Math 141-03 - Calculus I - Spring '09 - Prof. Mark Janeba

Meetings
MWF 8:00-9:00 a.m.
Collins 201
Text: Single Variable Calculus, James Stewart, 6th ed.
ISBN  978-0-495-01161-3 OR 0-495-01161-4
We will cover chapters 1-5 with some omissions.

Calculator: A graphing calculator is required for this class. I recommend a Texas Instruments TI-86, TI-84, or TI-89.   If you wish to use another calculator, you must be prepared to use its manual.  Please don't even think of using a calculator not on this list if you don't have the manual at hand.  Note that the campus is full of appropriate calculators, so borrowing one might be an option, but you'll need to have the use of it every day.

Grading:

Approx seven quizzes at 25 points each,
drop the lowest two:
 125 points (approx)
Three one-hour exams at 80 points each: 240 points
Three group projects at 75 points each: 225 points
Comprehensive Final exam: 160 points
Webwork (homework problems turned in via the web):
 120 points (approx)
Attendance & Participation
 25 points

Total:		 895 points (approx)

For each graded piece of work, I will post cutoff scores for grades of A-, B-, C, C-, and D. At the end of the term, if your point total is more than the total of the A- cutoffs, your grade will be an A- or better, and so on. However, see the note below on grade adjustments. Cutoffs will never be higher than this:

A- B- C C- D
90% 80% 70% 67% 60%
... but they are often lower.
Exam makeup policy: Exam make-ups or early hour exams are given only for verifiable illness or for university-sanctioned intercollegiate activities. For collegiate activities, you must see me before you leave to arrange a makeup time. In any case, contact me in advance except in emergencies.

Final exam time is Wednesday, May 13, 2009, from 8-11 a.m., as set by the University; early finals will not be given. Please make your travel plans now.


Projects are done by assigned groups. One paper per group is to be submitted, and a common grade is given.

Quizzes, Homework, and Participation

Quizzes are 15 to 25 minutes long, with problems that resemble homework. We will usually have a quiz in any week without an exam or a project due. At least one week will be more crowded.

Two types of homework are assigned daily: text homework problems and webwork problems.  The text homework is not collected; however, the only way to do well in calculus is to work on your text homework before the next class meeting - every time. The alternative is too unpleasant to put in print. Since coherent writing is expected on exams, you should practice it on your homework.  I will also assign a few webwork problems every week, to give students more frequent feedback on basic calculations and to give some credit for doing the homework.  Webwork gives each student an individualized version of each problem.  Students can submit answers as many times as they wish, until the assignment deadline.  Webwork lets you know if you have the problems correct or not.  Details about working with webwork will be given separately.  Please come to class prepared to discuss the previous night's homework.

It is expected that students make every effort to come to every class prepared to discuss the assigned readings.  Attendance is figured into your participation grade as follows: There is no deduction for the first 4 absences.  Two points are deducted for the 5th and 6th absences, and three points for the 7th absence and each subsequent absence.  While it is awkward to include attendance in the class grade, my experience shows that it is a helpful incentive for many students.

Please note that the two "dropped" quizzes and the four absences without deduction are built into the grading system to allow the students some flexibility and to allow for the unexpected difficulties in students' lives.  Students can use this flexibility so that an overslept morning, an appointment, a "personal day", a day of unpreparedness, or other event will not damage their grade.  Please be aware, though, that it is the students' choice to use these days or save them for unexpected difficulties later in the term; once they are used up, they are gone. For example, if a student wishes to "spend" the two quiz drops on two quizzes that went poorly early in the term, then there is no remaining quiz flexibility for oversleeping or personal holidays.

Academic Honesty Expectations

All exams and quizzes are to be taken with books and notes closed (except as noted on the exam paper), completely on your own. Anything you can electronically store on an ordinary graphing calculator is acceptable unless otherwise directed, but written notes are prohibited.  Palmtop computers will not be allowed in quizzes and exams.  Calculators with symbolic algebra capabilities (e.g. TI-89, TI-92) may not be allowed on certain portions of some exams.

On written group assignments, you may (and should) discuss the problem, methods of approach, examples you have found, and even the solution(s), with anyone. You may use any source you find useful, but you must acknowledge your sources in writing in the assignment.  Grading is based primarily on the amount of work and thought that students have applied to their sources and the extent to which they have demonstrated understanding of them.

Plagiarism is the copying or paraphrasing of any work from another source without proper written acknowledgement.  You should not see (or hear) the written report or report-draft of any student outside your group until reports are graded. I will treat any such occurrence as plagiarism. All group members are responsible for knowing all the sources their group's members used in making a report. All involved with plagiarized projects will receive failing project grades.

In keeping with college policy, plagiarism will be reported to the dean (see student handbook). Systematic or organized plagiarism on exams or quizzes will result in course failure. If you are uncertain about some aspect of the academic honesty policy, it is your responsibility to get clarification from the instructor.

Last Modified January 18, 2009.
Prof. Janeba's Home Page | Send comments or questions to: mjaneba<at>willamette.edu
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