Fundamentals of Geometry from an Advanced Standpoint
Spring 2006
Other resources
Syllabus
Please feel free to come by my office any time during scheduled
office hours.
You are welcome to
come at other times, but in that case you might want to make
an appointment, just to make sure that I will be there then. You can
make an appointment simply by talking to me before or after class, by
calling me at
my office
or at home, or by sending
e-mail.
You may also ask any questions directly via phone or e-mail. If I'm
not in when you call, please leave a message on the voice-mail or
answering machine with your name, number, and a good time for me to
call you back. I will try to respond to your phone or e-mail message
as soon as possible.
Course Objectives:
Upon successful completion of the course, you will know and be able to
discover and prove basic facts from Euclidean geometry, including the
concepts of congruent and similar figures, constructions, length, area,
volume, transformations, and symmetry.
You will also be able to demonstrate these facts on software such as
Geometer's Sketchpad.
Textbook:
Geometry Connections, John K. Beem,
preliminary version, Chs. 1-4, Sec. 6.1 Copies are
now available for purchase at the Copy Mine in
basement of library.
Technology:
Geometer's
Sketchpad. We will be using Sketchpad extensively in
class, both as part of lectures and student activities. A brief
introduction to this powerful but remarkably easy-to-use software is
in Appendix I of the text. The lab adjacent to our classroom has many
open hours, and has Sketchpad on every computer. You may also wish to
purchase your own copy for use at home (here is a link
to do this).
Grades:
- Participation (5%):
-
A large portion of class time will be
devoted to discussions and investigations in small groups and with the
whole class. Your active engagement with the material is required at
all times. Active engagement does not require knowing all the answers
all the time. Active engagement does require an honest effort, and
contributing to the ongoing conversation (at the group and classwide
levels) at all times. You will not be able to get a good participation
grade if you are absent too much.
- Homework (45%):
-
Individual homework will be assigned
regularly, and due approximately weekly. You are allowed to work
together on homework (in fact, I encourage you to do so), but the
paper you turn in you must write yourself. Homework is due at the
beginning of class (12:30 sharp); if you cannot make it to
class, arrange to either deliver the homework to me early, or have
someone else bring it to class for you. Your lowest homework score
will be dropped.
- Exams (12.5% each):
-
There will be two in-class tests on the following days:
Each will cover material we have discussed in class to that point and
(for the second exam) since the previous exam. Makeup exams can be
given only in extraordinary and unavoidable circumstances, and with
advance notice.
- Final (25%)
- comprehensive
Fri. 12 May, 1:00-3:45 p.m.
Drop date:
The deadline for student-initiated drops with a W is Fri., 24 Mar. After
this date, you can only drop with the Dean's approval, which is granted
only under extenuating circumstances.
I hope everyone will complete the course successfully, but if you are
having doubts about your progress, I will be happy to discuss your
standing in the course to help you decide whether or not to drop.
You are only allowed three enrollments in this
course, so please exercise the drop option judiciously.