Mathematical Reasoning. Writing and Proof. (Version 3) by Ted Sundstrom.
PDF of Book	Book Homepage	Section Study Guides	Screencasts

Mathematical Reasoning. Writing and Proof. (Version 2.1) by Ted Sundstrom.
PDF of Book Dated April 13, 2018	Book Homepage	Difference between Versions 2.1 and 3	We will not be using the Study Guides from Version 2.1.

Instructor Info	Office	Office Hours
Prof. Girardi girardi@math.sc.edu	our Zoom class link	Provided prior notice is given (see below note), Tuesday & Thursday 4:05pm-5pm (so after class). Other times available by prior appointment (btw 10am-8pm).
Notes from Prof. Girardi about her office hours. Office hours will be over our Zoom class link. So you need to let me know to open (and be looking at) the Zoom link when you want an office visit. An easy way to do this is just stay on Zoom after class. Occassionally there will be a math dept faculty meeting at 4:25 but if this is the case, we can agree on a time later that day. Another way is to send me an email (with at least one full working day notice) that you would like an office visit (giving a date and range of times).

See our handy (linked, one page) Semester Schedule, which contains this semester's important dates: holidays, tentative Exam 1 and 2 dates, and the final exam date. Our course's Exams 1 and 2 dates are tenative and might change due to items as: hurricanes in SC, floods in Columbia, floods in LC, a majority of students are not ready for the exam yet, there is a more natural (earlier) break of material for an exam.

To assist students working together virtually, on Blackboard there is a link to a Piazza (an online platform for real time group sharing) page for our class. You are welcome to "virtually gather" on this Piazza page. Feel free to colloborate with each other on this Piazza page (you have my permision) to share your ideas. I will not keep a close eye on your discussions (this is your space) but will, on occasions make (hopefully) helpful comments when a discussion need some guidance.

The homework that you submit must be your own. You are welcomed to work together on homeworks, sharing ideas. However, you may not share solutions (developed by you or online websites like Chegg.com) Remember, you will have to take the exams individually so do not become too dependent upon one another. According to the USC Student Handbook code of student academic responsibility, the first law of academic life is intellectual honesty. This is expected of all of you. Grounds for an F in the course include: inappropriate sharing of homework solutions, inappropriate use of social media, and inappropiate use of the internet (eg. solution sites as Chegg.com). If you ever have any uncertainty about the ground rules, just ask for clarification.

If this class chooses to utilize a different site/link/platform for communication other than the the Piazza link provided on our Bb page (e.g., GroupMe, Discord), make sure that I am aware and invited.

The class will have some components of a "flip class", utilizing the textbook's Screencasts and Section Study Guides. As UofSC's Center for Teaching Excellence explains:

Flipped learning is a pedagogical approach in which students gain first-exposure learning of course material outside of class, often through readings or lecture videos. Instructors then engage students during class meetings in more complex application, problem-solving or analysis. In other words, students do less complex cognitive work (memorization, comprehension) on their own time. They then participate in hands-on activities and discussions in class. This approach helps move students to higher levels of learning.

• read the section from the textbook
• watch the corresponding screencasts
• from that section's Study Guide, answer the "Focus Questions" and work the exercises (answers are in back of book) listed in the last item under "Activities For Learning".

The lecture for the section will then be presented by Prof. Girardi, who will be presenting material knowing that you have done your Study Guide Homework and so have a base knowledge for the lecture. The lecture can include in-class problems that students do at the chalkboard and/or in small groups. The lecture prepares you for the Exercise Homework.

Since homework due dates may depend upon where the lecture stopped, sometimes due dates are not known until the end of a lecture. (I do not like to give HW before you are ready for it.) Thus due dates are as announced in class and/or emailed to your UofSC email. Usually due dates are posted on the course homepage under the "Homework" link (sometimes not until after class). If in doubt of what is due when, just ask Prof. Girardi at the end of class.

Since part of the goal of this course is to learn how to communicate mathematics, it is important you start reading mathematicial proofs. Afterall, would you sit down to write a novel before you have even read a novel?

Your course grade is based on your progress checks (e.g., Study Guide homework, Exercise homework, quiz, group work) and exams. Each progress check is worth 5 points. Since Study Guide Homework is your place to start formualting questions over new material (please mark your questions to yourself), it will be graded more on completeness rather than accuracy. Since Exercise Homework and exams are your place to show that you have mastered the material, they will be graded on accuracy and completeness.

