Math 113-01

Statistical Methods

Fall 2008

Oliver Schirokauer
King 204
x58065oliver.schirokauer@oberlin.edu

MTWF
9:00-9:50
King 243/137
Office hours:
Tuesday

1 : 00 − 3 : 00 PMThursday

1 : 00 − 3 : 00 PM

Required text:
David S. Moore and George P. McCabe, Introduction to thePractice of Statistics, fifth ed., W.H. Freeman and Company
Outline:We will cover most of the first twelve chapters of the textbook. The firstportion of the course will be devoted to methods of obtaining and organizing dataand basic exploratory data analysis. After a segment on probability, the remainderof the course will cover statistical inference and various associated statistical tools.
Homework:
You will have eleven problem sets to work on. Usually you will receive
an assignment on a Friday and your work will be due at the beginning of class on
the following Friday.
Labs:
You will have thirteen computer lab assignments to complete. The worksheets, which I will distribute at the beginning of the Tuesday lab period, are to
be filled in while you are working at the computer. Completed reports are due on
the Wednesday following the lab, by 4:30 PM.
Explorations:
You will have four exploratory assignments. These are intended
to give you experience tackling problems that are more involved and open-ended
than those appearing on the weekly problem sets. Generally, solutions will be due
two weeks after the assignment is distributed.
Project:
Near the end of the course, you will conduct a small-scale research study
in which you will collect and analyze data. Your report will be due on Wednesday,
December 3rd.
Lateness:
The Math Department policy is not to accept late assignments. Pleasesee me about unusual circumstances.

Math 113-01

Statistical Methods

Fall 2008

Exams:
There will be two 75 minute midterms, one during the week of October
6th and one during the week of November 17th . The final exam will take place on
December 19th from 2:00-4:00 PM.
Honor code:
When working on the homework, lab reports, explorations, andproject, you are encouraged to collaborate with others. You are also free to consult
your textbook or other sources. However, you are required to write up, on yourown, any work you turn in, except possibly for the data obtained in the project.
If I have concerns about whether you are following this policy on the homework,lab reports, or explorations, I will discuss them with you. If the problem persists,
I will issue a warning and explain what will be considered a violation of the honor
code from that time forward. No warning will be issued for a violation on theproject.
You will be expected to work on the tests by yourself. Discussion of the test withanyone other than myself will be considered a violation of the honor code. Alltests are closed book. By this I mean that you will not be allowed to consult anysource. Doing so will be considered a violation of the honor code. No warning will
be issued for a violation of the honor code on a test. You will be allowed the useof a non-graphing calculator on the tests.
Grading:
Each midterm is worth 60 points, and the final is worth 100 points. The
homework, the lab reports, and the project will each be worth 30 points. The
four explorations will be worth a total of 20 points. Thus you can earn up to 330
points in the class. At the end of the semester I will assign you a grade basedon the total number of points you have accumulated. In exceptional cases, I may
raise your grade based on other information I have about your work in this class.
Please note that I will not be grading on a curve. In other words, there is not apredetermined number of A’s, B’s, C’s, D’s, and F’s that I am planning to give.
Help:
In addition to myself and your classmates, you may be able to obtain help
from upperclass students who will provide “walk-in-tutoring” in the evenings.
Also, one-on-one tutoring is available through Student Academic Services.
Attendance:
I cannot emphasize enough the importance of attending class. Not
only is there a great deal to be gained by participating in the discussion andexchange of ideas that will occur, but also there may be times I cover material
in class which you will be responsible for knowing but will have a difficult time
finding elsewhere.