Class Meetings: Tuesdays 1:30-2:55, Fowler 111.

Text: Mark M. Meerschaert, Mathematical Modeling, second edition. We will cover most, but probably not all sections of Part 1 of the book. Depending on available time and interest, we may also cover some sections from Part 2.

Homework: HW will be assigned every class day and posted on the class website. Doing mathematics is essential to learning mathematics. You must take HW seriously, and should expect to spend at least three hours on each assignment.

Quizzes: We will have a quiz roughly once every two weeks.

Final : The final exam will be on Friday May 9th, 8:30-11:30. Please make sure you do not have any exams or other plans (including travel plans) that conflict with this date and time; I do not give early or late finals.

Make-ups: No make-up exams will be given. If you miss an exam with a valid excuse (e.g., a medical reason), and provide documentation for it, that exam will simply not count for you—instead, all your other exams will count proportionally more.

Grading: Grades will be assigned on a curve. In a small class such as ours, the curve will necessarily be somewhat subjective: I will determine it according to the overall performance of the class, the material covered, exams, homework, etc. But you are guaranteed an A for a total of 93% or higher, an A- for 90% or higher, a B+ for 87% or higher, and so on, every ten points. Your total number of points for the semester will be computed according to the table to the right.

Attendance & Participation 5% Quizzes 60% Final 35%

Grading: Table modified as of 4/1/03, with consensus of students:

Attendance & Participation 5% Quizzes 40% Final 30% Project 25%

Attendance: You get two points if on time, one point if late, zero if absent. 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 say a medical reason, it is your responsibility to contact me and find out what you missed.

E-mail: When necessary, I will make announcements via the class mailing list, instead of in the classroom. You are expected to check your email at least once a day. You are encouraged to use our class email list math396-L@oxy.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 students. I don't give "warnings." I just refer all suspicious cases to the Judicial Examiner, without hesitation.

Students with learning disability: you are welcome to see me and the CTL to arrange for any special needs.