Math 142 - Calculus II

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Inga Johnson
Assistant Professor
Department of Mathematics
Willamette University
Ford 212
ijohnson(at)willamette(dot)edu
503.370.6551

Math 142 - Calculus II - Syllabus
Class Meetings: MWF 10:20-11:20 and MWF 12:40-1:40, both sections in Ford 201

Course Goals: To obtain calculational competency, concept understanding, and mathematical literacy in topics relating to differential and integral calculus. These topics include, but are not limited to, integration techniques and applications to finding volumes and surface areas, parametric equations and applications, and sequences and series.

Textbook: Calculus, 6th Edition by J. Stewart (recommended text)

Course Grades: Your course grades will be calculated as follows:
Homework: 15%
Group Projects and "Why" Journal Entries: 15%
Midterm Exams: 40%
Final Exam: 30%

Homework, Webwork: Most of the homework for this course will be WeBWorK homework. WeBWorK is an online homework distribution and grading system. The best feature of WeBWorK is that when you enter an answer to a homework problem, the system immediately tells you whether the answer is correct. On top of that, you can try again as many times as you like. Once you get it right, that fact is immediately recorded (provided it is before the due date), and any wrong answers are not counted in your grade.
Here is the link to the WeBWork page for Math 142. If you add the course late you need to email me as soon as possible so that you can be added to the WeBWork system. WeBWorK will be due each week on Tuesday night at 11:00PM.

Here are some tips on using WeBWork:

• Get started early on WeBWorK each week, and enter some answers at least a couple days before the due date. That way, you will have time to seek help on the harder problems (and the ones that looked easy at first but turned out to be trickier) before the set is due. Avoid the last-minute rush. The system often becomes overloaded and slow in the last couple hours before a set is due, since everyone is trying to enter their answers at the same time.
• WeBWorK usually requires very precise answers. For instance, if the correct answer is 1.60045 and you enter 1.6, the system will say that's incorrect. So if you're entering a decimal answer, give at least five digits of accuracy. On most problems, you can enter answers like cos(9.81sqrt(340)) instead of a messy decimal, and WeBWorK will do the calculation for you.
• Some WeBWorK problems require formulaic answers, like x^(2/3), which means x raised to the power of 2/3 (two-thirds). However, if you enter x^2/3, the system will say that's wrong, since WeBWorK interprets that as one third of (x squared). So Be careful, and check your syntax. (WeBWorK Set 0, which is recommended but not counted in your grade, will help you learn about entering formulaic answers.)
• WeBWorK has a previewing feature which allows you to see how a complicated formula you just entered is actually interpreted by WeBWorK. The previewer should help you track down syntax errors as well as ensure that your answer is being interpreted the way you want without having to add three hundred parentheses.
• Last, and MOST IMPORTANT, do not spend large amounts of time guessing random answers and entering them into WeBWork. This is a waste of your time! If you don't know how to do a problem, please come to office hours. If you think you are doing everything correctly and WeBWork doesn't accept your answer please come to my office hours, or email me with an explanation of what you have done, so I can help. Banging your head against the computer, yelling at it, or throwing the computer out the window does not change whether or not WeBWork accepts your solution.

Group Projects: Three group projects will be assigned over the course of the semester. I will assign groups of three students and the assigned groups will change for each project. The goal of the group projects are to work through an applied calculus problem or a sequence of investigations related to calculus concepts. Each group will submit a 3-5 page written report on their findings and solutions. More information about the project reports will be given as the projects are assigned.

"Why?" journals: Contrary to what many people think, mathematics is not a world of number crunching and calculations, rather mathematics is about finding facts and patterns but most importantly mathematics is about explaining why these facts are true. Arguments of truth, called proofs, are viewed by many mathematicians as elegant and beautiful in their clarity and insight. Creating mathematics requires creativity and a unique vision.

Throughout the semester, we will explore both how to use calculus to solve problems, as well as why the calculus concepts are true and where the formulas come from. Understanding the "why" behind the problem solving techniques should help you to better internalize the ideas and concepts behind a formula or fact, rather than treating it as a formula to be memorized blindly or a technique to follow with little thought.

To emphasize the importance of reflecting on the why you will create a journal that records your thinking and your best understanding of why a concept or theorem is true or why a technique learned in class is valid. You should record at least one reflection on why per week and I will be collecting your "Why?" journals three times over the course of the semester. Your journal entries should be a reflection on your class notes, an online source, or an explanation you read in the textbook. It should be written in your own words in complete sentences and any sources you use must be cited. Your journal will be graded on effort, clarity and mathematical correctness.

Midterm Exams, and Final Exam: There will be two in-class midterm exams and a final exam. These exams will be taken individually to test your calculational competency, concept understanding, and mathematical literacy over the topics covered thus far in the course. The final will be comprehensive. The dates and times of midterm and final exams are posted on the course schedule. The final exam will be given on Wednesday, May 11, from 8-11am for the 10:20 section and Friday, May 6, from 2-5pm for the 12:40 section. Students are expected to be present for all exams. No exams or quizzes may be made up unless you contact me to receive permission prior to the date of the scheduled exam or quiz. As a general rule you may expect exams to be graded and returned to you within 8 days unless notified otherwise.

Class Preparation, Participation, Norms and Getting Help:

• Although attendance will not be taken it is highly advised that you attend every class meeting. Missing 1 hour of lecture often equates to spending 3 hours or more trying to catch up.
• Carefully read the sections in the text that have been covered and read as much as possible of the sections to be covered in class the next day.
• Take good notes and review your notes on a regular basis. Begin work on assignments as they are assigned.
• It is inappropriate to ask how to do a problem in class on the day it is due. Please seek help during office hours or via email well before the due date. Emails sent after 5PM the night an assignment is due have a very small chance of being answered before class the next day.
• Students who do not understand a concept from class should
  • Ask questions in class. (More than likely other students do not understand as well.)
  • Seek individual help from the instructor. I am more than willing to give you the extra help you may need. Come in during office hours or make an appointment.
  • Seek extra help at the Math tutoring lab. This is a free tutoring lab staffed by knowledgeable math majors. Tutoring lab hours and location will be advertised on fliers in Collins Building starting in the second or third week of the semester.
• Studies show that the best thing YOU can do to help yourself succeed in Calculus is to create or join a study group. Working through problems with other students, talking through complicated concepts, explaining what you know and listening to the explanations of your peers is an EXCELLENT way to ensure your success in this class.

Special Note: If you have a documented disability and anticipate needing accommodations in this course, please make arrangements to meet with me within the first two weeks of the semester. If your disability allows for you to have extra time on exams, you must make arrangements with me three days before the scheduled exam date. Please request that a Disability Services staff send me the appropriate forms verifying your disability and specifying the accommodation you will need.

Academic Honesty: In accordance with Willamette University CLA catalog: ``Plagiarism and cheating are offenses against the integrity of the courses in which they occur and against the College community as a whole... Ignorance of what constitutes plagiarism shall not be considered a valid defense. If students are uncertain as to what constitutes plagiarism for a particular assignment, they should consult the instructor for clarification. A faculty member may impose penalties for plagiarism and cheating ranging from a grade reduction on an assignment or an exam to failure in the course." For further information about the Willamette University academic honesty policy please refer to the CLA catalog.