Course Information

Calculus

2008/2009 School Year

Course Information

Instructor: Elizabeth Doschek

Phone: 301-580-8014

Website: http://faculty.ssfs.org/~doschel

Textbook: Calculus of a Single Variable, 6th Edition by Larson, Hostetler, and Edwards

Course description: This course prepares students to take the AP Calculus AB exam. In the first semester, students will learn about limits of functions, study differentiation of algebraic and transcendental functions, and apply differentiation to maxima-minima problems, related rates, optimization, and linear approximations of nonlinear functions. In the second semester, students will learn integration of algebraic and transcendental functions, study the application of integrals to calculating areas and volumes, solve differential equations, and interpret slope fields. Students completing this course are expected to take the AP Calculus AB exam. Time will be allotted before the AP exam in the second semester to review for the exam.

Expectations

Supplies: You must bring a graphing calculator and your homework to class with you every day.

Assigned work:

Homework: After every lesson you will be assigned problems from the textbook. Only some of these problems are required for each lesson, however. These required problems will be indicated in bold on the syllabus. I will collect and grade the required problems on every quiz or test day. You must show all your work on required problems in order to receive full credit for them. Additionally, I will randomly check to see if you have the previous night’s assignment in class with you. For each missing assignment, I will deduct a quarter of a point (five percent) from your homework grade. These homework problems are meant to cement concepts and techniques learned in class and to give you an opportunity to practice your newly acquired skills.

Worksheets: You will complete one or two worksheets over the course of each unit. The problems on these worksheets are AP problems. You are encouraged to work together on these worksheets and/or to seek extra help on the worksheets from me. You must show all your work on worksheet problems in order to receive full credit for them. Worksheets are meant to challenge you to use the concepts learned in class in novel ways and to give you practice in solving AP problems.

Quizzes: You will take one to three quizzes during each unit, depending on the length of the unit. Quiz questions will only cover material from the indicated sections. Quiz dates and the sections the quiz will cover are indicated on the syllabus. Quizzes are meant to ensure that you are keeping up with the material and to assess your basic understanding of new concepts and facility with new techniques.

Tests: After each unit, you will take a test on the material from that unit. Test questions will cover material from the entire unit. Test dates are indicated on the syllabus. Tests are meant to assess how well you have digested the material in a unit, how well you have integrated the new material with previous material, and if you can apply the concepts you have learned to more challenging, AP-type problems.

Midterm exam: You will take a cumulative exam at the end of the first semester. There is no final exam in the second semester.

Post-AP Exam Project: After the AP exam, you will complete a research paper on a topic of your choice. Finished papers will count as a test grade.

Work missed due to absence: Homework or worksheets not handed in because of an excused absence are due within two days of your return to school. Quizzes or tests missed because of an excused absence must be made up within two days of your return to school. I may make exceptions to this policy in the case of extenuating circumstances.

Late work: Homework and worksheets are due at the beginning of the class period on the due date. Five percentage points will be deducted from homework or worksheets handed in on the due date but after the beginning of class. Ten percentage points will be deducted for each full day an assignment is late. Assignments more than three days late will not be accepted. I may make exceptions to this policy in the case of extenuating circumstances.

Test corrections: You may make up missed points on one test per semester by doing test corrections. The maximum grade that you may obtain on a test you do corrections for is a 75%. No points can be made up on quizzes, homework, or worksheets. You must get prior approval from me before doing test corrections, and corrections are due within one week of receiving your graded test.

Grading Policy

I determine grades by percentage average computed by dividing the number of points earned by the number of points possible. Assignments are worth the following number of points:

Homework: 5 points

Worksheets: 20 points

Quizzes: 30 points

Tests: 60 points

Final exam: 80 points

Homework makes up approximately 10% of the grade, worksheets 20%, quizzes 30%, and tests 40%. The final exam is worth approximately 15% of the grade in the first semester. In addition, I factor class participation into the grade. If your percentage is on the border between two grades, I will give you the better grade if you have been a helpful participant.

Helpful Hints

My goal is for you to succeed on the AP exam in May. Because there is a great deal of challenging material to cover, it is my belief that the best way to achieve this goal is for you to keep up with assignments and to speak up when you do not understand a concept or assignment. My motto is that it is much easier to keep up than to catch up. To that end, please know that I am happy to meet with you when you need extra help, and I am available via e-mail and phone. I also encourage you to help each other on homework and worksheets, as long as the final assignment you turn in is your own independent work.

Academic Honesty Statement

AP Calculus is a college-level course with college-level expectations of academic honesty. Any student found cheating on any assignment (homework, worksheet, quiz, test, exam, or project) will receive a zero on that assignment. In addition, I will notify the student’s advisor, parents or guardians, and the Dean of Students.