ME391 Mechanical Engineering Analysis

 

 

 spring 2016

 

 

 

Updates:

Prerequisite: MTH235 or MTH255H or LBS220

Time and Location: MW 4:10-5:30, 2243 Engineering Building


Instructor: Prof. T. Pence, EB2452, 353-3889, pence@egr.msu.edu

Instructor Office Hours: Monday 12:00-1:15,  Thursday 4:00-5:15

Course grader: Mr. Patrick Vaughan,     vaugha26@msu.edu

Textbook: Advanced Engineering Mathematics, by D.G. Zill and W.S.Wright, 5th  edition, Jones and Bartlett publishers. This book should cover all your needs. 

 ME 391 policy:    There are multiple sections of ME 391 but you must attend lectures, take exams and quizes, and submit homework for the Section in which you are enrolled.
Class Absence:    Absence from class can cause serious confusion; students are expected to attend lectures which is the standard forum for class communication. Students are expected to prepare for class by reading the text material and examining the sample problems in the text.   Class absence is not an excuse for being unaware of course announcements or course materials. If you are absent, please see the course web page for any announcements you may have missed.   The instructor is  in no way responsible for providing lecture notes due to student's absence. On quiz days, if there is a lecture portion to class after a quiz then students needing to leave early must clear such leaving in advance with the course instructor if they wish their quiz to be graded.

Homework: Homework problems are exercises to learn the material.  Selected problems will be collected for grading on the dates indicated on the schedule. The grader will assign marks on the basis of both accuracy and clarity.  In view of the latter, you may wish to have each individual problem on its own sheet of paper, and the whole assignment neatly stapled.    The solutions to homework problems that are not handed in will be made immediately available on the desire2learn website (https://d2l.msu.edu/d2l/home).  Solutions to problems that are to be handed in will be posted after the due date.  Working out all homework problems is the best possible test preparation.

Quizes and Exams: There are quizes (25 minutes), 2 in-class exams (the full class period), and a final exam. They are closed-book, closed notes, in-class exams. Calculaters are not allowed.  Phones and watches must be stowed.  Use of a simple add/subtract/multiply/divide/square root/memory-recall dollar store type calculater    (here is an example) may be allowed on certain quizes or exams depending on the material.   Please prepare for such a possibility in advance (and please do not ask to use anything more sophisticated at the time of a quiz or exam).  For the exams you can bring in one formula sheet (letter size) front and back  for reference.

 

Quizes will generally not be announced in advance.  I anticipate between 3 and 6 quizes throughout the semester.  Your worst quiz score will be dropped. If you miss a quiz, that will be the one dropped. You cannot make up quizes or exams unless I am directed to do so by MSU policy as determined by the Associate Dean for Engineering Undergraduate Studies.    Exam dates are posted on the schedule and for your information are also indicated here as  Feb. 15 and March 28.    The final  exam is on  Wednesday May 4 from 5:45  to 7:45.

Grading Scheme: The totality of all homework, each in-class exam, the totality of all quizes, and the final are each worth 20% of your grade.  Your course grade is then determined  according to the following table:
 

raw score

>=90%

>=85%

>=80%

>=75%

>=70%

>=65%

>=60%

<60%

grade

4.0

3.5

3.0

2.5

2.0

1.5

1.0

0

 

 

Office Hours:  I am happy to meet with students during office hours so as to clarify course issues.  If you have a conflict with my office hours please contact me to schedule an alternative time.   Students are expected to prepare for office hours by giving forethought to their questions prior to attending office hours.  Office hours do not substitute for class attendence.  When asking a question on a specific topic or problem you must bring to my office the course notes for that topic as well as the work that you have already done with respect to the issue under consideration.  If you stop by my office at a time other than scheduled office hours, without having made prior advanced arrangements with me,  it may be necessary to ask you to come back at a later time. 

Email:    While email is useful for the communication of quick information and for the clarification of easily expressible matters, detailed technical issues are best handled in office hours.  When email is appropriate, all such communication must comply with professional standards.  In subject lines, please use: "ME 391 student"  followed by a modifier, e.g., "ME 391 student, HW 2 prob. 3".  An appropriate salutation (e.g., Prof. or Dr.) as well as contact information should be included in the message.   

 

Academic Integrity:  Engineers must adhere to a rigorous code of professional ethics. Unethical conduct in ME391will result in the maximum disciplinary action permitted by Michigan State University. Unethical conduct in this class includes, but is not limited to, cheating on exams/quizes and supplying information to others (students bear responsibility for ensuring the security of their examination papers). If you have any questions, your instructor is available to discuss issues of professional expectations and ethics. You may work together on homework.  

· The schedule contains crucial information for the class. As the lecture progresses, it will be updated constantly. Please check for the most recent version regularly.