Course+Description

=Overview= This course prepares you for either the EPIC curriculum, the IB Mathematics SL curriculum, or both. For those that are headed towards IB, you will see the proper notation that you will use on the IB tests. You may also find a topic in Geometry that will serve as a starting point for an extended essay. If you are not in IB, but in EPIC, you will get the enriched exposure to IB material, but you will also learn how to apply the Engineering Design Algorithm to solve problems in geometry. This course is also enriched with engineering-based problems. =Text= You will be using the UCSMP Geometry Text 3rd Edition. UCSMP stands for University of Chicago School Mathematics Project. Researchers have proven that this is the best text for a geometry course. UCSMP is known worldwide for its quality. There are two primary differences between this text and others. 1. There is an emphasis on writing and verbal comprehension of mathematics. Geometry and math in general is more than a set of numbers and operations. Geometry, in particular is a system of rules that is established like a legal system by precedents. Nothing is added to the system unless it is proven. You will need to be able to write and justify your thoughts in order to participate in the system. 2. This text is more like international math texts in that it uses transformational geometry. Many of you know what a translation (slide) or a reflection is. In this text, you will spend a significant amount of time studying these and other transformations to build the rest of the ideas in Geometry. The authors of this book chose to follow what every one else in the world does and establish the tenets of geometry using this approach. =Required Materials= Each student needs a compass and protractor. Please get a protractor with a ruled side that measures both centimeters and inches. You will also need a calculator. It must at least have the ability to find cube roots. If it has that, it will have everything else it needs. The TI-84, or N-Spire will be required for Algebra 2 and above. If you get one this year, it will handle anything you need. =Grading= Grading is based on category-weighted averages. · Practice 20% · Quizzes and other in-class assessments 10% · Tests 50% · Exams 20% Missed assignments must be made up within 3 school days of your absence. Make arrangements with me in the event of an absence. For questions you may contact me at: mfletcher@mcpss.com =Syllabus= You will receive a syllabus that will contain most of your homework assignments. I reserve the right to make substitutions and add assignments as we go. If you are absent, you may do the assignments on the list. If I make a substitution on a day that you are absent and you do the work on the syllabus, I will accept that. =Online Text= You can download, view, and print a digital copy of the text from: [] The files are zipped for easy download. You will need to extract the files before you use them. Course of Study (COS) objectives are available upon request by hard copy or email. The COS numbers after each assignment indicate which objectives are addressed by each assignment. The second quarter syllabus will be released the first day of the second quarter.