MCS140: ELEMENTARY STATISTICS

GENERAL COURSE INFORMATION:

Catalog description: survey of uses of statistics, organization of data, observation and measurement, averages, variability, association, probability, randomness, sampling distributions, estimation, tests of hypotheses, and introduction to design.

Pre-requisite: a course in higher algebra

Students with a calculus background should take MCS-142 instead of MCS-140.

General Education Requirement: QUANT (pre 2005), MATHL (2005)

COURSE OBJECTIVES: Upon completion of this course, a student will:

§ Understand fundamental statistical terminology and notation.

§ Apply statistical concepts in real-world settings.

§ Select appropriate graphical techniques in a particular setting.

§ Apply fundamental graphing principles to create graphical displays.

§ Identify misleading or deceptive graphical displays.

§ Interpret statistical information in a variety of disciplines and settings.

§ Choose a suitable statistical procedure for a specific problem.

§ Recognize the capabilities and limitations of statistical inference.

§ Perform statistical calculations using appropriate technology.

§ Critique published statistical information.

TOPIC SCHEDULE

TOPIC	CHAPTERS
Visual Displays (pie charts, bar graphs, histograms, stem-and-leaf plots, scatterplots)	1, 4, 7
Numerical Measures (measures of center and spread, box-and-whisker plots)	2, 7
Probability	10
Normal Distribution	3
Sampling	8
Sampling Distributions (Central Limit Theorem)	11
Confidence Intervals for a Population Parameter	14, 18, 20
Tests of Significance for a Population Parameter	15, 18, 20
Experimental Design	9
Inference for Two Populations	19, 21

ASSESSMENT AND GRADING:

COMPONENT	%	DUE DATES AND OTHER INFORMATION
Exams (2 at 15% each)	30	April 2/3, May 24
Quizzes (4 at 5% each)	20	February 27/28, March 12/13, April 21/22, May 12/13
Online pre/post tests	10
Homework (drop lowest)	15	Weekly (assigned on Mon./Tue., due following Monday/Tuesday)
Statistics in the Newspaper	10	Details on separate handout
Class Attendance	5
Participation Requirements	10	“ungraded”—will receive full credit if item is completed

TENTATIVE GRADING SCALE:
A (92-100), A- (90-91.9), B+ (88-89.9), B (82-87.9),B- (80-81.9), C+ (78-79.9), C (72-77.9), C- (70-71.9), D (60-69.9), F (0-59.9)

COURSE EXPECTATIONS AND POLICIES:

§ CLASS.

o Attend every class.

o Cell phones: Turn off or turn ringer to “silent.”

o Calculator: ALWAYS bring your calculator. We will use it almost every class period.

o Participation Portfolio: ALWAYS bring your participation portfolio to class. We may need to refer back to previous activities.

o Be prepared for every class—bring completed assignments.

o Participate fully in each class by asking questions and contributing to in-class activities.

o If you must be absent, please notify me in advance (if possible) by e-mail or voice mail. You are responsible for obtaining all materials and information covered in your absence.

§ DUE DATES for all assignments, quizzes, and exams are non-negotiable. No late homework!

§ HOMEWORK.

o The upper right hand corner must include: your name, your section, the homework assignment number and a listing of the assigned problems.

o Legible and well organized (problems in order.)

o All hand-drawn graphs must be drawn using a ruler or a straight-edge.

o Stapled.

o No frayed edges!

COLLEGE POLICIES:

Academic Honesty Policy: The faculty of Gustavus Adolphus College expects all students to adhere to the highest standards of academic honesty, and to refrain from any action which impinges upon academic freedom of other members of the college community. In all academic exercises, examinations, presentations, speeches, papers, and reports, students shall submit their own work. Footnotes or some other acceptable form of citation must accompany any use of another’s words or ideas. Students are especially cautioned that quoting from or paraphrasing from electronic sources without proper citation is as serious a violation as copying from a book or other printed source.

In the case of cheating or plagiarism, the instructor will inform the student and the office of the Dean of the Faculty of the nature of the offense, the penalty within the course, and the recommendation of the instructor as to whether further disciplinary action by the Dean is warranted. Another instance of academic dishonesty will result in review of the student’s record by the probation committee and may result in the student being placed on academic probation. If a pattern of academic dishonesty continues, the student may be permanently dismissed from the College.

A student may not submit work that is substantially the same in two courses without first gaining permission of both instructors if the courses are taken concurrently, or permission of the current instructor, if the work had been submitted in a previous semester.

The faculty regards the damaging of library materials and failing to sign out or to return them properly, and misuse of computer files and programs as equally serious violations of the ethical standards of courtesy, fairness, and honesty that bind together a community of scholars.

Individuals who use the College’s computer facilities assume the responsibility of seeing that these resources are used in an appropriate manner. Misuse of computer hardware, software, data, and output is a violation of College policy and regulations and may also be a violation of law if data of other computer users are disturbed or the privacy of individuals is violated.

Finally, students who serve the College in positions of responsibility in which they deal with test materials, letters of recommendation, and other matters which must be held in confidence are expected to maintain confidentiality and to adhere to the same high standards of personal integrity.

Students with disabilities: The College Catalog states:
"Section 507 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act (1990) work together to ensure 'reasonable accommodation' and non-discrimination for students with disabilities in higher education. A student who has a physical, psychiatric/emotional, medical, learning, or attentional disability that may have an effect of the student's ability to complete assigned course work should contact the Disability Services Coordinator in the Advising Center, who will review the concerns and decide with the student what accommodations are necessary." The Disability Services Coordinator Laurie Bickett (x6286) can provide further information.

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COMPONENT

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DUE DATES AND OTHER INFORMATION