Statistics 201: Elementary Statistical Inference

Section 502, Spring 2006

  • Time & Location

    Tuesdays & Thursdays 8:00am - 9:15am, CHEN 106

  • Instructor: Cynthia Simmons

    Office: Blocker 404E
    Phone: 847-8619
    Email: cynsimmons@stat.tamu.edu
    Website: http://stat.tamu.edu/~cynsimmons/stat201
    Office Hours: Tuesdays 11-1 and Wednesdays 4-5

  • Grader: Jae Sik Jeong

    Office: Blocker 406A
    Phone: 845-8884
    Email: jjeong@stat.tamu.edu
    Office Hours: Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays 10-12

  • Course Descriptions

    Data collection, tabulation, and presentation. Introduction to the tools of statistical inference: probability, sampling, and hypothesis testing. Applications of statistical techniques to practical problems.

  • Prerequisites

    None

  • Text

    Introduction to the Practice of Statistics (Fifth Edition), David S. Moore and George P. McCabe. This is the same text used in STAT 301 and 303. You will also need a calculator capable of doing square roots and scientific notation.

  • Material to be Covered

    This is intended to be a first course in statistics as well as a primer for 30X. I expect to cover chapters 1-9, omitting some sections along the way. These chapters are also covered in STAT 30X but in less detail.

  • Homework

    Homework will be assigned roughly every week except on exam weeks. There are usually about 10 assignments per semester. Assignments are due IN CLASS on the due date. The lowest homework grade will be dropped and the homework average will be calculated from the remaining assignments. Late homework will not be accepted unless it is the result of a university-excused absence (in compliance with the student rules). You may hand in an assignment early at the lecture before it is due or in my office (if no one is there just slide it under the door). You cannot leave assignment in the Statistics Main Office, they will not accept it. Assignments with multiple sheets must be STAPLED - those assignments with multiple sheets that are not stapled will not receive full credit.
    Collaboration on assignments is permitted and encouraged. However, anyone you work with must be documented on the front page of your assignment, next to your name. While students are allowed to work together, it is important that all students in the group completely understand the answers they submit. To verify that this is so, I reserve the right to require a student to present their answers verbally. If the verbal answer is not compatible with the written answer, I reserve the right to reduce credit on the assignment and, for repeat offenders, pursue disciplinary action. Cheating will not be tolerated.

  • Exams

    There will be 3 exams and a final exam. The 3 regular exams will be given during the lecture and be a combination of multiple choice and open answer. Tentative exam dates are February 16th, March 23rd, and April 27th. The final exam will be cumulative and is scheduled for Monday, May 8th 1:00pm - 3:00pm. Unless otherwise noted, exams are closed-book, closed-notes, and close-neighbor. However, you are allowed one 8.5" by 11" (both sides) help sheet will be permitted for use during the exam. No sharing of calculators or help sheets is permitted. If you miss an exam (other then the final exam) without a university excuse, I will let you take a makeup exam with a 25% penalty; any unexcused makeups must be scheduled before the end of the next business day and must be completed before the next class meeting. Absences that are a result of a university-approved absence must be made up consistent with university policy. Under no circumstances will you be given a makeup for the final exam without a university-approved excuse.

  • Grading

    Homework: 15%
    Exam 1: 20%
    Exam 2: 20%
    Exam 3: 20%
    Final Exam: 25%

    The grading scale will be as follows:
    A: 90-100
    B: 80-89
    C: 70-79
    D: 60-69
    F: 0-59

  • Grade Disputes

    In the event of a disputed grade, it is the responsibility of the student to provide evidence that the assigned grade is erroneous. This means that students should keep all graded work as evidence in case of a grade dispute. Without such evidence, a disputed grade cannot be changed, even if the grade is incorrect. A student has one week from the date that the work is handed back in class to dispute a grade. After the one week period, no grades will be changed.

  • Discretionary Grade Raises

    In order to receive a discretionary grade raise, the student must meet the following criteria:
  • The student must be within one percentage point of the next-highest letter grade.
  • The student regularly attends class.
  • The student regularly participates (positively) in class.
    •  If those conditions are met, I'll see whether your exam scores improved over the course of the semester, whether you did well on the final exam and whether you made good use of office hours. Without a discretionary grade raise, there is not rounding up of grades (e.g. 79.4% = C). If something important, such as a scholarship or graduation depends on your performance in the course, work hard from the start. It's not up to me, it's up to you.

  • Attendance

    Attendance is not mandatory, but I suspect that there is a positive correlation between days present and high grades. However, if you miss enough classes that I begin to notice, you forfeit any chance for a discretionary grade raise. Attendance is taken informally through the return of graded work.

  • Expectations

    Since attendance is not mandatory, when in class, I expect you to be courteous to both myself and others in permitting an environment that is conducive to learning. I like an informal atmosphere, but it must be orderly; private conversations, using electronic equipment (besides calculators) and many other things can be distracting to others, so please be respectful.

  • Suggestions

    Please feel free to offer suggestions at any time. Talk to me first about anything concerning the course. Further resources are available through the Department of Statistics in Blocker room 447.

  • Changes

    I reserve the right to make changes to the syllabus as appropriate.

  • Statement of Disabilities

    The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is a federal anti-discrimination statute that provides comprehensive civil rights protection for persons with disabilities. Among other things, this legislation requires that all students with disabilities be guaranteed a learning environment that provides for reasonable accommodation of their disabilities. If you believe that you have a disability requiring an accommodation, please contact the Department of Student Services, Services for Students with Disabilities (SSD), in Room 126 of the Koldus Building, or call 845-1637.

  • Statement of Plagiarism

    As commonly defined, plagiarism consists of passing off as one's own the ideas, words, writings, etc., which belong to another. In accordance with this definition, you are committing plagiarism if you copy the work of another person and turn it in as your own, even if you have the permission of that person. Plagiarism is one of the worst academic sins, for the plagiarist destroys the trust among colleagues without which research cannot be safely communicated. If you have any questions regarding plagiarism, please consult the latest issue of the Texas A&M University Student Rules, under the section Scholastic Dishonesty.