocabulary items, just add another one or two items from other text
sections (but do submit *new* cards that you have not previously
submitted!) so that your total submission has at least two vocabulary
items.
Here are
some sample vocabulary notecards.
Homework Assignment Submission Instructions
Submit homework assignments online on Canvas. All vocabulary items must be
written using one or more complete sentences. Homework may be typed or
written by hand. Homework must be submitted as a single pdf file,
whether it is handwritten or typed (pdf scanning is a built-in utility
for iphones and android phones). Work is not accepted late. There are no makeup
assignments.
Homework Standards and Grading
Homework assignments will be graded for preparation and completeness,
not for correctness. Here is the rubric for graded homework
assignments.
| Graded Homework Assignment Rubric |
| Category |
Description |
| Complete |
At least two vocabulary items are fully
prepared: definitions and statements of facts are written using one or more complete
sentences, and are readable. Each vocabulary item includes at
least one illustrating example.
|
| Partially complete |
One or more vocabulary items are not complete or some of the submission is not
clear enough to be readable. |
| No credit |
Vocabulary items show no effort to use complete sentences, are
unreadable, or are submitted after the deadline. |
18 Quizzes
We will have a quiz with two or three problems at the beginning of class
one day each week. Quiz problems are based on, but not limited to, the
assigned reading and exercises.
Quiz format and subject matter will be announced in advance; a summary
page with quiz dates and subject matter will be maintained on the Canvas
course homepage. We will use the scheduled final exam time slot for the
last quiz.
Quizzes: allowed resources
-
No consultation with any other person is allowed. The work you
submit must be your own.
-
No textbooks, no notes, no internet sources are allowed.
-
No sound playing devices are allowed during the quiz.
-
A calculator is required for quizzes. Graphing or business
calculators are allowed, but not required. You may not use a
calculator on your phone.
-
A phone with scanning software and Canvas upload software is
required for quizzes.
Quizzes: instructions
-
Quizzes begin promptly at the start of class.
-
Show supporting work for each problem that demonstrates how you found your answers.
-
Final answers with no supporting work shown receive no credit!
-
For problems labeled “DISCUSSION”, write your solution using
one or more complete sentences. Express the main idea of your
solution and use appropriate vocabulary from the text to demonstrate
your understanding.
-
When you are finished with the quiz, or when time is called, use
your phone to scan and upload your quiz to Canvas.
Quizzes: rules
-
During the quiz, do not wear a brimmed hat or a hood or anything
that covers your eyes; you may wear a brimless hat or you may
keep wearing a ball cap if you turn the brim to the back.
-
Do not pick up your phone during the quiz.
-
If you finish before the time limit, you may scan and upload your quiz and leave the
classroom for a short break.
Quizzes: Honor Pledge
-
By checking and initialing the Pledge box at the top of the quiz, you
attest to the following statement:
-
"I have not given or received any unauthorized help on this
exam. This work is my own."
Quizzes: grading
For full credit, quiz solutions must show not just final
results, but also demonstrate with appropriate supporting work and using
appropriate vocabulary that you understand the reasoning involved. Some
solutions must be written in narrative form, using one or more complete
sentences. Solutions will be graded not only for mathematical
correctness, but for clarity of writing. Illegible work or a final
answer given without supporting work shown receives no credit.
Here is the rubric for each quiz problem solution. Exceptions will be announced in
advance.
| Quiz Grading Rubric |
| Category |
Description |
| Complete and correct |
The solution is complete and correct, shows appropriate
supporting work, and uses appropriate
vocabulary. Calculations and logical reasoning are correct.
|
| Substantive progress |
The solution shows understanding of facts, methods, and issues
involved, but does not meet the description of "complete and
correct".
|
| Some progress |
The response shows plausible
evidence that some aspect of the problem is grasped, but does not
meet the description of "substantive progress".
|
| No progress |
The response is blank, illegible, or shows
no plausible evidence that some key aspect of the solution is grasped. |
Excused quizzes and makeups
See the section on make-up assignments, below.
19 Makeup Assignments and Extra Credit
A missed quiz due to an absence may be excused, at the discretion of the
instructor (see the section "Attendance",
below). A makeup quiz will be given during the final exam period for
anyone who has been excused from three or more quizzes before 11/20, or
who has been excused from 1 or more quizzes after 11/20. The makeup quiz
is optional for everyone else. The makeup quiz will count the same as
any other quiz. Anyone who is excused from four or more quizzes will
take a makeup comprehensive final exam that covers all of the semester
material. The makeup comprehensive final exam will count the same as
the total of the excused quizzes. Subject matter, format, and
instructions for a makeup quiz or makeup comprehensive final exam will
be announced in advance.
