MATH 102 B Elementary Statistics Spring 2005
Professor: George L. Ashline
Office: 261 Jeanmarie Hall, Phone: 654-2434
Office Hours: M, W from 1:30 to 3 PM and T, Th from 1:30 to 2:30 PM; also, feel free to set up appointments for other times.
Class Meets: T, Th from 8:30 to 9:45 AM in Jeanmarie 373
Textbook: The Basic Practice of Statistics by David S. Moore, 3rd edition, Freeman Publishing Company, 2004. On reserve at the library is the Study Guide for The Basic Practice of Statistics.
Home page: You can access information about this course at http://academics.smcvt.edu/gashline/. You will find there links to some useful statistical Internal sites.
Calculators and Technology: You must have a scientific calculator for this class. It must do one and two variable statistics; that is, it must calculate not only the mean and standard deviation from keyed-in data, but also the correlation r and the least squares regression line. You do not need an expensive calculator to do this. See me if you have any questions about what type of calculator you should have or how to use your calculator.
We will also be using the statistical software Minitab available off of the SMC network, which provides has a number of advantages over calculators, including easier data entry and editing, more options for manipulating and analyzing data, and better graphics. You should begin to acclimate
yourself to Minitab over the next few days with the handout Minitab: Getting Started.
Homework: There will be problems assigned on a regular basis. Carefully doing the homework is the best way for you to prepare for quizzes and exams. It is critical that you keep up with your
homework assignments. If you are having trouble with the material, try to resolve your questions promptly. Feel free to stop by my office to ask questions or discuss your situation. The Study Guide on reserve at the library contains chapter overviews and detailed solutions to a number of the homework problems from each chapter. You may also consider visiting the mathematics dept. help sessions, which run from 7:30 to 9 PM on Monday through Thursday nights (room TBA).
Group Work: You may either form your own study group of two or three students or wait for me to form your group. Each group will turn in their own typed homeworks/projects and be graded as a group, and much of the group work will involve use of the software Minitab. You are encouraged to study together within your group and with other groups. Groups should be formed by Thursday, January 19. Please let me know either via e-mail or in class next time the member(s) of your group.
Quizzes: There will be quizzes on recently covered material given on a regular basis. Make-up quizzes will not be given, unless a verifiable emergency has arisen and I am notified previously about this. Quizzes will be announced beforehand and are designed to be another source of feedback as to your progress in the course.
Exams: There will be two in-class exams given during the semester and a comprehensive final exam. The exams are tentatively scheduled as follows:
Exam 1 Thursday, February 17
Exam 2 Thursday, April 7
Final Exam (cumulative) Monday, May 3; 1-3:30 PM
Absence from an exam without an official excuse will result in you receiving no credit for that exam. If you are aware of a conflict with any of the exam dates, let me know of this ASAP before the exam is to take place.
Grading: Grades will be based on your group work, quizzes, and exams as follows:
Group work 80 points
Quizzes 100 points
Semester Exams 100 points
Final exam 110 points
The lowest score among the final quiz score and two semester exams will only count half (50 points). Thus, the final grade will be based on a total of 440 points. If there are any changes made in the above information (for example, a test date being moved), it is your responsibility to know them.
Learning Disabilities: Any student having a documented learning disability that may affect the learning of mathematics is invited to consult privately with me during the first week of the semester so that appropriate arrangements can be made.
Academic Integrity: You are reminded of the academic integrity policy of St. Michael’s College. Simply stated, academic integrity requires that the work you complete for this class is your own. Some examples of offenses against academic integrity include plagiarism, unauthorized assistance, interference, and interference using information technology. Details about academic integrity offenses and the possible sanctions resulting from them have been distributed at the beginning of the academic year and also can be found in the Associate Dean’s office.
Class Attendance: The following is taken from pp. 48-49 of the SMC 2003-2005 Catalogue:
“Students should understand that the main reason for attending college is to be guided in their learning activities by their professors. This guidance takes place primarily in the classroom and the laboratory.
The following policies have been established:
1. Members of the teaching faculty and students are expected to meet all scheduled classes unless prevented from doing so by illness or other emergencies.
2. The instructor of a course may allow absences equal to the number of class meetings per week. Additional absences will be considered excessive.
3. The instructor may report excessive absences to the Associate Dean of the College, who may warn the student.
4. If absences continue, the Associate Dean of the College may remove the student from class with a failing grade.”