MCS 142: Introduction to Statistics

Week	Chapter	Topics	Tests
1-2	1	Looking at data: distributions
2-4	2	Looking at data: relationships
4-6	3	Collecting data	M 3/17
6-7	4	Probability: the study of randomness
7-	5	Sampling distributions
Break
7-8	5	Sampling distributions
8-11	6	Introduction to inference	M 4/28
11-12	7	Inference for distributions
12-13	8	Inference for proportions
13	10, 12	A peek at inference for regression and ANOVA (analysis of variance)
14	all	Wrap-up and review
15	7-8 esp. +others	FINAL EXAMINATION	M 5/26 10:30-12:30

Assessment

• Homework will ordinarily be collected twice a week at the beginning of class. Late homework will not be accepted. Your two lowest homework scores will be thrown out.
• In-class work will include graded in-class exercises and presentations at the board.
• Exams 1 and 2 will be unit exams on chapters 1-3 and 4-6, respectively. Part of the final exam will be a unit exam on chapters 7-8 plus whatever we cover beyond that. Another part will be a comprehensive exam.
• Quizzes will be given to encourage your keeping up with the course material between exams. They may be announced or unannounced.
• Group projects: You will have two group projects. More information about these will be provided later.
• Article collection: In the first half of the semester you will collect five newspaper or magazine articles related to topics in the course. More details will follow.

Homework	16%
In-class work	5%
Exam 1	12%
Exam 2	12%
Final exam	18%
Quizzes	12%
Group projects	20%
Article collection	5%

Participation and performance factors may modify your grade.

You are expected to contribute to a classroom atmosphere that encourages learning and is marked by respect for your fellow learners. This involves, in part, faithful attendance, preparation, and participation, including attendance in the classes before and after each break. I may take into account exceptional effort and/or a trend of improvement throughout the semester. I appreciate students who are more interested in points of statistical science than in points of grading.

Make-up policy

Make-up exams will not be given except for medical or family emergency reasons. Students who will be absent from an exam for a school-sponsored event should arrange with me in advance to have an exam sent along with the coach. If you miss a class for any reason, you are still responsible for learning what was covered in class and for getting any homework that is due turned in on time. If there is a compelling reason for granting an extension, you must negotiate the arrangements with me. Late homework will not be accepted.

Academic honesty

• Page 31 of the Gustavus Adolphus College Academic Bulletin states in part: "The faculty of Gustavus Adolphus College expects all students to adhere to the highest standards of academic honesty... In all academic exercises, examinations, 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."
• A first case of cheating will result in a zero grade on the paper in question. A second case will result in a failing grade for the course.