1. GOALS OF THE COURSE: The primary purpose of Intermediate Algebra is 
to improve your skills and competency in algebra so that you will be successful in calculus, the 
other math courses required for your major, and in the courses that use mathematics. Another 
goal is to help you develop your mathematical learning skills so that you will be more confident 
in future mathematical courses.

2. REQUIRED STUDENT MATERIALS

MATH 108 COURSE NOTEBOOK: Must be purchased at the U of I bookstore.  It is bundled with a 
MyMathLab access code.  Students will be required to bring this course notebook to class and to 
the Polya Mathematics Center.

STUDENT COMPUTER ACCOUNT: All students need a computer account.  If you need help with your login
information, go to the ITS Help Desk in TLC 128.

VANDAL CARD: You will need your Vandal card in order to get credit for attendance at the Polya 
Math Center, and to take an exam in the Polya Math Center.

HEADPHONES: Headphones are needed to listen to the video lectures at the computers.

NON-GRAPHING CALCULATOR: You will need a calculator to work on some problems from the 
assignments, quizzes or a test. A non-graphing calculator is allowed when testing. You should use 
a scientific calculator that is capable of computing an exponential or a logarithm. Look for a 
calculator with a "LOG" or an "LN" button.  You won't need these two functions in Math 108, 
but you will need them when you take Math 143.

3. GRADE CALCULATION

Class Participation / Notebook Completion: Max 50 points
(5 points per class meeting - 1 class meeting dropped)

·        Students will earn 5 points/week for adequately filling out their course notebook and for attending class.

·        Each week students will be asked in class to turn in something from their notebooks.

Polya Lab Attendance: Max 45 points
(5 points per week - 1 week dropped)

·        Students will earn 5 points/week for attending the Polya Mathematics Center for at least 150 minutes (Note:  149 minutes = 0 points).

·        Students who are not working on mathematics while attending the Polya Mathematics Center may be asked to leave.

Homework : 90 points
(There are 10 homework assignments, one will be dropped.)

·        Students will earn up to 10 points for every homework assignment.  There will be a homework assignment in MyMathLab every non-test week, due the night before the student’s class meeting.

·       To receive help in the Polya Lab, students must demonstrate that they have first completed the appropriate pages of their course notebook.

Quizzes : 90 points
(There are 10 quizzes, one will be dropped.)

·        Students will earn up to 10 points for every quiz.  There will be a quiz in MyMathLab every non-test week, due the night of the student’s class meeting.

·        Students must earn at least 80% on the corresponding homework assignment before the quiz becomes available.

·        Quizzes may be worked up to 10 times; only the highest score will count.

Tests: 400 points
(4 tests worth 100 points each)

·       There will be four tests throughout the semester, each worth 100 points.  The last day to take a test will be the day BEFORE the student’s class meeting.

·        The computer portion of each test will be proctored in the Polya Lab; any written tests will take place in class.

·        Students must receive at least 50% on the corresponding practice test before their first attempt on each test.

·        Students will have the opportunity to take each test up to 3 times, but may take only one test per day; only the highest score will count.

·        Each test has two parts: a computer portion worth 80 points and a written portion worth 20 points. The written portion is taken during your class meeting.  Makeup tests will only be given for students with a valid university excuse (see Section 9 below).

Final exam: 150 points

·         There will be one comprehensive final exam worth 150 points during finals week.

·         Time and location of the final exam will be announced during class.

·         Students should not make travel arrangements until after the last day of Finals Week.

Total: 825 points

Students have the opportunity to earn up to 20 points of extra credit.  This will be explained in class.

You should check your class attendance and Polya time commitment 
on the course web page each week to verify that they are correct.

Your course grade will be based on the total number of points that you have 
earned as follows:

743 points guarantees an A

660 points guarantees a B,

578 points guarantees a C,

495 points guarantees a D.

3. LEARNING ACTIVITIES: Some of the learning activities available to you are described 
below:

CLASS MEETINGS: You are not expected to navigate this course alone! Your teacher will meet 
with you once each week in class. This is your home for the course, and attendance is required.

STUDY THE TEXTBOOK: Read each section carefully. Study the examples in the reading and 
then try the homework problems.

ON-LINE LECTURES: Hundreds of 2-12 minute long mini-lectures are available on the Polya web site. 
These lectures are your primary source of course instruction.  It is imperative to watch and take
notes on the appropriate lecture before working the corresponding homework problems.  You
should use your Polya notebook to help you keep your notes organized.

