Spring 2008

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

Office hours:  Mon 11-11:30, Tues 2-3, Wed 2-3.

Course information:  Available on Blackboard 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 1-5.  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 at the beginning of class on Wednesdays.  On the first page of homework assignments, write a list of any assigned problems that you did not finish (it should be a short list).  Show your work.  I strongly encourage you to work in groups, but you must write up the results yourself.  Assignments will be posted on Blackboard and at http://ecademy.agnesscott.edu/~jwiseman/mat118/assignments.html – you are responsible for checking the assignments, as I won't give them in class.

Projects:  There will be two one-day projects.  On the project day, you will receive the assignment and divide into groups of 3 to 5 people.  After the group has completed the assignment, you will write up a report, due about a week after the project day (see below for exact dates).  Attendance is mandatory on project days.  You may not discuss your group's work with any other group.

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 Monday, 4/21. 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.  To take the test, you must first register for the class on Egrade:  http://aca-egrade.agnesscott.edu/classes/118AS08.  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.  You can work practice problems for the differentiation gateway test by selecting the "Differentiation Practice" assignment.

Honor code and group work:  All students are expected to follow the honor code 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 write up the solutions by yourself.  Every group member must write up her own solutions independently; just copying the group's answers is plagiarism and is unacceptable.  
Again, you may not discuss the group projects with anyone outside your group.  (That's just for projects - you can discuss the homework with anyone you like.)
 
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.
Our Math Learning Center coordinator, Ms. Schwarzlose, together with student learning assistants will be able to provide help throughout the week. More details, including the schedule, are on Blackboard and at http://math.agnesscott.edu/mathdept/LAschSp2008.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.
 
Course goals:  Learn to
Exams:  We will have two midterm exams and one final exam, all closed-book.  The midterms 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, and the final is cumulative.

Dates and deadlines:  
Assessment:  Each midterm 20%, homework 15%, each project 5% (10% total), 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, 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 project or midterm day.