- Syllabus
Erik Duffy • Contact • Home Page
Math 2 is the second year of a three-year sequence intended to prepare students for calculus-based courses in high school and college. First semester focuses mainly on algebraic fundamentals, and second semester focuses mainly on quadratics. Writing and understanding mathematics as a language is a focus throughout the year.
Course Level: The content of Math 2 is fairly straightforward and not overly conceptual. However, math is challenging for many, and Math 2 is no easier than Math 1. Three key factors that lead to success in Math 2 are solid fundamentals (see below), good use of class time, and studying for quiz retakes and tests.
Units of Study: Arithmetic and algebra, terms and factors, geometry, right-triangle trigonometry, factoring, graphs of quadratic functions, square roots, and probability
Math Fundamentals: Every math course at SVHS has these Math Fundamentals as part of each final, as an understanding of these concepts and procedures is essential to most topics in all algebra-based high school and college math courses. In Math 2, all of these topics are covered in depth in the first semester.
Work done in class: ~25%
Work done at home: ~15%
Quizzes and Tests: ~60%
Calculator: A calculator is required for Math 2. A cheap scientific calculator is sufficient, although students considering Honors Math 3 next year may benefit from purchasing a TI-84 Plus graphing calculator and using it this year in preparation for next year.
Computer: SVHS students are required to bring a Chromebook or other laptop to their classes. You can make arrangements with the school to borrow one if you are not able to get one of your own.
Other Materials: You need to bring your notebook and a pencil every day. To stay organized, you may also want to bring colored pens and a binder.
Online Materials: Almost all aspects of the course are available at ewyner.com, including class notes and slides, the textbook, and the practice quiz for each section.
Use of Resources: You can use the book, your calculator, and unlimited notes on almost all graded assignments except tests.
Extensions: You can change the due date of any assignement to any date before the test, for any reason, simply by submitting an extension request. The request must be submitted in person before the original due date.
Free C: You can request a “Free C” on any nontest assignment, in person before the due date, once per grading period. When the assignment is due, it can be turned in normally, or the Free C form can be submitted in its place for a score of 70%.
Quiz Retakes: Any time before the day of the test, you can retake any quiz that is not already a retake or makeup and get full credit on the retake.
Test Retakes: There is a test retake available during Tutorial the Thursday the week before before the next test. To take it, you must have someone sign off to vouch that you have re-studied and will score higher than the first time. The maximum score on a test retake is 75%.
Flexible Timelines: Quiz retakes, test explanations, and all late work can be turned in any time until the day before the test.
The most challenging part of a math class can be staying caught up when absent. The following guidelines and opportunities aim to help with this.
Participation Assignments: You do not need to submit missing participation assignments unless you have multiple absences within a single chapter.
Quizzes: If you are absent for a section and return the next day for the quiz, you will still take the quiz after we review it in class, but you can also retake it later.
Tests: If you miss a test, it will be given to you the day you return. Many students end up self-sabotaging by trying to put off tests indefinitely; this is not permitted in this class.
Accepted: You can turn late work in to the Math 2 To-Be-Graded tray until the day before the chapter test.
Unaccepted: Work turned in on or after the day of the test, or turned in somewhere other than the Math 2 To-Be-Graded tray (such as by email or to the office) will not be graded.
Scoring: You can request an extension in advance to get full credit on late work (see above). Late work without an extension may be graded down by a small amount, usually no more than 2 ponts. To make up for lost points due to legitimate, unplanned absences, you can submit each late assignment with a readmit slip from the office. Alternatively, you can choose to have your semester grade automatically rounded up if it is 89, 79, 69, or 59.
Chapter Updates: A few days before each chapter test, I will send an email with the following.
I will reach out to you in case of...:
Please reach out to me in case of...: