Course Information
Math 261: Calculus - Section
02, Spring 2008
4 Credits: MTWRF
1:30-2:20p.m. Bridges Room 261
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: MWF 9:30 - 10:20am Email: jamesju@mnstate.edu
MWF 10:30 -
11:20am Webpage: web.mnstate.edu/jamesju
MTWHF 12:30 - 1:20pm
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 is that missed in-class assignments cannot be
made up. You are expected to read the
material in your textbook prior to each day’s lecture and to have attempted the
problems on the homework assignment.
During class, you should participate in discussions. 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 on homework and labs outside of class. You should bring your book, calculator, and
solutions to recent homework problems with you to class.
Labs: Once
or twice a week, significant class time will be spent working on a lab
assignment designed to help you to master course material while working in
groups. I will circulate throughout the
classroom during labs to answer questions and help keep you on track, but the
focus of lab time is for you to work with your group on the assignment. If you are not able to finish the entire lab
during class, you are expected to complete the lab outside of class. 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 if homework is not collected,
you will need to work on the homework problems in order to succeed in this
course. 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 and 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 occasionally give quizzes
during non-exam weeks. Most will be
in-class quizzes, but some may be “take home” quizzes. I typically announce quizzes the day before I
give them so you know to be prepared.
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.
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 30
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 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 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: 80 points
Differentiation Quiz: 30 points
Integration Quiz: 30 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!!
Math 261 –
Calculus 1 – Section 02 Course Page