Algebra - Math 320 - Fall 2008

Class Meetings: FOWLER 310, MWF 9:30-10:25.

Textbook: Abstract Algebra: A First Course,  by Dan Saracino. We will cover Sections 1-14 (skipping a few subtopics here and there), plus a few more sections, depending on time.

Homework: HW will be assigned in every class meeting, due the next class meeting.   Doing HW is essential to learning mathematics -- there is no way around it. You must take it seriously, and should expect to spend at least two to three hours on each assignment.  I encourage you to work with your classmates and/or get help from me or the CAE on problems you can't do. But be honest with yourself: after working with classmates or getting help, ask yourself: "Will I be able to do this problem on my own if it shows up on the exam?" To find out, write up your own work without looking at the work you already did with others; and turn it in to be graded.

Midterms: We will have three in-class midterms: W 9/17, F 10/17, W 11/19. Changes to these dates, if any, will be announced in advance.

Final : The final exam date and time is determined by the Registrar's Office (www.oxy.edu/Registrar.xml). Please check to make sure you do not have any time conflicts with this date and time (or any early travel plans); I do not give early or late finals. The final exam will cover all topics covered during the semester.

Make-ups: No make-up exams will be given. If you miss a midterm with a valid excuse (e.g., a medical reason) and provide documentation for it, that midterm will simply not count for you -- instead, your other midterms and final exam will count proportionally more. This policy does not apply to the final exam.

Grading: Your grade for the semester will be computed according to this table:

Homework 5% Midterms 60% Final 35%

Attendance: You are responsible for everything that goes on in every class meeting, such as announcements, handouts, taught topics that are not in the book, etc.  This means even if you miss a class for a valid reason, it is your responsibility to contact me and find out what you missed. I may or may not decide to count attendance as part of your grade; if I do, it will count as part of the 5% for homework.

E-mail: When necessary, I will make announcements via the class mailing list, instead of in the classroom. I expect you to check your email at least once a day. You are encouraged to use our class email list, math320-L at oxydot.edu, to send messages to everyone in the class.

Academic Honesty: I feel strongly about protecting honest and hard-working students against unfair and dishonest actions sometimes committed by a few. I don't give warnings; I refer all suspicious cases to the Judicial Examiner without hesitation.

Students with learning disability: Please see me and the CAE for any special arrangements.