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Syllabus Mathematical Statistics (MWF 10:55) - Fall 1997

Rohr Science 220 (619) 849-2604 crowMA@ptloma.edu


Instructor:
Greg Crow, Ph.D.
Text:
Mathematical Statistics and Data Analysis, 2nd Ed.
John A. Rice
Belmont CA: Duxbury Press


The Basic Practice of Statistics
David S. Moore
New York, W. H. Freeman and Company
Table of Contents:

Course Description
Required Materials
Comment
Homework
Quizzes
Examinations
Grading Policies
Cheating Policy
The Final Examination
Class meetings:
MWF 10:55-12:00
Office hours:
Rohr Science 220



REQUIRED MATERIALS


Comment
We will try and avoid the following pitfall:

At the beginning college level, visualization is a big part of understanding. Consequently, students who are operating with few mental pictures are not really learning mathematics. Their calculus consists of a vast series of algorithms and a complicated cataloging system which tells them which procedure is used when. The effort put into this kind of teaching and learning is largely wasted: memorized algorithms are soon forgotten and, worse still, such courses perpetuate the idea that math involves doing calculations rather than thinking [emphasis added].

(by Deborah Hughes Hallet in Visualization and Calculus Reform, in the collection Visualization in Teaching and Learning Mathematics, edited by Zimmerman and Cunningham (MAA notes \#19))


Homework
A homework portfolio will be submitted at about the 9 week point. It will consist of one problem from each section of the Moore text. Each problem must be chosen from the second half of the problems listed in each section. A lab portfolio of Excel labs will also be submitted at that time.


Quizzes
You are to stay on top of the material as it is presented. To encourage this scholarly activity (and attendance), eight to ten quizzes will be given on days chosen by the instructor. If a quiz is missed, it cannot be taken later. The only days that are off limits are the first day of class and exam days. Two quizzes will be dropped.


Examinations
There will one mid-term exam and a comprehensive Final exam. Each exam will consist of a take-home portion and and in class portion. The take home portion will include essay questions and Maple lab work. No examination shall be missed without an official excuse. A deduction of 2^n*10% will be deducted for each day "n" that an exam is late (n=1 if the exam is turned in the day after it is due).


GRADING POLICIES

Grading Distribution
Mid-Term Exam 300 points
Final Exam 400 points
Quizzes 100 points
Homework 200 points
Total 1000 points

Grading scale. Grades are based on the number of points accumulated throughout the course.
Approximate minimal percentages required to obtain a given grade are:

Grading Scale in percentages
A B C D
+ (87.5, 90) (77.5, 80) (67.5, 70)
[92.5, 100] [82.5, 87.5] [72.5, 77.5] [62.5, 67.5]
- [90, 92.5)[80, 82.5) [70, 72.5) [60, 62.5)

Other factors that affect grades are


CHEATING POLICY
A student who is caught cheating on a quiz will receive a zero on that quiz and may receive a zero for all quizzes for the semester. A student who is caught cheating on an exam will receive a zero on that exam and may receive an "F" for the semester.


THE FINAL EXAM IS A COMPREHENSIVE EXAMINATION.


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Last modified on 22-August-1997
Send comments and suggestions to GregCrow@ptloma.edu