Math 211 – Calculus I

Shippensburg University – Fall 2025

  • Instructor: Paul Taylor
  • Phone: 477-1705
  • email: pttaylor (at) ship.edu
  • Lectures:
  • Section 01: 8:00-8:50 MTWF -  MWF in MCT 262, TR MCT 258
    •
  • Office Hours: MCT281 - MWF 1:00-2:00, TR 9:30-10:30
  • Textbook: https://openstax.org/books/calculus-volume-1/pages/1-introduction
  • Course syllabus:  https://webspace.ship.edu/pttaylor/211/211home.html
    •
    COURSE GOALS
  • Have an improved mastery and comprehension of mathematics and its applications.
  • Understand calculus from four perspectives:  numerical, graphical, symbolic and applications.
  • Develop an appreciation for how calculator technology can support mathematical understanding.
  • Improve ability to apply logic in analyzing and solving problems.
    •
    CALCULATORS
    Students are required to have a calculator or equivalent phone/computer app for this course. The calculator must be capable of doing exponentials and logarithms. Classroom demonstrations will be done using Desmos. On exams, no graphing calculators, phones, or computers will be permitted.
    MY OPEN MATH
    For this course, you must sign up for an online component called MyOpenMath (MoM).                                                      

    REGISTRATION IN MoM IS REQUIRED. To register, go to https://www.myopenmath.com/. The course id is 287940. Enrollment key is join211Taylor.

    Homework will be done online through MoM . You can redo online homework problems repeatedly until you get them all correct. Homework will be due Tuesdays at 11:59, the week after the material is covered.
    STUDENT EXPECTATIONS
  • Attend class every day, arrive on time.
  • Be attentive in class and ask any questions you have.
  • Class time is not time for texting or listening to music.                  Headphones should be removed   .
  • If there is a concept with which you need extra help, or if you find yourself falling behind, tell me about it. Come to office hours for extra help, or send me an email explaining your concerns. The sooner the better.
  • When working in class, stay on the task at hand and maintain a reasonable volume.
  • Be responsible for any material or announcements if you miss class.
    •
    GRADE WEIGHTING
    Homework will be weighted as 20% each of the final grade, and four Midterms and a Final exam will count equally in the remaining 80% (16% each). Your percentage grade will be converted to a letter grade according to the following scale.

    Letter Grade
    		 A
    		 A-
    		 B+
    		 B
    		 B-
    		 C+
    		 C
    		 D
    		 F
    Course Percentage
    		 93-100
    		 90-92
    		 87-89
    		 83-86
    		 80-82
    		 77-79
    		 70-76
    		 60-69
    		 0-59

    HOMEWORK
    Each day there will be homework assigned in MyOpenMath. MyOpenMath homework is always due Tuesday night the week after we cover the material.
    MIDTERMS
    There will be four midterm exams. Material covered will be announced in class and on this web page. They will occur in class, on Fridays every three weeks. The exact dates are 9/12, 10/3, 10/24, and 11/14.You will be allowed a calculator during the exams, but no phones/tablets/laptops, books, or notes. Calculators capable of graphing or doing derivatives will not be allowed during exams.
    FINAL EXAM
    The final exam will be longer and contain problems from the entire course. As with the midterm exams, you will be allowed a calculator but no books or notes, or phone/tablet/computer. In addition to counting for 1/5 of your total exam grade, your final score will replace any lower midterm exam scores.
    POLICY REGARDING MISSED WORK
    If you are going to miss an exam, you must inform me at least one week in advance. We will then be able to arrange an alternate test time.  If you do not inform me one week in advance, you will not be offered an alternate exam.  Instead your exam grade will be covered by the final exam, as per the final exam policy above.

    If an exam is missed without prior notification, no make-up exams will be given under any circumstances. Your final exam score will be used for the missed midterm     as per the final exam policy above.
    ACADEMIC DISHONESTY It is the policy of Shippensburg University to expect academic honesty. Students who commit breaches of academic honesty will be subject to the various sanctions outlined in the Undergraduate Catalog.
    Last modified: August 14, 2025
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