Required Textbook.
Algebra: Notes from the Underground, First edition, by Paolo Aluffi, ISBN 978-1-108-95823-3.
Section 4 Course Policies and Procedures
At a minimum, all policies stated in the current Louisiana Tech University Student Handbook should be followed. Additional class policies follow.
This syllabus is posted on Canvas. Every student is responsible for accessing it, reading it in full, and following the policies it contains; a paper copy will not be distributed.
Subsection 4.1 Textbook
Subsection 4.2 Attendance Policy
All students are expected to attend classes in which they are enrolled regularly and punctually. Failure to do so may jeopardize a student’s scholastic standing and may lead to suspension from the College or University.The student is responsible for making arrangements satisfactory to the instructor regarding absences including prior notification of planned absences, providing documentation if needed, and making up of examinations and work as required. For other emergency absences, the student shall submit excuses for class absences to the appropriate instructor within three class days following the student’s return to their respective class.
As noted above, students are obligated to complete all assigned work promptly, to attend class regularly, and to participate in whatever class discussion may occur. Attendance will be recorded at every class meeting.
Subsection 4.3 Classroom Behavior
Any behavior that interferes with the ability of other students to learn is unacceptable. If this becomes an issue, you will be asked to leave class for the day.
Your phone should be on silent and put away during class. Headphones should also be put away during class. Texting and browsing social media during class is rude and disrespectful. Please refrain from using your phone during class unless explicitly stated otherwise. If you are caught with a cell phone on your desk, in your lap, or anywhere in view while taking a quiz or exam, it will be treated as a case of academic dishonesty. Smart watches are also prohibited during exams; please put them away during those times.
Subsection 4.4 Late Policy
Late work will not be accepted. Students who cannot submit work due to a University-related activity requiring an absence from class must arrange for work to be submitted before leaving.
Subsection 4.5 Make-up Policy
In the event of one missed exam due to absence, the Final Exam can be used to replace the missing exam. Further missed exams will result in a grade of zero. If a University sponsored activity requires you to miss an exam, you must complete the exam in advance.
Subsection 4.6 Instructor Absence
If I must be absent from a class meeting, I will notify you as early as possible by email and through an announcement on Canvas. Depending on the circumstances, class will be covered by a colleague, replaced with an assignment to be completed on your own, or cancelled. Any cancelled material will be made up in subsequent meetings and the Schedule will be adjusted accordingly. Please check your University email and Canvas before coming to class if you have any reason to suspect a disruption (e.g. severe weather).
Subsection 4.7 Academic Honor Code
In accordance with the Academic Honor Code, students pledge the following:
“Being a student of higher standards, I pledge to embody the principles of academic integrity.”
Any suspected case of academic dishonesty will be reported. If it is determined that academic misconduct has occurred, the student will receive a grade of F for the course and may be dismissed from the University.
Subsection 4.8 Use of Artificial Intelligence
Generative artificial intelligence (AI) tools (e.g. ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, Copilot) can be a useful study aid, but they cannot do the work of learning for you. The goal of this course is to develop your ability to read, understand, and write mathematical proofs, and that ability is built only by struggling with problems yourself.
Subsubsection 4.8.1 Quizzes and Exams
The use of AI tools, or of any electronic device that can access them, is prohibited during all quizzes and exams. Any such use will be treated as a case of academic dishonesty under the Academic Honor Code.
Subsubsection 4.8.2 Homework and Studying
Homework is where you learn to write proofs, and the same standard applies to AI that applies to working with classmates: whatever help you use, you must be able to reproduce every solution on your own. Within that standard, AI tools are permitted. Productive uses include
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asking for a different explanation of a definition or theorem,
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generating extra practice problems,
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asking it to find the gaps in a proof you have already written.
However, asking it to write the proof of an assigned exercise before you have made a serious attempt yourself is generally not productive. Since the quizzes are drawn from exactly those problems, this usage is the one most likely to affect your grade.
Warning 4.1.
Reading and writing proofs is an art form that improves only with sustained practice. You are in this course precisely because that skill is still developing, and outsourcing the writing to AI removes the very practice that would develop it.
The most critical component of that skill is judging whether an argument is logically valid, and while you are learning you will sometimes get that judgment wrong. AI tools frequently produce confidently wrong proofs. Until you can reliably discern between valid and invalid proof, you will struggle to understand whether the tool has helped you or misled you. Understanding the methods of proof yourself is therefore a prerequisite for using these tools effectively, not something they can replace.
