Mathematics 344 Winter 2005

Professor: Dr. Maria Fung	Phone: 503-838-8871
Office: AA 305	Email: fungm@wou.edu

CLASS MEETS

13-13 :50 p.m. in AP 212

Monday, Wednesday & Friday

Dr. Fung’s OFFICE HOURS & SCHEDULE

Time	Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Friday
10 – 11	Prep		Prep	Prep
11 – 12	Office Hour		Office Hour	Office Hour
12 – 1	Lunch	Prep	Lunch	Lunch
1 – 2	Math 344	Prep	Math 344	Math 344
2 – 3	Math 337	Office Hour	Math 337	Math 337
3 – 4	Office Hour	Meetings	Office Hour	Office Hour
4 -5	Directed Reading	Meetings

Office hours are for you, so please do come to introduce yourself in more detail to me and feel free to drop by for help. At times other than my listed office hours you are welcome and encouraged to call or email me with questions about the course or make a special appointment to see me.

PREREQUISITES: Math 280 and 341 with a grade of C- or better.

REQUIRED COURSE MATERIALS:

v “Contemporary Abstract Algebra” by Joseph Gallian, Fifth Edition, Houghton Mifflin

CLASS WEB PAGE

There will be a link for the Math 344 web page on my home page:

http://www.wou.edu/~fungm

COURSE PURPOSE and CONTENT

The purpose of this course is to let mathematics majors and minors get familiar with introductory topics in the theory of groups. Emphasis (as in all mathematics classes) will be on deep thinking, effective reasoning, lucid communication, and mathematical growth.

COURSE STRUCTURE

Class will be a mix of explorations activities both individually and in groups, and lectures with discussion. You will be expected to stay active and participate in the learning process. Please bring your text to class every day!

ATTENDANCE

Daily attendance is required for your success in this course. If you miss class it is your responsibility to ask a classmate about what you have missed. I will not have discussion notes available if you have missed class nor will I repeat my discussion during office hours

HOMEWORK

• Homework from our textbook and outside of the textbook at times, will be assigned on a daily basis and will be due on the following class day. Completing your homework in a timely fashion will be integral to your success in this course.
• Homework assignments will be scored according to the following scoring rubric:

6	Enhanced and correct
5	Thoroughly developed and correct
4	Complete and correct (with perhaps a very small error)
3	Partially complete or partially effective or partially correct
2	Under-developed, sketchy, or wrong
1	Ineffective, minimal, or wrong
0	Missing

WRITING ASSIGNMENTS

Since this is a writing intensive class, there will be a variety of informal and formal writing assignments (virtually all homework assignments count as informal writing). More information will be provided later in the term.

FINAL PROJECT

You will be assigned to do a group final project in this course. This project will focus on a topic in group that we have not covered in the class. It will be your responsibility (with my help) to learn about this new topic and present it to your classmates.

COURSE GRADING 

Homework Assignments	30% of course grade
Final Project and Presentation	15% of course grade
Other Writing Assignments	10% of course grade
Exams (Midterm and Final: 2x15%)	30% of course grade
Quizzes	15% of course grade

READINGS

Reading each assigned section of the textbook before coming to class is mandatory.

QUIZZES

At the beginning of most classes we will have a short quiz. These will be peer-graded and my goal is to check whether you are reading the book and studying hard!

TENTATIVE SCHEDULE

We will attempt to get through the core chapters of the textbook: chapters 1-3, 5-6, 7, 9 and possibly10.

LATE WORK POLICY

Your work is due by 4 p.m. on the due date. All due items may be turned in, unexcused, 1 class day late (by 12 noon) for 75% credit or 2 class days (by 12 noon) late for 50% credit. Any item turned in after 4 p.m. on a due date will be considered late.

LEARNING DISABILITIES

If you have a documented learning disability, please talk to me during the few days of class, I will be more than happy to accommodate you in any way that I can.  You must go to the Office of Disability Services (ODS) for appropriate coordination of your accommodations. You can go by APSC 405 or contact ODS at (503) 838-8250 to schedule an appointment.

INCOMPLETE POLICY

If you are passing this course and have a documented reason for not being able to complete the course, I may be able to grant you an incomplete. You must obtain my agreement if you wish to have a grade of incomplete recorded.  

STANDARD GRADING SCALE FOR THIS COURSE

(Total % for the course, usual rounding rules apply)

%	Grade	%	Grade	%	Grade	%	Grade	%	Grade
93 – 100	A	90 – 92	A-	87 – 89	B+	83 – 86	B	80 – 82	B-
%	Grade	%	Grade	%	Grade	%	Grade	%	Grade
77 – 79	C+	73 – 76	C	70 – 72	C-	60 – 69	D	Below 60	F