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  {\bf {\large Algebraic Structures} \\
   Mathematics 222 Section 02} \\
   Fall Semester 1998 \\
   MWF 1:55 -- 2:45, CCMB 326  %% time of the class
   %% location of class
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\noindent
{\bf Professor:} Peter Cholak\\
{\em Office:} 223 Computer Center and Mathematics Building (CCMB)\\
{\em Office Phone:} 1-6507\hfill  {\em E-mail:} Peter.Cholak.1@nd.edu\\
{\em Office Hours:} MWF 2:45 -- 3:30 or by appointment.\\


\noindent {\bf Text:} Introductory Modern Algebra -- a Historical Approach
by Saul Stahl.  \\

\noindent {\bf Our Goals:}  Along with learning some very nice mathematics,
the main goal of this class is continue the process of how to solve
complex mathematical problems, how to think abstractly, how to write a
``good'' solution to a mathematical problem and how to communicate
mathematically.  These skills have proven to be very valuable in many
realms.  To this end, it is excepted that you \emph{read} the textbook
and do the homework.  Ideally it would be nice if you read the
textbook \emph{before} we discussed the material in class. One
resource you should definitely take advantage of are my office hours.\\


\noindent {\bf Take-Home Quizzes:} Approximately every
week a take-home quiz will given.  Normally, but not always, quizzes
will be given on Wednesdays.  About 12 such quizzes will be given.
Each quiz is worth 10 points.  Your best 10 quizzes will count toward
your grade.  Hence the quizzes are worth 100 points in total.  These
quizzes will be graded by me.\\

\noindent {\bf In-Class Presentations:}
We will break the class into groups of 3 or 4.  Throughout the
semester each group will be given at least 2 problems to solve and
present to the class. You may solve these problems as a group and
present them as a group but everyone must speak in front of the class
at least once.  All presentations \emph{must} be approved by me; i.e.\ 
you must present a \emph{correct} written solution to me in my office
\emph{before} giving a presentation to the class.  There will be about
2-3 presentations a week.  The presentations are worth 25 points but
if you do not complete them you will fail the
course.\\


\noindent {\bf Exams and the Final:} The dates of the exams and final are
below.  The first exam will be given in class and will take the whole
class period.  We are toying with the idea that the second exam will
be a take-home exam in which case it will be given on the dates listed
below but otherwise it will have the same format as the first
exam.\\
EXAM 1: Wednesday, February 24.\\
EXAM 2: Wednesday, April 14. \\
FINAL: Thursday, May 6, 1:45 -- 3:45 (location will be announced later).\\
The exams are worth 100 points and the final 150 points.  The grades
for the exams will be curved into the letter grades A,
B, C, D and F. The exams and final will be graded by the Professor. \\


\noindent {\bf Homework:} Homework will be assigned daily and due
\emph{two} class periods later (i.e.\ if assigned on Wednesday it is
due on Monday.)  This is done to allow you the time to ask questions
about the homework.  If you miss a class when the homework is assigned
it is still your \emph{responsibility} to find out the homework
assignment and complete it in time.  In total the homework is worth
25 points.  The homework will not be graded by me but by a corrector.
As a general rule unless you do exceptionally well or poorly on the
homework, your homework grade will have little effect on your course
grade.  However, in order to do well in any mathematics class it is
very important to keep up with the homework!  \\

\noindent {\bf Grading:} The course grade will be determined by
curving the total number of earned points out of the possible 500
points.  The previous curves will help determine the final curve.
The possible letter grades are: A, A-, B+, B, B-, C+, C, C-, D, F.\\

\noindent {\bf Makeups:} You can make up the exams only if you have a
university approved excuse (i.e.\ ill at the infirmary, a participant
at an away game, etc) and have an official note or letter to this
effect.  You may \emph{not} make up any of the quizzes (after all they
are take-home and you can drop several), homework (after all in most
cases this will have little effect on your final grade) or
the final (you better be there!).\\

\noindent {\bf The Honor Code and working together:}
As always you are bound by the \emph{Honor Code}\footnote{If you are
  unclear how this code will effect you in this class, please see
  me.}! The in-class exam(s) and final are ``closed book'' and no
books, notes or \emph{calculators} are allowed.  However you may work
together on the homework, quizzes and your in-class presentation but
\emph{not} on the one take-home exam (if given).  While you can talk
with others about the homework and quizzes problems you \emph{must}
each individually write up the solutions.

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