ME391 Mechanical Engineering Analysis - summer  2016

Time and Place: MWF 12:40 - 2:30,  Engineering Building #2205
Instructor:   Prof. Thomas Pence, EB2452, 353-3889, pence@egr.msu.edu
General Policy:    Absence from class can cause serious confusion; students are expected to attend lectures which is the standard forum for class communication. Class absence is not an excuse for being unaware of course announcements or course materials.  The instructor is  in no way responsible for providing blackboard notes due to student's absence.
Office Hours:  Pence (EB2452) M 2:30 - 3:30,   WF 10:30 - 11:30  
Texbook: Advanced Engineering Mathematics  by  Zill and Wright, 5th edition, Jones and Bartlett, this book should cover all of your needs.
Homework:   Homework problems are given on the schedule.  They will not be graded but they are chosen so as to help you prepare for the quizes.  Doing these problems is the best way to learn the material.    The solutions will be be posted.  Please go to the course d2L website to access the worked solutions.   Working on them  in study groups is permissable, even encouraged. 
The Lectures:   Please prepare for class by reading the textbook on the material to be covered at that day.  This will make the lectures easier to understand, so that the lectures can then be used to clarify issues.   Because the lecture period is long, we will take a short break.   On days that do not have a quiz we will try to use a portion of the time for some kind of interactive activity.   Examples may include having students take turns presenting worked problems to the class.  More generally, students will be responsible for many of these activities.   This aspect of class participation will be factored into your overall course grade.
Quizes: We shall have five quizes as  indicated on the class schedule.   Each quiz will be 25 minutes length, beginning at 2:00.  They will typically be closed-book, closed notes, and will cover  material since the last quiz.    Calculators may or may  not be allowed depending on the material.  Whether or not the book, lecture notes or calculaters may be used will be announced in the lecture two days before the quiz.  If warranted,  an appropriate formula sheet may be provided with the quiz.   All quizes have the same worth as regards the determination of your course grade.  No make-up quizes will be given, in view of the quiz drop rule indicated later.
Final: A final will be held on the last day of class.  The final exam will consist of three distinct parts, each  of which  will have the same worth as a quiz in the determination of your course grade.  Thus the final exam is worth three quizes.  One of the three parts of the final will cover the most recent material since the last quiz.  The other two parts of the final will address earlier material in the course.  
Grading Scheme: Since the final is worth three quizes, you will have the opportunity to accrue scores in the equivalent of eight quizes.  Your two worst quiz grades, or their equivalent from the final,  will be dropped.  Thus the dropped matter will either be: two quizes, one quiz and one part of the final, or no quizes and two parts of the final.  

Your course grade is based 80% on quiz performance and 20% on in-class participation.   Hopefully, almost everybody will have near 100% on their in-class participation rating.   The following table will then be used by me in determining course grades:
best six  quizes
>=90% >=85% >=80% >=75% >=70% >=65% >=60% <60%
course grade 4.0 3.5 3.0 2.5 2.0 1.5 1.0 0

In the unlikely event that this table will produce overly low grades, some cut-off percentages may be lowered.  In this sense, the above is a table of lower bounds. However, do not count on this, so plan according to the table (note the term "unlikely event").

Ethics: 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 quizes and exams, 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.