STAT 185 

Spring 2009 Course Information

Instructor

Steve Patch    Office: RBH 309;  Phone: 232-5194;

                                  e-mail: patch@unca.edu

                      Office Hours: Tu, Th 1:30 - 2:30

                                            M,W, F 1:30 - 2:00, 4:00 - 4:30                                           

                                           Drop-ins at other times are welcome.

Text

Intro Stats  2’nd Ed. – DeVeaux ,Velleman and Bock

Grading

 

 

 

Tests  - 40%

 

 

 

Projects – 20%

 

 

 

Quizzes - 20%

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

Final Exam  - 20%

93.0-100 = A,  90.0-92.9=A-,  87.0-89.9=B+,  83.0-86.9=B, 

80.0-82.9=B-,  77.0-79.9=C+,  73.0-76.9=C,  70.0-72.9=C-,

60.0-69.9=D,  <60=F

 

Two in-class closed-book tests.  (Some formulas may be provided.)  Make-ups for official University business only.  The Final Exam score will replace the lowest test score if it is higher.

 

There are three group projects.  I will give a group grade with some possible individual changes depending on feedback from a group evaluation form.

 

There are five scheduled closed-book quizzes including material up through the previous class. (Some formulas may be provided.) All questions are taken directly from homework.  There are no make-ups, except for official University business. The lowest of the five grades will be dropped.  There will be 2-point bonuses for working homework problems that are spot checked. (Quizzes are on a 10-point scale.)

 

The Final Exam will open-book, open-notes and will be cumulative.

 Course Overview

 

The discipline of statistics is the art of getting useful information from data.  The purpose of this course is to help you to become confident in conducting basic statistical studies and to be intelligent consumers of other persons’ statistical results.  Statistics is not a spectator sport.  Much like swimming, you can’t learn how to do it well by watching someone else do it.  Jump into the pool!  Statistics is now the world’s most widely used methodology for gaining useful new information.  Like most useful skills it is not always easy and can be frustrating at times but can also be exhilarating when you realize that “you’ve got it”.  Ways to minimize frustration include regular attendance, starting on the homework before you’ve forgotten what you did in class, and letting me help you when you having a hard time with something.  I enjoy teaching this class very much and we really hope that you enjoy the course too.  Don’t be afraid to have fun!