MYMATHLAB is the software that is used for all homework assignments, quizzes, and computer 
tests.  Every student must create a MyMathLab account.  Students are allowed to work
the homework problems infinitely many times until they are satisfied with their grade.  Weekly
quizzes will be activated as soon as 80% of the weekly homework is complete and correct.  
Students have 10 attempts at the quizzes (the best score will be recorded). Students may take 
each computer test 3 times (the best score will be recorded).

WORK WITH THE POLYA STAFF: The Polya helpers in the lab will be available to help you 
whenever a concept is not clear or you are having difficulty with a problem. This means help 
with homework when you need it—not the next day in class when it’s too late!  Before students
ask for help they are expected to have completed the appropriate pages in their Polya notebook 
by watching lectures, taking notes, and working example problems.  The Polya helpers may ask to 
see your notebook to help pinpoint where you might be struggling.

COACHES' CORNER:  As described in the section on testing, you will be given an opportunity 
to take up to three  versions of each computer test.  Between versions you may meet with a math 
coach who  will review your work and suggest study strategies to use so that you are more successful 
on the your next attempt.  Before you meet with a coach, you are REQUIRED to fill out a 
coaching ticket for each objective that you want the coach to help you with.  A coach will 
help you with up to four objectives during a coaching session.

LIVE LECTURES: There are 9 live lectures given each week.  See the live lecture schedule for times 
and locations.

4. TIMING

In most three credit college courses, the average student spends 9 to 12 hours per week to be 
successful in the course. In traditional courses, students spend 3 hours in a lecture and 6 or more 
hours working alone, usually doing homework assignments and studying. In this course, you will 
spend one hour in a classroom setting (attending a class meeting), and as much time as 
you need participating in Polya activities.  We require that 2.5 of those additional hours be spent with 
us in the Polya Center where some of our best resources are available to you, but you are always 
welcome to spend more—many of our students report that they like to spend all their math time in 
the Polya Center where tutors are available. You will receive credit toward your final grade for 
conscientiously attending class and putting in the 2.5 hours a week in the Polya Center.  
Most successful Polya students report spending between 4 and 9 hours a week on math but this 
varies a great deal by student.

5. POLYA MATHEMATICS CENTER HOURS OF OPERATION

6. COMMUNICATIONS AND EMAIL

Announcements about the course, special sessions, changes in schedules, or procedures, and so 
forth, will be made in your class, on the Polya web page and by e-mail. You are expected to check your University e-mail regularly.

The best way to communicate with your teacher is to speak to them in person during their office hours or
when they are working in the Polya lab.  All emails must be sent through the email form located at: https://www.sci.uidaho.edu/polya/polyaweb.  Any emails sent not using this form will not be read.

7. THE STUDENT WITH SPECIAL NEEDS.

We are committed to accommodate students with special needs. If you need some accommodation 
see Student Support Services or Student Disability Services on the third floor of the Idaho Commons. 
We will work with them to supply you with the appropriate tools and services.

8. ACADEMIC HONESTY

Polya students are expected to maintain Academic Honesty in all their work. Collaboration is 
encouraged on many assignments such as homework and tutors are available to assist you with 
this kind of work, but your  teacher may assign other work or quizzes that should be 
completed independently.  All tests and the final exam are considered individual work and must 
be completed without unauthorized assistance of any kind, including the help of other students, 
tutors, notes, or graphing calculators. All test materials and scratch paper are to be turned in with 
the test paper and attempting to bring test work out of the testing area and/or share that work with 
other students is considered cheating.

Excerpted from the University of Idaho Student Code of Conduct Article 2:

1. Cheating on classroom or outside assignments, examinations, or tests is a violation of this code. 
Plagiarism, falsification of academic records, falsification of Polya Time records and the acquisition or use of test materials without faculty authorization are considered forms of academic dishonesty and, as such, are violations of 
this code.  Because academic honesty and integrity are core values at a university, the faculty finds 
that even one incident of academic dishonesty seriously and critically endangers the essential 
operation of the university and may merit expulsion. [rev. 7-98]

3. Instructors and students are responsible for maintaining academic standards and integrity in their 
classes. Consequences for academic dishonesty may be imposed by the course instructor. Such 
consequences may include but cannot exceed a grade of "F" in the course.

(The full text of the Student Code of Conduct may be found at http://www.students.uidaho.edu/documents/UISCOC.pdf&pid=56182&doc=1)

9.  ASSIGNMENT/TEST EXTENSIONS

According to the UI rules and regulations (see the UI Catalog, pg. 54, section M), extensions to
homework/quiz/test deadlines can be granted only for the following reasons:

If any of these cases should arise, bring the appropriate documentation in a timely manner to the Polya Administrative Assistant during the times posted on the Polya website.  

Please note that problems with your personal computer or internet connection are not grounds for an extension.