Fall 2008 STAT 590 Statistics Capstone

Th 11:00-11:50, LeConte 205

Learning Outcomes

1. Students will combine their knowledge of computing, mathematics, statistics, and communications to perform tasks expected of a beginning professional statistician.

2. Students will learn strategies for seeking employment as a statistician.

3. Students will give an oral report summarizing an experiment and data analysis typical of what would be expected of a practicing statistician.

4. Students will write a technical report summarizing an experiment and data analysis typical of what would be expected of a practicing statistician.

Instructor:

Prof. John Spurrier

13 Gibbes Court, 777-4436 (most afternoons)

221 LeConte, 777-5072 (occasionally)

Home 781-2340

e-mail:spurrier@stat.sc.edu

Office Hours:

Please don't hesitate to ask for help. I am usually available for questions if I am inmy offices. Formal office hours are 2:00-3:00 TW in 13 Gibbes Court, 11:00-12:00 T in LeConte 221, or by appointment. If you can't find me, send an e-mail, or leave a voice mail at 777-4436. appointment

Text:

John D. Spurrier, The Practice of Statistics: Putting the Pieces Together, Duxbury Press

Schedule

Date / Topic / Homework

8-21 / What is a capstone course?; Ch. 16 Strategies for Finding a Job / Write a resume and visit the Career Center

8-28 / Ch. 1 Preparing Data for Analysis / P. 7 PFDA 1-5, P. 8 ATD 1-4

9-4 / Ch. 7 Classifying Plant Leaves / P. 67 ATD 1-4

9-11 / Ch. 7 Classifying Plant Leaves / P. 68 ATD 5-8, + P. 68 LATM 1 grad students only

9-18 / Ch. 6 Estimating Variance Components

9-25 / Ch. 6 Estimating Variance Components / P. 52 ATD 1-3, P. 53 LATM 1

10-2 / Ch. 12 Strategies for Effective Written Reports

10-16 / Ch. 13 Strategies for Effective Oral Presentations

10-23 / Ch. 14 Power Point Exercises / P. 170 PWP 1-3

10-30 / Ch. 3 How Large of a Sample Do I Need? / P. 19 DTSS 1-3, P. 20 LATM 1-2

11-6 / Ch. 15 Strategies for Effective Consulting

11-13 / Oral Presentation - First Attempt

11-20 / Ch. 2 Designing a Telephone Survey / P. 12 PFDC 1, 3

12-4 / Oral Presentation - Second Attempt (if necessary)

You have the following options:
1. Written Report on Chapter 6 and Oral Report on Chapter 7
2. Written Report on Chapter 7 and Oral Report on Chapter 6


The regulations in the code of student academic responsibility prohibit bribery, cheating,
lying, plagiarism, and misuse of telephone information processing system. Violations can
result in serious penalties including suspension from the University. A copy of the code is
included in the publication "Carolina Community".

Grading:

Homework

(200 points) Homework is due at the next class meeting. You are expected to do the homework
on your own. You may discuss the problems with me. Late homework will be accepted only under extreme circumstances.

Written Report

(100 points) The written report is due on Thursday, October 23 and a rewrite is due on November 6.
There will be a 10% penalty for late papers. Your grade will be the higher of the grades on the two attempts.

Oral Report

(100 points) The oral report will be given on November 13 and repeated on December 4.
Your grade will be the higher of the grades on the two attempts.

Grading Scale:

A 91-100; B+ 89-90; B 81-88; C+ 79-80; C 71-78; D+ 69-70; D 60-68; F 0-59

Disclaimer

The views and opinions expressed in this page are strictly those of the page
author. The contents of the page have not been reviewed or approved by the
University of South Carolina.

URL

http://www.stat.sc.edu/~spurrier/STAT590.html

Person Responsible for Maintaining This Page

John D. Spurrier, e-mail spurrier@stat.sc.edu