Course Information
Math 261: Calculus - Section
02, Fall 2007
4 Credits: MTWRF
1:30-2:20p.m. Bridges Room 262
Textbook: Calculus –
The Classic Edition, 5th
ed., by Earl W. Swokowski [Required]
Instructor: Justin James, Mathematics Dept. Office: MacLean 375M
Office
Phone: 477-4011
Office Hours: MTHF 10:30
-11:20am Email: jamesju@mnstate.edu
MTWHF 12:30
- 1:20pm Webpage: web.mnstate.edu/jamesju
MTWH 2:30 - 3:30pm
Course Description: Calculus of one variable -- differentiation, introduction to the integral. Students entering Math 261 should have a solid background in algebra and trigonometry.
Prerequisites: For students who entered MSUM as freshman in Fall 2001 or later, one of the following is required for admission to this course: a minimum ACT Math score of 24 or a minimum MNSCU math placement score of 20. In addition, a working knowledge of algebra and trigonometry is expected.
Course Objectives and Student Learning Outcomes:
Upon completion of the course,
students will be able to do the following:
Course Requirements: You are expected to
complete all daily homework, labs, and writing assignments, and to take and pass
all exams and quizzes at their scheduled dates and times.
Instructional Strategies: Lecture, discussion, small group work.
Attendance and Academic Expectations: You are expected to attend class
regularly, and on time. The penalty for unexcused absences will be that missed
in class assignments cannot be made up.
Each day in class, you are expected to have read the material in your
textbook pertaining to that day’s lecture and to have at least attempted the problems
on the previous homework assignment.
During class, you should actively participate in discussions. When working in groups, you should
participate fully in whatever the group is supposed to
accomplish. You are encouraged to form a
group of 3-4 students to study and work together with on homework and labs
outside of class. You should bring your
book, calculator, and written solutions to recent homework problems with you to
class every day.
Labs: Once or
twice a week, the majority of our class time will be spent working on a lab
assignment that is designed to help you to master course material by working in
small groups. I will circulate
throughout the classroom answering questions and helping you keep on track, but
the focus of lab time is for you to work collaboratively with your group to
complete the assignment. You may find
that you are not able to finish the entire lab during class. When this happens, you are expected to
complete the lab outside of class. Most
labs will be collected and graded on a 10 point scale. Labs are usually collected two days after
they were assigned in class. If you miss
class on a lab day, you will still be required to finish the entire lab and
turn it in by the due date. Your best 18
graded labs will contribute 180 points toward your final grade.
Homework: I will collect homework for grading
several times during the semester. You
will be told in class 1-2 days in advance which problems to write up and turn
in. Even on assignments that are not collected,
you will need to work the homework problems in order to succeed in this
course. I will spend a few minutes at
the beginning of class answering questions on the homework, but the bulk of our
time will be spent either covering new material or working on labs. You are encouraged to discuss homework with
your classmates and with me outside of class during my office hours. If my office hours do not match your
schedule, see me about arranging another time to meet.
Quizzes: Quizzes will be given once or twice a week during
non-exam weeks. Most will be in-class
quizzes, but a few may be “take home” quizzes.
I typically announce quizzes the class period before I give them so that
you know to be prepared. If attendance
or tardiness becomes a problem, I reserve the right to give “pop” quizzes. Quizzes will be worth anywhere from 5-15
points, depending on their length and scope.
Some quizzes will contain questions that are eerily like assigned
homework problems. Some will require you
to demonstrate an understanding of the definitions and concepts from recent
course material. Others will serve as a
cumulative review of concepts slated to appear on an upcoming exam.
Your best homework and quiz
scores will be combined to contribute 120 points toward your final grade. Expect at least two homework grades and two
quiz grades to be dropped.
Differentiation and
Integration Quizzes: There will be two major
quizzes given in class this semester: one on differentiation and one on
integration. The dates for these quizzes
can be found on the course syllabus. These
quizzes are designed to test the main computational techniques for the
course. Each will contribute 35 points
toward your final grade.
No calculators or notes will be allowed on these quizzes.
Reflection Papers: Three
times during the semester, you will be given a short writing assignment in
which you will be asked to give your personal thoughts and reflections on
different aspects of the course. These
papers must be typed and should be about two pages long (double spaced) –
longer is ok, but no need to get carried away.
These are informal papers which will be graded mainly on their content
and completeness, but do try to write in complete sentences and to clearly
express your ideas. Each reflection
paper will contribute 10 points toward your final grade.
Exams: This
course will have four unit exams plus a comprehensive final exam, as outlined
on the course syllabus. Be sure to mark
the date of each exam on your calendar, especially the final exam. Exams will be closed book, and closed notes. I will allow the use of an approved
calculator, but all other electronic devices (cell-phones, etc.) are not
allowed. Credit given on exam questions
will be proportional to the amount of correct work shown. Little to no credit will be given if sufficient
work is not shown, even when the final answer is correct. In your final grade, your best three exams
will be worth 100 points each, while your lowest exam will be scaled in half to
be out of 50 points. The final exam is
worth 200 points.
Course Grading Policy: Your
final grade in the course will be computed as follows:
Labs: 180 points
Homework/Quizzes: 120 points
Differentiation Quiz: 35 points
Integration Quiz: 35 points
Reflection Papers 30 points
Highest 3 Unit Exams: 300 points
Lowest Unit Exam: 50 points
Final Exam: 200 points
Total: 950 points
I will compute the percentage of the total possible points each student earned during the semester (rounded to the nearest .1%), and will then assign letter grades based on the following scale. I may make slight adjustments to this scale (down, never up), but don’t count on this happening.
96.5-100.0% A+ 81.5-86.4% B 69.0-71.4% C–
91.5-96.5% A 79.0-81.4% B– 66.0-68.9% D+
89.0-91.4% A– 76.5-78.9% C+ 60.0-65.9% D
86.5-88.9% B+ 71.5-76.4% C <60.0% F
Make-up Work:
Because you are allowed to drop several scores, I will only give make-up assignments for extreme personal emergencies or for absences which are officially sanctioned by the University. I will expect written documentation in either of these cases. If you miss an exam and a make-up exam is not warranted, you may replace your grade on one missed exam with your un-scaled percentage score on the final exam.
Special Accommodations:
Students with disabilities who believe they may need an accommodation in this class are encouraged to contact Greg Toutges, Coordinator of Disability Services at 477-5859 (Voice) or 1-800-627-3529 (MRS/TTY), CMU 114 as soon as possible to ensure that accommodations are implemented in a timely fashion.
Academic Honesty:
You are expected to do your own work. You may work with others and get
help on assignments, but the work you submit must be your own. During
exams and quizzes you will not be allowed to get help from others.
Cheating and plagiarism will not be tolerated in any course at any level.
See the MSUM Academic Honesty policy for more information on the possible
consequences of cheating.
Thanks, And Let’s Have A Great Semester!!
Math 261 –
Calculus 1 – Section 02 Course Page