Instructor: Dr. Paul Regier Time: MWF 2:30 pm - 3:30 pm
Email: Place: Austin Hall 213
Office hours: paulregier.com/office-hours

1 Course Description

This course is a study of logic structure in mathematics, mathematical language and proof, set theory, relations and functions, and number system. (3 hours)

Prerequisite: MATH 2223 (Calculus II)

1.1 Required Materials

  1. Open Source Textbook: “Book of Proof,” by Richard H. Hammack. Free pdf available at: (https://www.people.vcu.edu/~rhammack/BookOfProof/Main.pdf)
  2. Regular access to a computer for submitting homework assignments. While a calculator may be useful at times, you may use your computer as a calculator if you choose.

1.2 Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, you will be able to:

  1. Construct mathematical arguments that accurately explain how we know something is true.
  2. Create mathematical proofs of statements (using direct proof, contrapositive proof, proof by contradiction, and proof by cases, and mathematical induction).
  3. Verify the correctness of mathematical arguments and proofs.
  4. Utilize mathematical definitions, terminology, and notation in solving problems involving sets, functions, relations, and sequences.

2 Course Format

This course will meet IN-PERSON, with the exception of one class period (November 22) which will meet asynchronously online.

In-person attendance is required. Attendance and participation will be graded daily. Only in special pre-arranged cases will attendance on Zoom be accommodated. In these cases, please email me or call me at 316-804-8104 to discuss this ASAP.

Your active engagement in class is crucial for your success in this course. To develop the understanding and skills required in this course, your sustained and uninterrupted focus will be required. Due to this, as well as my genuine concern for your learning, any reoccurring interruptions or distractions will be discussed, addressed, and eliminated to any extent necessary.

3 Assessement

Course grades are made up of the following components:

Participation and attendence 5%
Homework 25%
Discussion 5%
Exam 1 20%
Exam 2 20%
Final Exam 25%
Total 100%

After rounding final grade to the nearest percent:
\(A = 90-100\%, B = 80-89\%, C = 70-79\%, D = 60-69\%, F = \text{below } 60\%\)

Note: You will not have the option to convert your grade to P/NP this semester.

3.1 Participation and Attendance

Class sessions are for engaging new ideas together, solving problems, practicing and testing out new techniques, asking questions, getting help, and helping one another stay motivated, focused, and engaged. Thus, class participation is an essential part of your success in this course and is required. To keep each of us accountable, daily participation points will be recorded as a cumulative 100 point semester grade using the rubric below.

Attendance (50 points)

  • 50 points - Attended almost every class (missing at most one class per exam)
  • 40 points - Attended class (missing at most two classes per exam) OR came late frequently
  • 30 points - Missed or attended class late (three or more classes per exam)
  • 20 points - Missed or attended class late (four or more classes per exam)
  • 0 points - Repeatedly absent or late (five or more classes per exam)

Participation (50 points)

  • 50 points - Actively engaged and participated in class discussion/problem-solving
  • 40 points - Usually actively engaged and participated in class discussion/problem-solving
  • 30 points - Remained only partially engaged in class
  • 20 points - Remained only partially engaged in class, doing other things on cell phone/computer
  • 0 points - Did not remain engaged in class, going on cell phone/computer repeatedly

Additionally, periodic surveys and discussion may also be included in the Participation and Attendance grades in canvas.

If something major comes up (a death in the family, illness, hospitalization, etc.) that will cause you to miss more than two cumulative days of class, email me as soon as possible so that we can discuss alternative arrangements.

3.2 Homework

Homework serves as a crucial tool to engage, practice/play with, and assess your understanding of new ideas that are developed in class. Together with your active class participation, giving adequate time to complete online assignments is the best thing you can do to excel in this class.

Homework exercises are assigned every class period (except exam and review days) and are due at 6 pm the day prior to the next class period. For example, problems assigned on Monday in class are Tuesday at 6 pm, prior to class on Wednesday. In every assignment, you will also pose at least one questions about anything you are curious about (1 point). Homework (10 points/assign) will be assessed for completion and 1-3 problems will be graded for accuracy with feedback provided. Assignments turned late (up to 2 days) will be graded half-credit for completion, but will not receive feedback.

Starting assignments early and turning them on time will insure you get the most out of assignments and allow you to integrate what we have learned and go deeper with that material in our next class. (See Incubation Discussion in Canvas.)

Both inside and outside of class, you are strongly encouraged to work with each other to discuss and help each other to better understand each topic. If you find yourself stuck on a problem after multiple focused attempts on a problem (i.e. working undistracted for at least 5 minutes on a problem), please write the following to still receive partial credit for the problem.

  1. Explanation of what you tried and where you got stuck
  2. Two additional questions regarding the problem or related problems for which the answers may (or may not) help you in solving/proving this particular problem

Then come to class ready to discuss!

Homework is graded out of 20 points, with 10 points for completion (including questions), and 10 points for accuracy of one or two selected problems. Homework deadlines are firm. To ensure you are able to efficiently and effectively complete homework, you should budget time to begin working on homework problems within 24 hours of every class session.

3.3 Exams

There will be three in-person exams for this course: two midterm exams and a final exam. Exam dates are listed on the Canvas homepage. Please put these dates in your calendar and email me as soon as you find you may have an unavoidable or university-sanctioned conflict with any dates.

3.4 Discussions

Canvas discussion assignments will be periodically used to introduce or explore ideas not covered in class. Please follows Canvas for instructions and due dates.

