Spring 2013

Instructor:  Jim Wiseman
Office:  Buttrick 331
Phone:  x6202
Email:  jwiseman@agnesscott.edu (I check email much more frequently than voicemail.)

Office hours:  Mon 2:00-3:00, Tues 2-3:30, and by appointment.

Course information:  Available on Moodle and the course website, http://ecademy.agnesscott.edu/~jwiseman/mat328 .

Required material:  An Introduction to Mathematical Statistics and Its Applications, 4th edition (not the latest edition), Richard Larsen and Morris Marx, available in the bookstore (ISBN 0131867938 or 9780131867932).

Plan: We'll cover most of chapters 1-6.  There's a more detailed schedule at http://ecademy.agnesscott.edu/~jwiseman/mat328/schedule.html, but it's subject to change.

Homework:  By now you've probably figured out that working problems is mostly how you learn math.  There will be homework assigned nearly every week, due by the beginning of class on Wednesdays.  I strongly encourage you to work in groups, but you must write up the results yourself.    Assignments will be posted at http://ecademy.agnesscott.edu/~jwiseman/mat328/assignments.html – you are responsible for checking the assignments, as I won't give them in class.  You will turn in some of each assignment on Moodle.  On some weeks there may also be a part of the assignment that you will write up and turn in.  Some of the assignment you do not need to turn in, but you are responsible for the material - completing only the Moodle assignments is not enough to prepare you for the exams.

Honor code and group work:  All students are expected to follow the honor code throughout the semester; all exams and assignments should be pledged.
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 and submit the solutions by yourself.  Every group member must submit 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.
Finally, I can't emphasize enough that your classmates are your best source of help.
 
Course goals:  
Exams:  We will have two midterm exams and one final exam, all closed-book.  The midterms are take-home exams, and the final is self-scheduled.  The first midterm covers all material up to that point, the second covers all material since the first, and the final is cumulative.

Dates and deadlines: 
Assessment:  Each midterm 20%, homework 30%, final exam 30%.
 
Late work:  Late work 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 (for example, a religious holiday), 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 (unless of course you miss a midterm).

Cell phones:  Cell phone use (including texting) is of course not permitted in class.  Turn off cell phones, smart phones, etc., before class.

Course evaluation:  Your feedback on the course is extremely valuable to me, the math department, and the administration.  In particular, I take your comments very seriously and use them to improve the course the next time I teach it.  You are responsible for completing an evaluation of the course at the end of the semester.