Syllabus for Statistics 185

Professor: Mark McClure

Course purpose

Statistics is an applied field with a wide range of practial applications that is of growing importance in today's data driven world. In this course, you will:

• Learn the qualitative language of data: What are the basic structures, variables, summaries, and charts that we use to describe and understand data? What data can we find and how do we collect more?
• Learn how to analyze data quantitatively: What specific distribution should we use to model a specific data set? What do quantitative measures associated with a distribution tell us about the data set?
• Learn how to make inferences from the data: What conclusions can we draw from a given data set or collection of observations? And how confident can we be in those conclusions?
• Deal with large, real world data in all it's messiness

Materials

• The Text: We will be following the text Intro Stats by Deveaux, Velleman, and Bock. The most affordable way to access the text and ancillary materials (including the required online homework) is directly via Pearson's MyStatLab; the cost is $85.50. While you may purchase an online copy of the text, this is not required for this class.
• Technology: There are several technological tools that we'll use including:
  • R: An open source language and environment for statistical computing and graphics. This is the tool that will allow us to work with large, real world data sets. You can download a copy from The R-Project site. We'll have several micro-labs this term that will require the use of R.
  • Discourse: I've set up an online discussion forum where we can all talk about the statistical material we learn in this class together. Note that participation in Discourse is mandatory; you will earn actual points. In addition, our micro-labs will be turned in via Discourse.
  • Online homework: We will have regular auto-graded homework accessed via Pearson's MyStatLab.

Grades

• Mid-term exams: There will be three exams during the term worth about 100 points apiece. Likely dates for the exams are:
  • Friday, September 22
  • Friday, October 20 and
  • Monday, November 20.
  Note that third exam is the Monday before Thanksgiving.
• Final exam: There will a comprehensive final exam on Friday, December 8 at 8:00 AM or 11:30 AM depending on your section.
• Quizzes: There will frequently be short quizzes on Fridays. Each quiz could be worth anywhere from 10 to 30 points.
• Homework: There will be two types of homework:
  • MyStatLab, which is online and automatically graded.
  • Textbook assignments, which will not be collected but offer important practice.
  These homeworks will be posted as the term progresses.
• Computer labs: We will have frequent micro-labs worth 5-20 points apiece. These will be turned in via our online discussion forum Discourse:
• Discourse: Participation in our online discussion forum, called Discourse, is mandatory. Discourse has built in trust levels; your trust level increases as you participate. Everyone will start at trust level 0 and can increase up to trust level 3. You will earn 10 points for each increase in your trust level. In addition, there will be several assigned problems each of which will earn you points. Also, your computer labs will be turned in via Discourse.
• In class problems: We will frequently work problem sheets together in class. Quiz and exam problems will be closely related to these sheets. In addition, you will receive a 40 point class participation grade simply for participating regularly.
• Final grades: I will determine final grades using a scale not more stringent than the standard 90-80-70-60 scale. You will be apprised of your standing as the term progresses.
• Late work: In general, I don't accept late work.
• Cheating: I don't deal with cheating. If I suspect cheating strongly enough, I simply refer you to the provost and fail you for the class.

Advice

• Learning statistics: You don't have to be a mathematical genius to absorbs the fundamentals of statistics and learn how to apply statistics to real world problems. You do need to work fairly hard and consistently, however.
• The typical day: Class is 1 hour and 10 minutes long and will often be divided between lecture and problem sessions. On Fridays, we will often have an assessment, either a quiz or an exam.
• Help: You are not undertaking this challenging task alone. Here are a few sources of assistance:
  • Me: I like to talk to people about math and stats! That's why I chose this profession. My office hours are posted on my webpage but I'm often around at other times as well. Please feel free to approach me any time you have questions.
  • Your classmates: Most people learn best by talking things through with others. You will find that you can both learn from and help your fellow classmates. In particular, if your classmate is explaining a fine point to you, then you are helping them!
  • Discourse: As already mentioned, I've set up an online discussion forum for this class. I'll check the site regularly and, I hope, many of your fellow students will as well.
  • The Math Lab: We all know the Math Lab rocks! It's open long hours and is located right across the hall from my office. You will be welcome there and will definitely find people to talk to about statistics, as well as mathematics.

Your rights and responsibilities

It's worth understanding your rights and responsibilities as a student at UNCA. One of my responsibilities is to make sure you have the information that you need to do that. Since this is common to all classes, I've got that information on this legalese document.