Math 115 Statistics Syllabus
 
Spring 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

Office hours:  Wed. 3-4, Thurs. 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, 4th ed., available in the bookstore.  The publisher has a website for the book at http://bcs.whfreeman.com/ips4e .
 
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 on Blackboard and at http://ecademy.agnesscott.edu/~jwiseman/mat115/schedule.html, but it's subject to change.
 
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.

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.  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, will be on Blackboard. 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
 
Exams and deadlines:    
Assessment:  Each midterm 25%, final project 15%, final exam 35%.
 
Missed exams:  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.  However, tardiness or absence will have no (direct) effect on your grade.
 
Feedback: I'm very interested in your feedback throughout the class:  what you like, what you don't, what's working for you, what isn't - anything that you think might help me make the course better.  If you have any comments (and you probably should), the easiest thing to do is to talk to me (or send email) about them.  If you want to remain anonymous, you can fill out the anonymous feedback form on Blackboard.

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