Math 115
Statistics Syllabus
Fall 2006
Monday, Wednesday, Friday 2:00-2:50 in Sci. G-09 (Teasley Lecture Hall)
Instructor: Jim Wiseman
Office: Buttrick 331
Phone: x6202
Email: jwiseman@agnesscott.edu (I check email
much more frequently than voicemail.)
Office hours: Monday 3-4, Tuesday 2-4, and by appointment.
Course information: Available on Blackboard
and the course website, http://ecademy.agnesscott.edu/~jwiseman/mat115 .
Textbook: Moore and McCabe, Introduction to the Practice of
Statistics, 5th ed., available in the bookstore.
The publisher has a website for the book at http://bcs.whfreeman.com/ips5e
.
Software: We'll be using
the statistical software Fathom. It's installed on the public
computers. If you want to install it on your own PC, you can find
it on the network under Academic/Fathom 2. If you're using a Mac,
try these directions.
Plan: We'll cover most of
chapters 1-9 and 12. Topics include data collection, data
analysis, probability, and statistical inference. There's a more
detailed schedule at http://ecademy.agnesscott.edu/~jwiseman/mat115/schedule.html, but it's subject to change.
Slides: The slides for class will be available (usually) on the Public directory (aka the W: drive) under Wiseman/Math115Slides .
Homework: Working problems is vital to learning statistics;
there will be homework assignments nearly every week. You
don't have to turn in the assignments, but I expect you to complete
them on time; you will almost certainly do very poorly in the class if
you don't. Assignments will be posted on Blackboard
and at http://ecademy.agnesscott.edu/~jwiseman/mat115/assignments.html
– you are responsible for checking the assignments, as I
won't give them in class.
Homework projects: There will be two written homework projects during the
semester, due in class 9/22 and 11/1. You will work in groups
of three. There are more details on the assignments page.
Final project: You will work
in groups of three on a final
project. You will collect and analyze data on a topic of your
choice, and present your results in a short paper and a 15-minute
in-class presentation. The final paper is due in class 12/11.
The presentations will be the week of 12/4. Your specific
presentation time will not be scheduled until later in the semester, so
you must be prepared to present as early as 12/4. There are more details here.
Honor code and group work: All students are expected to follow the
honor code throughout the semester.
I strongly encourage you to work on the homework in groups. I
suggest that you work on the problems by yourself first, making a note
of anything giving you trouble; then meet with your group and work
through the remaining problems together; and finally write up the
solutions by yourself.
Every group member must write up her own solutions independently; just
copying the group's answers is plagiarism and is unacceptable.
Getting help: As Talking Barbie says, "Math class is
tough." (Unless she's the hacked version - then she says,
"Eat lead, Cobra.") Chances are that sooner or later you'll
get stuck on something, so don't get frustrated. Think hard,
and if you're still stuck, do something else for a while.
(It's amazing how often that works.)
My office hours are above - these are times when I'm guaranteed to be
in my office and willing to talk. If you want to see me at
other times, the best thing to do is to set up an appointment with me
by email or after class. Of course, you're welcome to just
drop by my office, as long as you don't mind if I'm not there or don't
have time to talk.
Our Learning Support coordinator, Ms. Schwarzlose, together with
student learning assistants will be able to provide help throughout the
week. More details, including the schedule, are on Blackboard and at http://math.agnesscott.edu/mathdept/LASchedule.pdf.
You
are encouraged to use this service, and should think of it as part of
your weekly mathematics regimen.
Finally, I can't emphasize enough that your classmates are your best
source of help.
Course goals: Learn to
- collect data in a statistically responsible manner
- perform a complete basic analysis of collected data, and
understand the
value of the computations
- use data to infer information about a population
- understand how to critically analyze others' statistical
analyses
- communicate statistics effectively, both orally and in
writing
Exams and deadlines:
- First homework project due: Friday, 9/22.
- First midterm: Friday, 9/29, in class.
- Final project proposal due: Friday, 10/13.
- Second homework project due: Wednesday, 11/1.
- Second midterm: Friday, 11/10, in class.
- Project presentations begin: Monday, 12/4.
- Final paper due: Monday, 12/11.
- Final exam: self-scheduled.
Assessment: Each midterm
20%, each homework project 5%, final project proposal 5%, final project
presentation 5%, final project paper 10%, final exam 30%.
Late work: If your
project proposal is late, you will get a zero on that part of your
grade. Late projects won't be accepted, and you won't be allowed
to make up missed exams, except under very exceptional circumstances
(e.g., the sasquatch attacks - and even then you should get a note from
the sasquatch). In the case of a conflict that you absolutely
can't resolve, you may arrange to take a midterm exam early.
Attendance: I expect you
to be at every class, on time. Attendance is mandatory during the final presentations. Tardiness or absence on other days will
have no (direct) effect on your grade.