USC attendance policy is: Absence from more than 10 percent of the scheduled class sessions, whether excused or unexcused, is excessive and the instructor may choose to exact agrade penalty for such absences. (See USC Undergraduate Studies Bulletin → Policy and Regulations → Undergraduate Academic Regulations → Attendance Policy.) Note the words excused or unexcused. So basically an absence is an absence, with or without a note from a: doctor, coach, lawyer or professor. Keeping with USC's attendance policy, the lowest (approx./at least) 10% of your collected progress checks assignment scores will be dropped. So if you miss a progress checks assignment then the zero you receive on that work will be part of your dropped lowest 10%. Thus, late homework is not accepted and no make-ups.

There will be 2 hourly (really 75 minutes) exams along with a cummulative final exam. All exams are closed books/notes. Calculators are not allowed (nor needed). No exam grade is dropped. There will be no make-up exams (except in extreme situations). If you feel you have an extreme situation, contact to Prof. Girardi before the exam time.

Prof. Girardi is glad to answer your questions over graded work but you must ask within 6 days from the date the graded work is returned in class. You will be given your class PIN shortly after the last day to drop without a W. Your PIN is a 3 digit number that helps Prof. Girardi correctly record your scores (the first digit indicates your section number and the last two digits indicates your place on the roster within your section). In order to receive credit for an assignment, both your name (written legibly) and PIN must be on the paper. So PLEASE note your PIN somewhere you can find it when needed. Bring a photo ID to each exam.

Your goal is to gain a working knowledge of the material as to prepare you for your 500-level math courses; you have some personal freedom in this pursuit. By the end of the semester, demonstrate that you have mastered the material and your grade will be agreeable. With this in mind, your course grade (tentatively) will be based on your (personal) higher percentage in the below 2 schemes.

	scheme 1	scheme 2
Progress Checks	20 %	20 %
Hourly Exams	60% = 2 * 30%	40% = 2* 20 %
Cummulative Final Exam	20%	40 %
total	100 %	100 %

The baseline score is indicated below. These thresholds may be lowered (at the end of the semester) if appropriate.

A	B	C	D	F
90 - 100 %	80 - 89 %	70 - 79 %	60 - 69 %	below 60 %

Academic Honesty. According to the USC Student Handbook code of student academic responsibility, the first law of academic life is intellectual honesty. We expect this of all of you. If you ever have the least bit of uncertainty about the ground rules, ask for clarification. Cheating and plagiarism will not be tolerated (such are grounds for an F in the course). No electronic posting of the course class notes nor other course material without prior written permission from Prof. Girardi. No improper emailing of students via Blackboard (it is totally fine, in fact encouraged, to use BB to set up Study Sessions). No improper use nor sharing with others information from the Student Contact Information Sheet. Violations of this policy will be dealt with according to University guidelines. Cheating on any assignment is grounds for an F in this course. A Statement of Academic Integrity can be found at http://www.sc.edu/academicintegrity.

Attendence/Participation. If attendence and/or class participation becomes a problem then, upon announcement in class, these will also factor into your grade. Upon such an announcement, absence or lack of participation exceeding 25% of class days (from the announced start day to the last day of class) will result in a 10% reduction of points on your final.

Timeliness. USC policy states: Enrollment in a course obligates the student not only for prompt completion of all work assigned but also for punctual and regular attendance and for participation in whatever class discussion may occur. It is the student's responsibility to keep informed concerning all assignments made. Absences, whether excused or unexcused, do not absolve the student from this responsibility. (See http://bulletin.sc.edu → Policy and Regulations → Undergraduate Academic Regulations → Grading Policies.) Thus students are expected to attend the entire class meeting: late arrivals and early depatures disrupt the class. Repeated late arrivals and/or early departures will not be tolerated. If you must leave class early, inform the instructor before the class begins, sit near the door, and gracefully exit. If you must arrive late, discretely find an open seat (and inform the instructor before hand if you know this will happen). This procedure, which produces a conducive learning environment, is out of fairness to all students in the course.

Cell Phones and company. In order to create a classroom environment conducive to learning, as well as by University policy, the use of cell phones during class is prohibited. During class, cell phones (as well as other electronic devices such as electronic tablets and smart watches) are to be turned off and stored in a closed (e.g., zipped or buttoned) bag (e.g., backpack or purse); they may not be stored in the person's clothing (e.g., jacket pocket). If you do not have proper storage with you, you may give the device to the instructor to babysit it during class. Improper use or storage of cell phones (as well as other electronic devices) could result in the device being confiscated (and not returned).

Electronic Device. If you want to use an electronic device to take class notes then you need to speak with Prof. Girardi before doing so.

ADA. If you have special needs as addressed by the Americans with Dissabilities Act and you have registered with the USC Office of Student Disability Services (OSDS), you need to speak with Prof. Girardi before using an approved accommodation.

Recording of Class. Recording (of any type, including but not limited to: audio, visual) of any part of the class is prohibited without the prior written permission the Prof. Girardi.

This syllabus is subject to change.