Instructor: Mr. E. Michael Hansen

Text: Geometry for Enjoyment and Challenge by Rhoad, Milauskas and Whipple

Materials: pencil, eraser, straightedge, notebook, calculator (scientific or graphing)

Tardiness is charged at 1 point per minute or fraction of a minute. If you are in conference with a teacher or have some other legitimate excuse, bring a note. If for some reason you miss an entire class, you will be charged 50 points (40 points for a Friday class) and will earn a meeting with the Dean of Students unless Mrs. Selinger notifies me that you are excused. It is not sufficient for you to tell me the reason for your absence; all excused absences must come through her.

It is important to understand that you are a student of mine 24 hours a day, and just as I am concerned for your well-being and the quality of your education, I expect you to behave in a respectful manner toward other students, teachers, and the buildings and equipment of St. Albans School. Excessive talking during chapel, disruption or noise in the hallways while classes are being held, disrespect or bullying toward other students, and misbehavior in the refectory are examples of infractions that may merit point penalties if they come to my attention, in addition to possible referral to the Dean of Students.

Homework assignments include reading, writing of problem solutions, writing of proofs and explanations, computer work, and projects, both individual and cooperative. Homework must be completed on time, whether it is preparation for class discussion or completion of written work. Written homework is graded frequently (sometimes spot-checked, sometimes graded in detail). Written homework from days when you have been absent must be handed in as soon as possible upon your return to school (normally on the first day of your return, but exceptions may be made for longer illnesses). Do the written part of your homework neatly, in pencil, on notebook paper, with your name in the upper right hand corner of the first page, with multiple pages stapled together. You may work together responsibly on homework assignments, but do keep in mind that a favorite Friday quiz question is a homework problem, possibly with slight modifications, where you will have to work on your own and without friends. In other words, make sure you are learning from your friends and not merely copying from them.

Tests are announced in advance and assume that you have mastered all of the material covered in the course prior to the test date. Quizzes (mostly on Fridays) are usually announced, but there will occasionally be a "pop quiz" (at a reduced point value) to verify that you are keeping up with your reading and homework. You need to take careful notes in class during some discussions and lectures, and you need to keep your homework, notes, quizzes and tests in good order in a notebook or file so that you will be able to prepare well for tests and for the midyear and final examinations. Because you may occasionally be asked to produce an old test, quiz, class note paper, or homework paper in order to earn points, a good organization scheme is essential. You are responsible for the definitions, postulates and theorems in this course; a list or outline of these, as well as the notes you make from your reading and our discussions, may be helpful.

Homework, tests, quizzes and projects will be graded on a point basis. All points are of equal value, and the relative weighting of HW/quizzes/tests will vary somewhat from quarter to quarter. In a typical quarter there will be several hundred points possible. Tests are always 100 points, daily homework and equipment checks are usually 5 points, and quizzes and projects are scored as stated on the quiz or project assignment sheet. To determine your quarter grade, divide the number of points you have earned by the total number of points possible and convert to a percentage. The semester grade will be calculated with each quarter valued at 40% and the semester exam at 20%.

A math teacher is available in the Math Lab (Room S) every afternoon except Friday to answer your questions, and the computers are available for work on math assignments only. The schedule is posted at netword.com/*stamathlab on the World Wide Web.

My office is #10 in the New Hallway (shared with Dr. Bennett). My Web page is at netword.com/*mr.hansen and is the single best source for schedule and assignment information.

Have a great year!