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Trigonometry Syllabus

Trigonometry Syllabus


 

George Washington High School

Course Syllabi



 

Course Name: Trigonometry 

Instructor Name: Gayle W. Anderson

Contact Information:  gwanderson@mail.dps.k12.va.us

 

  • School Phone & Room Ext.: 434-799-6410
  • Room location  #: A-205
  • Email address:  gwanderson@mail.dps.k12.va.us
  • Planning Period: 3rd Period

Course Description: 

Trigonometry is a branch of mathematics focused on the relationships between angles and side lengths of triangles, particularly within right triangles. It also explores trigonometric functions, their graphs, identities, and applications in solving equations and problems. 

Instructional Philosophy:

This course emphasizes connecting abstract concepts to real-world applications, fostering both procedural fluency and conceptual understanding, and encouraging active problem-solving. This approach aims to motivate students, enhance their spatial reasoning, and equip them with valuable skills for future studies and careers, particularly in STEM fields. 

Major Course Goals:

The skills that you will master throughout this course include the following standards prescribed by the Virginia Department of Education :

 

Standards

  • Triangle Trigonometry 

 

  T.TT.1  The student will determine the sine, cosine, tangent, cotangent, secant, and cosecant of the acute angles in a right triangle and use these ratios to solve for missing sides and angle measures, including application in contextual problems.

   T.TT.2  The student will find the area of any triangle and solve for the lengths of the sides and measures of the angles in a non-right triangle using the Law of Sines and the Law of Cosines.

  • Circular Trigonometry 

   T.CT.1  The student will determine the degree and radian measure of angles; sketch angles in standard position on a coordinate plane; and determine the sine, cosine, tangent, cosecant, secant, and cotangent of an angle, given a point on the terminal side of an angle in standard position or the value of a trigonometric function of the angle.

   T.CT.2  The student will develop and apply the properties of the unit circle in degrees and radians.

  • Graphs of Trigonometric Functions

   

   T.GT.1  The student will graph and analyze trigonometric functions and apply trigonometric functions to represent periodic phenomena.

   T.GT.2  The student will graph the six inverse trigonometric functions.

  • Identities and Equations 

   T.IE.1  The student will evaluate expressions involving the six trigonometric functions and the inverse sine, cosine, and tangent functions.

   T.IE.2  The student will use basic trigonometric identity substitutions to simplify and verify trigonometric identities.

   T.IE.3  The student will solve trigonometric equations and inequalities.

 

Major Course Projects, Topics, and Activities:

  • Unit Test
     
  • Benchmark Test
     

 

Course Assessment Plan:

By the end of the course/program, students should be able to:

  1. Represent and solve contextual problems involving right triangles.
     
  2. Solve problems that integrate the use of the Law of Sines and the Law of Cosines.
     
  3. Solve angle problems using radians and or degrees.
     
  4. Describe the effects of changing the parameters (A, B, C, or D in the standard form of a trigonometric equation) on the graph of the function using graphing technology.

 

  1. Apply trigonometric functions and their graphs to represent periodic phenomena. 

 

  1. Evaluate composite functions that involve trigonometric functions and inverse trigonometric functions.

 

  1. Verify and justify algebraic solutions to trigonometric equations and inequalities, using graphing technology.



 

TESTING / SOL DATES WILL BE SENT OUT LATER

Grading Scale:

Your grades in this course fall into the following categories: 

  • Gold Category = 40%
    • Tests, research project, final essays
  • Silver Category  = 35%
    • Friday quizzes, middle level projects or essays
  • Bronze Category = 25%
    • Smaller daily assignments

 

Grade Scale: We use a ten point scale, which is as follows: 

A = 90-100

B = 80-89

C = 70-79

D = 60-69

F = 59 and below



 

Class Rules and Expectations

1.  Students are expected to maintain respect at all times by demonstrating:

  • Respect for themselves
     
  • Respect for their peers
     
  • Respect for the instructor



 

2. Each student is expected to arrive to class punctually, enter quietly, bring all required materials, and be seated and engaged with the bell work by the time the bell rings.

 

3.  Make sure to turn in your assignments on time. If you’re absent, it’s up to you to catch up by talking to me or your classmates about what you missed. You’ll have as many days as you were gone to make up the work. And if it’s an online assignment, just let me know when you’ve finished it.

 

4.  Cheating and plagiarism are strictly prohibited. If detected, the student will receive a zero on the assignment, and additional disciplinary measures may follow if necessary.

 

5. The new GWHS cell phone policy will be strictly enforced. Cell phones are not allowed in the classroom.

 

Supplies Needed: 

Chromebook, pens & pencils, (1)  3-ring binder, notebook paper or composition book

You may want to bring your own sanitizer, box of tissues. 

Homework Policy:

 

When you have homework, it will likely (but not always) be in the form of completing an assignment that was started in class. If you are absent, check on Canvas or with another student to find out what your homework is. Other missed homework assignments may be made up with a 10 point per day penalty up to three days late, unless we go over them in class first, in which case the highest grade you can receive is a 50%

Make-up Work Policy:

 

It is my goal for each of my students to grow and learn, so of course missed work from absences may be made up. However, make-up assignments must be completed and turned in within three days. If you are absent, you should check Canvas for notes and assignments. Schedule a time to meet with me if you have questions. It is usually not possible to make up missed lectures, notes, or guided work during a regular class period, so you should expect to spend if you have been absent. 

Extra Help: 

 

I am available most days before school if you are in need of tutoring or extra guidance with any of the topics we cover in class. Please schedule these times with me in advance so that I can be sure to be available for you. 


 

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