Syllabus: Math 261 Linear Algebra
Clackamas Community College     Winter 2012

How the class works: You will have both ungraded textbook homework and graded Problem Sets. A typical class day will begin with a brief review of textbook homework before covering new material. Textbook homework is not graded, but it is still important. The textbook homework covers a wider scope of topics than the problem sets. It is a crucial part of your preparation for the midterm and final exams. It also provides practice for Problem Set questions. You can be sure you are on the right track with the material before you are graded on it.

The Problem Sets make up the largest single component of your class grade. This is where you will demonstrate both your understanding and your ability to communicate that understanding. I encourage you to collaborate with your classmates as you sort through the problems, but in the end you must write your own solutions without copying the work of others. There will be eight Problem Sets, with due dates listed on the course calendar. Your lowest-scoring problem set will be dropped.

On both the midterm and final exams, you can use both sides of one sheet of 8.5 by 11 inch paper as a "cheat sheet". Your "cheat sheet" must be entirely hand-written (no photocopies). You will have one hour and fifty minutes for both exams (the same as a regular class period).

Attendance: Students should plan on attending every class, on time. If you must miss a day, you are responsible for any and all material missed. Much of our work will be done in class—as such, class time is of paramount importance.

Course Grade: Your grade for the course will be determined by the number of points you earn through quizzes, the midterm, and the final exam as shown in the table below. I don't offer extra credit or make-up work.

At the end of the course I will add up all the points you earned and divide the number of possible points. Your resulting percentage will correspond to a letter grade: 90% or higher for an A, 80% for a B, 70% for a C, 60% for a D, and less than 60% results in an F. Your final course grade will be available via myClackamas (my.clackamas.edu), usually within a couple of days after the final exam.

Please also note: Withdrawal from the class is the responsibility of the student. A grade of “I” (incomplete) will be given only if 75% of the work for the course has been completed with a grade of “C” or better, and by prior, individual arrangement with the instructor. An “audit” grade (“X”) implies attendance and participation and must be arranged with the instructor.

It is my intent that we stick to these grading criteria and follow the schedule outlined on the attached calendar, but I reserve the right to make changes, after soliciting students' input, as I see fit.

Other info