There are no makeup homework assignments. There are no extra credit assignments.
20 Letter Grades
Meaning of letter grades
According to the College Catalog, letter grades have the following
meanings.
Letter Grade Meaning
------------ ------
A excellent
B good
C satisfactory
D requirements and standards met at a minimum level
F course requirements not met
Standards for "excellent" and "good" (letter grades A and B) are high.
In this course, your grade reflects your mastery of the material. A good
grade is not guaranteed by class attendance and performing the motions of
homework; to earn an A or a B, you must demonstrate understanding that
transcends mere rote familiarity.
Determination of letter grade
At the end of the semester, your final cumulative average is used to
assign a letter grade. The scale used to convert cumulative averages to
letter grades is based on the "standard 10 point scale" (A-,A,A+ for
90 to 100 percent range, B-,B,B+ for percentages in the 80's, C-,C,C+
for the 70's, etc.), but the scale may be adjusted, at the discretion of
the instructor, so that the meanings of the letter grades fit the
descriptions given in the previous section. Pluses and minuses are used
to distinguish between the low, middle and high achievers within each
letter grade category.
Note on mid-term grades: Pluses and minuses are not used for
midterm grades.
21 Attendance
Class attendance is expected, but it is understood that sometimes there
are reasonable circumstances for absence. For most students, there is no
grade for attendance or participation (see the exception for "chronic
absenteeism" below), but it is expected that each student will exercise
good judgment for choosing to miss a class.
Absence from class may be excused, at the discretion of the instructor, for
certain events planned in advance or for emergency or illness. Here is
the procedure to follow if you wish to have an absence excused.
- Send the instructor email notice of your absence as far as
possible in advance, with a complete
explanation for the purpose of your conflicting event.
- In the case of illness or emergency where advance
notice is not possible, send an email message as soon as it is
practically possible. Except for extreme circumstances, your email
notice is due by 5pm on the day of the absence. Collect
documentation (doctor's notes, etc)
and send them to the instructor by email.
Absence does not change the due date for any graded work.
Policy for chronic absenteeism: Chronic unexcused absence has a
negative impact on classroom learning. The instructor may elect to
impose a grade deduction for each unexcused absence beyond the
third. Communication will be made by email when this policy is in
effect.
22 Class Engagement
The purpose of class meetings is to pursue understanding and mastery of
the course material. This requires mental presence, engagement with the
subject, and participation. Class meetings presume respect, politeness,
and kindness among all those in attendance. In consideration for the
learning environment, please observe the following.
- No food is allowed during class.
- Use electronic devices only for engaging with the course
material. For example, note-taking, calculating, and looking up facts
related to the class discussion are positive activities; text
messaging, social media browsing, and web surfing are rude behaviors
that distract everyone from focusing.
- Except for emergencies, please do not leave the class meeting once class
begins. If you need to leave before the end of class, please inform
the instructor before class begins.
23 Collaboration versus Plagiarism
You are encouraged to collaborate with classmates and ask questions of
the instructor or consult any source for homework. You must work hard to
avoid plagiarism, which is presenting someone else's ideas or work as
your own. The work you submit must be your own. Your writing
must be your own voice and your own understanding. You must use proper
academic citation for any material created by others. Plagiarism is a
serious academic offense; penalties range from failing the course to
expulsion from the college.
24 Honor Policy
It is expected that each student in this class will act with honesty and
academic integrity. Instances of academic dishonesty will be pursued as
described in the College Catalog and Student Handbook.
LVC Official Syllabus Material
25 LVC Policies and Statements
26 Quantitative Reasoning (QR)
[Quantitative Reasoning (QR) is a component of the Constellation LVC
Core Curriculum. QR learning outcomes are addressed in course
assignments and class activities. The following material is quoted
from the LVC website and documents from Acacemic Affairs.]
QR Description:
Reason about and solve quantitative problems from a wide array of
contexts. Read, understand, and create arguments supported by
quantitative evidence and clearly communicate those arguments using a
variety of formats. Learn to make judgments and draw appropriate
conclusions based on the quantitative analysis of data.
QR Criteria & Learning Outcomes
- Students will understand information presented in mathematical forms
(e.g., equations, graphs, diagrams, tables, words), including the
ability to learn about and interpret unfamiliar quantitative structures.
- Students will convert relevant information into various mathematical
forms (e.g., equations, graphs, diagrams, tables, words).
- Students will make judgments and draw appropriate conclusions based on
the quantitative analysis of data, while recognizing the assumptions
used and other limits of the analysis.
- Students will clearly express the results of the interpretation,
representation, application, and analysis of quantitative information in
an effective format.
- Courses must have a significant and continuing focus on working with
quantitative arguments.