Calculus I

MAT 211 Fall 2007

Textbook and Other Resources

Textbook. Calculus from Graphical, Numerical and Symbolic Points of View, Volume 1, Second Edition, Ostebee/Zorn, 2002.

Graphing calculators. We will use graphing calculator technology in class. The math department strongly recommends a TI-83+/TI-84/TI-86 or similar calculator for this and other mathematics courses. If you have a different kind of graphing calculator, you may use it, but I cannot answer questions about it during class time. Bring your users manual to my office hours for help. You will not be permitted to use a calculator with symbolic algebra capabilities (such as a TI-89 or TI-92) on exams. I will loan you a TI-84 for tests if this affects you.

Web-based homework. Some assigned problems must be completed on the course's online homework system. In particular, we will use the system for "skill based problems" that require a degree of mastery before further topics can be studied. More information on this system will be available on the first day of classes. You will be responsible for creating an account and completing work before the deadlines. The system will not accept late work under any circumstances, so always give yourself plenty of time for these assignments.

Goals and Expectations

Course goals. The primary goal of this course is to establish a solid foundation of single variable calculus, including the concepts of derivative and integral and how they are related to one another. An understanding of basic functions and "limit processes" will also be an important objective since without these the main goal cannot be achieved. The prerequisite for this course is Precalculus, MAT 124, or its equivalent from your previous math experiences. This means that it will be assumed that you have a basic understanding of algebraic manipulation and the symbolic and graphical interpretations of functions including exponential, logarithmic and trigonometric functions. If you struggled with pre-calculus concepts or if it has been a while since you have seen them, you should be prepared to do extra work and ask questions during office hours to get through any difficulties early in the semester.

Tips for Success. No, seriously...

• You should attend every class meeting.
• You should read over sections to be covered prior to class.
• You should do the suggested homework assignment immediately after the section is covered in class.
• You should seek out extra work on topics you find difficult or on pre-calculus topics you feel rusty on.
• You should come see me during office hours (or schedule an appointment) as soon as you need help.
• You should be active in class -- participate in class discussions, keep your groups on task.
• You should check your e-mail regularly. It is your responsibility to register your correct e-mail address on the Student Information System so that e-mail sent to the class reaches you.
• You should use the class web page to keep up with assigned problems and handouts, particularly if you miss a class, which you shouldn't do!
• You should always ask questions if you need help or need a review of previous material. You need to communicate your difficulties to me in order to get the appropriate help.
  

Schedule

Submissions

Homework problems will be assigned weekly but will not be collected. Students are expected to complete all assigned problems in a timely manner in a spiral notebook or three-ring binder. The incentive to complete these problems is two-fold. First of all, the only way to learn mathematics is to do it. Second and more directly, there will be a short homework set due each week, and these problems will come from the homework assignments. There will also occasionally be some homework problems to be done online using an online homework system. The advantage to these assignments is that you will get immediate feedback on your understanding of concepts and you can have repeated attempts at problems to build a sense of mastery of the concept.

In addition to homework, there will be two project assignments to be written up outside of class and handed in. These assignments give you the opportunity to examine advanced applications and theoretical issues. The greatest portion of your grade will come from the three fifty-minute exams and a two-hour comprehensive final exam.

Grades

Graded material will make a total out of a possible 600 points, consisting of the following:

Letter grades will be assigned according to the following scale:

Policies

Collaboration

Late Work/Attendance/Participation

• Make-up exams will be given in the event of a documented illness or family emergency. In such an event, the student must contact the professor within 24 hours of the day of the exam to make appropriate arrangements. If an exam must be missed for professional or university-recognized event, arrangements must be made with the professor in advance of the day of the exam.
• Homework will not be accepted after 3:00 pm on the day it is due. Since the lowest homework grades will be dropped, missing one or two homeworks should not adversely affect your grade.
• Late submission of project assignments is ok but it will result in a penalty of 3 points per weekday late.
• There is no attendance policy for this class. It is obviously better for you to attend class in order to best understand the material and therefore get the most out of the course and the best possible grade.

Special Accommodations

Any student who has been identified by the Office of Social Equity as requiring special arrangements for test-taking or note-taking will be accommodated. All such persons should make these arrangements personally with the professor within the first few weeks of the course.