Fall 2014

Instructor:  Jim Wiseman
Office:  Buttrick 331
Phone:  x6202
Email:  jwiseman@agnesscott.edu (I check email much more frequently than voicemail.)

Office hours:  Mon 1:30-3:00, Tues 2:30-4:00, and by appointment.

Course information:  Available on Moodle and the course website, http://ecademy.agnesscott.edu/~jwiseman/mat118 .

Required material:  The textbook is Hughes-Hallett et al., Calculus, 4th ed., available in the bookstore.  The publisher has a webpage for the book.  You will also need a graphing calculator.  The math department recommends the Texas Instruments 83, 84, or 86.

Plan:  We'll cover most of chapters 2-5 and the start of chapter 6, reviewing chapter 1 as needed.  Topics include functions, derivatives, integrals, and applications.  There's a more detailed schedule at http://ecademy.agnesscott.edu/~jwiseman/mat118/schedule.html, but it's subject to change.

Homework:  Working problems is vital to learning math; there will be homework assignments nearly every week, due by the beginning of class on Wednesdays.  I strongly encourage you to work in groups, but you must write up the results yourself.  Assignments will be posted at http://ecademy.agnesscott.edu/~jwiseman/mat118/assignments.html – you are responsible for checking the assignments, as I won't give them in class. You will turn in some of each assignment on Egrade: http://aca-egrade.agnesscott.edu/classes/118F14/  .  On some weeks there may also be a part of the assignment that you will write up and turn in.  Some of the assignment you do not need to turn in, but you are responsible for the material - completing only the Egrade assignments is not enough to prepare you for the exams.  (Dr. Riddle has short videos on How to use Egrade, How to use Preview in Egrade, and How to review answers from previous assignments in Egrade,  as well as some hints on working with Egrade.)


Differentiation proficiency test: All Calculus I students are required to pass a "differentiation proficiency test." This test will have 8 differentiation problems, and you must get each problem correct in order to pass. You may re-take the test as often as needed until you pass it. You should be able to answer all the questions after we have finished Chapter 3, and the deadline to complete the proficiency test is 6:00 pm Sunday, 11/2. This test is 5% of your final grade, and no partial credit will be given. Unlike your other tests, the proficiency test is given on-line.  The test is on Egrade:  http://aca-egrade.agnesscott.edu/classes/118F14/ .  Once you've registered, you can take the test by selecting the "Differentiation Proficiency Test" assignment and clicking "Go."  Answer the questions, then select "Grade" from the menu at the top.  If you have any trouble with Egrade, just let me know.

Honor code and group work:  All students are expected to follow the honor code (available on Moodle) throughout the semester; all exams and assignments should be pledged.
I strongly encourage you to work on the homework in groups.  I suggest that you work on the problems by yourself first, making a note of anything giving you trouble; then meet with your group and work through the remaining problems together; and finally complete the solutions by yourself.  Every group member must complete her own solutions independently; just copying the group's answers is plagiarism and is unacceptable.  
 
Getting help:  As Talking Barbie says, "Math class is tough."  (Unless she's the hacked version - then she says, "Eat lead, Cobra.")  Chances are that sooner or later you'll get stuck on something, so don't get frustrated.  Think hard, and if you're still stuck, do something else for a while.  (It's amazing how often that works.)
My office hours are above - these are times when I'm guaranteed to be in my office and willing to talk.  If you want to see me at other times, the best thing to do is to set up an appointment with me by email or after class.  Of course, you're welcome to just drop by my office, as long as you don't mind if I'm not there or don't have time to talk.
Student learning assistants in the Math Learning Center will be able to provide help throughout the week. More details, including the schedule, are on Moodle and at http://www.agnesscott.edu/mathematics/files/documents/learning-assistants-schedule.pdf. You are encouraged to use this service, and should think of it as part of your weekly mathematics regimen.
Finally, I can't emphasize enough that your classmates are your best source of help.

Learning Assistant workshops:   Learning Assistants Kara Pebley and Victoria Wood will run (almost) weekly workshops during the semester.  They will review and go into greater depth on some of the important topics from the course.  These workshops are optional, but I strongly encourage you to attend.  Most weeks there will be two identical sessions per week, 6-7 pm on Sunday and 7-8 pm on Monday in Campbell 228.  There is a schedule here.  For each week that you attend, you will get one point on the next exam (bringing your grade up to a maximum of 100).  To get the extra credit, you must send me an email pledging that you attended the workshop the entire time.
 
Course goals:  Learn to
Exams:  We will have three midterm exams and one final exam, all closed-book.  The midterm exams are in-class exams, and the final is self-scheduled.  The first midterm covers all material up to that point, the second covers all material since the first, the third covers all material since the second, and the final is cumulative.

Dates and deadlines:  
Assessment:  Each midterm 15%, homework 20%, differentiation proficiency test 5%, final exam 30%.
 
Late work:  Late work won't be accepted, and you won't be allowed to make up missed exams, except under very exceptional circumstances (e.g., the sasquatch attacks - and even then you should get a note from the sasquatch).  In the case of a conflict that you absolutely can't resolve (for example, a religious holiday), you may arrange to take a midterm exam early.
 
Attendance:  I expect you to be at every class, on time.  However, tardiness or absence will have no (direct) effect on your grade, unless of course you miss a midterm.

Cell phones:  Cell phone use (including texting) is of course not permitted in class.  Turn off cell phones, smart phones, etc., before class.

Course evaluation:  Your feedback on the course is extremely valuable to me, the math department, and the administration.  In particular, I take your comments very seriously and use them to improve the course the next time I teach it.  You are responsible for completing an evaluation of the course at the end of the semester.

Problem of the Week:  The math department runs a biweekly “Problem of the Week,” where students such as you try to answer a mathematics puzzle and win a fabulous prize ($10). A correct submission to a problem by its deadline will result in 5 homework bonus points.  The problems are posted in the math office, and they can also be found at http://www.agnesscott.edu/mathematics/problem-of-the-week.html.