Course Information - Math 262: Calculus II - Section 01, Fall 2008

4 Credits: MTWRF 10:30-11:20a.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:  MTWHF   9:15 - 10:20am          Email:  jamesju@mnstate.edu

MTWHF   1:30 -  2:20pm           Webpage:  web.mnstate.edu/jamesju

                                    Other times by Appointment

 

Course Description:  Calculus of one variable – transcendental functions, applications of integral, techniques of integration, infinite series. Pre-requisite:  Math 261.

 

Dragon Core Middle Cluster:  Although Math 262 is not included in the middle cluster of the Dragon Core, it still addresses some of the Dragon Core competencies.  The Dragon Core competencies that it addresses are the following:

 

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 is that missed assignments cannot be made up.  You are expected to read the assigned material in your textbook prior to each lecture and to attempt the problems on the homework assignment.  When working in groups, you should participate fully in what the group is trying to accomplish.  You are encouraged to form a group to study and work with outside of class.   You should bring your book, calculator, and solutions to recent homework problems with you to class.

 

Labs: Once or twice each week, significant class time will be spent working on a lab assignment designed to help you to master course material while working in a group.  During labs, I will circulate throughout the classroom to answer questions and to help keep you on track, but the focus of lab time is for you to work with your group on the assignment.  When you are not able to finish the entire lab during class, 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 21 graded labs will contribute 210 points toward your final grade.

 

Homework: I will collect homework for grading several times during the semester.  You will be told in class at least a day in advance which problems to write up and turn in.  Even when homework is not collected, you will need to work on the homework problems in order to fully learn the course material.  Each day, I will spend a few minutes at the beginning of class answering homework questions, but the bulk of our time will be spent 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: I will give quizzes at various times during the course.  Most will be in-class quizzes, but a few may be “take home” quizzes.  I typically announce quizzes the day before I give them so you have time to prepare for them.  Quizzes will be worth from 5-15 points, depending on their length and scope.

Your best homework and quiz scores will be combined to contribute 80 points toward your final grade.  Expect at least one homework grade and one quiz grade to be dropped.

 

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 1-2 pages long (typed, double spaced).   These informal papers will be graded mainly on their content and completeness, but do write in complete sentences and 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 other electronic devices (cell-phones, etc.) are not allowed.  The 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:                                                              210 points

Homework/Quizzes:                                     110 points

Reflection Papers                                           30 points

Highest 3 Unit Exams:                                 300 points

Lowest Unit Exam:                                        50 points

Final Exam:                                                    200 points

Total:                                                              900 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!!

 

 

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