4 Course Communication

Be aware and anticipate the following response times for the following types of correspondence:

  • Student –> Instructor: For emails to the instructor sent after 8 am on Monday but before noon on Friday, please allow 24 hrs response time. Messages left after midday Friday may take up to 72 hrs. Holidays excluded. Messages sent via email generally will receive quicker responses than messages sent in Canvas.
  • Instructor –> Student: Students are expected to check and be aware of information sent via email and Canvas announcement posts regularly and respond if needed following the same guidelines described in the above item.
  • Student –> Student: When working with other students (e.g. homework or group projects) students are advised to exchange contact information of some sort, as well as check and read email/group messages regularly.

In all course communication with your instructor and classmates, please follow these net etiquette (netiquette) guidelines: 1

  1. Remember the Human: When communicating electronically, whether through email, instant message, discussion post, text, or some other method, practice the Golden Rule: Do unto others as you would have others do unto you. Remember, your written words are read by real people, all deserving of respectful communication. Consider the tone of your emails and discussion posts and before you press “send” or “submit” ask yourself, “Would I be okay with this if someone else had written it?”
  2. Make yourself look good: In all course communication with your instructor and classmates, be professional and polite. One of the great things about the virtual world is the lack of judgment associated with your physical appearance, the sound of your voice, or the clothes you wear. You will, however, be judged by the quality of your writing, so keep the following tips in mind:
    • Always check for capitalization, spelling, grammar, and punctuation errors.
    • Think about what you want to communicate and state it clearly.
    • Avoid slang and acronyms like ROTFL for “rolling on the floor laughing.”
    • Don’t use ALL CAPS for entire sentences or posts, which denote yelling at someone. Any form of attack or inappropriate response within any form of communication with other students or faculty is unacceptable and if done in a discussion post will be removed immediately accompanied with a warning.
    • Be pleasant and polite.
  3. Respect other people’s time and bandwidth: Electronic communication takes time: time to read and time in which to respond. Most people today lead busy lives, just like you do, and don’t have time to read or respond to frivolous emails or discussion posts. As a virtual world communicator, it is your responsibility to make sure that the time spent reading your words isn’t wasted. Make your written communication meaningful and to the point, without extraneous text or large attachments that may take forever to download.

5 Other Information

5.1 Student Success Center (SSC)

The Student Success Center (SSC) offers FREE individual tutoring, hosted in the top floor of Nash Library! See the SSC website for hours and link for scheduling an appointment. It is very helpful to come to tutoring appointments with specific questions or topics you want help with.

5.2 Illness and COVID-19 Policies

Regular class attendance is necessary in achieving the course objectives. Thus, taking care of your health and avoiding unnecessary exposure to illness is an important part of your success.

However, if you do fall ill for any reason, I want you to be able to rest. Please do not come to class if you are sick (due to COVID or otherwise). If you are ill, please email me to let me know. Then, when you are well, contact me ASAP to make plans for making up missed work.

For absences related to COVID-19, please adhere to the following:

  • If you test positive or are evaluated by a healthcare provider for symptoms of COVID-19, please alert the University at who will follow up with you as necessary, and your instructors will be notified.
  • If you have been exposed to COVID-19 positive individuals and/or have been notified to self-quarantine due to exposure, please notify the University at who will follow up with you as necessary, and your instructors will be notified.
  • To return to class after being absent due to a COVID-19 diagnosis or due to a period of self-quarantine, students should email who will follow up with you as necessary, and your instructors will be notified.
  • Supporting documentation can be attached directly to the request form and should be from a student’s health care provider or Student Affairs, clearly indicating the dates of absences and the date the student can return to class.
  • If you are absent from class as a result of a COVID-19 diagnosis or quarantine, you are still responsible to complete all course requirements. As the instructor, I will work with you to make up work. However, it is your responsibility to contact me to make plans for making up missed work as soon as you are well. Do not wait until the end of the semester to make up missed work.

5.3 Disability Services

The University has a continuing commitment to providing accommodations for students with documented disabilities. Like so many things this Fall, the need for accommodations and the process for arranging them may be altered by safety protocols related to COVID-19. To fully participate in this class, those with disabilities who may need accommodation should contact the Disability Services, as soon as possible. For this semester, please do this by emailing the Disability Services Office at .

5.4 Academic Dishonesty

Academic dishonesty in any form is a violation of the Academic Code of Conduct and will not be tolerated. There is a zero-tolerance policy in this course for any form of plagiarism, fabrication, cheating, forgery, or any other type of academic dishonesty. For more on the Academic Code of Conduct please see the USAO student handbook.

5.5 Important Dates

It is your responsibility to be aware of the following important dates:

  • Last day to drop – Wednesday, September 8
  • Last day to withdraw with an automatic “W” – Friday, October 22
  • Last day to withdraw – Friday, November 5

Please also mark your calendar with all exam dates, as posted in the course schedule (see home Canvas page).

5.6 Course Changes

The instructor reserves the right to make changes to this course as deemed mutually beneficial or necessary to all involved, with appropriate notification.

I encourage any feedback you have at any point during the semester. If you find any structural or content errors in any current course materials, let me know politely and respectfully via the syllabus discussion in Canvas, via email, or in person. If you do so, I will give two points extra credit (per correction) toward Online Homework.

  1. Partially adapted from The Core Rules of Netiquette. Shea, V. (1994). Netiquette (Online ed., pp. 32-45). San Francisco: Albion Books.↩︎