Math 1710, Spring 2010
MTThF 2pm Sangren 2219
MW 4pm Schneider 1245
Instructor:
Dr. Melinda Koelling
office: 5525
email: melinda 'dot' koelling 'at' wmich 'dot' edu
phone: 387-4509
office hours: T 3pm, W 2pm, Th 3pm, and by appointment.
Aims: This course aims to extend knowledge of calculus to integration, differential equations, sequences, and series; to solidify knowledge of precalculus and first semester calculus; and to prepare students for third semester calculus (Math 2720), fourth semester differential equations (Math 3740), and applications of the ideas of calculus to other subjects.
Prerequisite: Math 1700 with a grade of C or better, or equivalent transfer credit. If you have any questions about your preparation for this course, see your instructor as soon as possible.
Calculus II Skills Exam: It is important that you can easily perform basic integration and differentiation. These skills will be assumed in future courses as well as in this course. A skills exam focusing on basic skills of differentiation and integration will be given in the first week of the class. If necessary, you will have two chances to pass the skills test in the testing center. Failing to pass the test will result in a half letter grade reduction of the overall course grade. Additional information and some sample problems can be found here .
Attitude requirement: Mathematics is an interesting subject, and I expect you to be curious about it. No one knows everything. You should be aware of what you do and do not know, and work to learn what you do not know.
Time requirement: You must plan to spend at least 10 hours a week outside of class. If your foundation in precalculus or calculus is weak, you will need more time.
Text: Calculus with Early Vectors by Zenor, Slaminka and Thaxton, Prentice-Hall, 1999
Calculator: You must have a graphing calculator. Choose your calculator knowing that your instructor will use a TI-89 and you may be required to have a TI-89 or higher model in a future course. You can find calculator requirements of math courses here . Your calculator is a tool: it can help you learn mathematics, but it is not a substitute for learning mathematics. For most exams and quizzes, just as you will not use your text or notes, you will also not use your calculator.
Work for between class meetings: As soon as possible after each class, review your notes and make a serious attempt at the homework. You may also want to reread relevant the relevant section(s) in the book, or check other texts. If you have difficulties, carefully formulate some questions with the material, and obtain clarification from your instructor, other students in class, or other resources.
In preparation for class, you should also read any new sections that will be covered. Your instructor will keep you informed about upcoming sections, as we will not cover the book exactly in order. Make sure you can answer the questions ``What were the major points of this section?'', ``What words were defined?'', ``What techniques were discussed?'', ``How does this section relate to the sections before it?'', and ``What do I want to know more about this section so I can understand it better?''
Homework problems: To learn mathematics, you should think about the material every day: do lots of homework problems! Homework is assigned so that you can work on some the important ideas we are covering in class. You should do it in a timely fashion to help you learn, question, and remember that material.
Quizzes and exams: Quizzes will be given in class. They may be announced or unannounced. Unannounced quizzes will often be open notes -- you will be able to use any notes you may have taken in class or from the text, and any homework you may have completed. There will be mid-term exams and a final. Questions may or may not be problems you have seen before in the reading, activities, or homework, but they will test your understanding of the material in the course.
Grades: Classwork (Homework, Quizzes, etc.) 33%, Exams (three) 42% , and Final exam 25% . Failing to pass the basic skills test will lower this grade by one half letter grade. As soon as you are concerned about your grade, come see your instructor during her office hours to discuss your situation. Instead of grading on a curve (90=A, 80=B, etc.), I use some statistics. Borderline cases are determined by attendance habits, attitude, and if you improved over the course of the semester. You cannot determine your grade from the raw percentage. You should focus on learning the material and reaping the benefits of the resources at the university instead of worrying about your grade or GPA.
Makeups: Makeup exams will be made only in the case of a genuine medical or personal emergency. It is your responsibility to prove that your absence is due to an emergency as soon as possible. In cases with some ambiguity, my response to your plight will be determined in part by how quickly you talk to me about your situation.
Resources: You may benefit from the following resources. Your
instructor has office hours so that she can help you with this course. Learn to
ask her questions that help you learn the material! One of the best ways to
learn and review is to discuss with your peers. You are surrounded by students
with skill different from yours. Find people you can learn with well! There are
also many other books on calculus which may help you by providing a different
point of view. Look through another book at some point in the semester. If
these methods do not work for you, you can also pay someone to tutor you. A
list of tutors is available from the mathematics department on the third floor
of
Academic dishonesty: You are responsible for making yourself aware of and understanding the policies and procedures in the Undergraduate Catalog that pertain to Academic Integrity. These policies include cheating, fabrication, falsification and forgery, multiple submission, plagiarism, complicity and computer misuse. If there is reason to believe you have been involved in academic dishonesty, you will be referred to the Office of Student Conduct. You will be given the opportunity to review the charge(s). If you believe you are not responsible, you will have the opportunity for a hearing. More details about this procedure can be found at website of the office of student conduct. You should consult with me if you are uncertain about an issue of academic honesty prior to the submission of an assignment or test.
Disabilities: If you have a documented disability please talk to me privately. You may also wish to contact the office of disabled student resources and services.
Important dates:
Last day to drop/add classes: January 15
Exam 1: Approximately February 2,3
Exam 2: Approximately February 24, 25
Spring Break: February 26-March 7
Last day to withdraw from classes: March 22
Exam 3: Approximately March 24,26
Final Exam (for 2pm class): Tuesday April 27 2:45pm
Final Exam (for 4pm class): Monday April 26 5pm
Miscellaneous Advice:
Talk to me. Come to my office hours. I am here to help you. Bring any concerns you may have to my attention in a timely fashion.
Copying the correct solution from a solution guide, me, a tutor, or another student does not mean you understand the solution. Make sure you can do each problem from scratch on your own without notes after you get help from a solution guide, me, a tutor, or another student.
I will remember your name faster if you come to my office hours. You can always help me by reminding me of your name.
Explaining what you do (or do not) know helps you understand the material. Talk to your fellow students. Find a group of friends with whom you can meet regularly to discuss the material in the class. Talk to me.
Keep up with the material, so you know you need help as soon as possible. Get help as soon as you know you need it.
Ask to make an appointment if you cannot make my office hours.
Think about the material in as many ways as possible. One way to think differently about the material is to try to come up with your own homework, quiz, or test problems. Then solve them.
Learn from your mistakes. What mistakes have you made in previous math courses, and how would you do things differently this semester?
Work on your weaknesses. If you find a topic difficult, that is often a sign you need to work harder on that topic.
You should be learn learning concepts and computations. Make sure you can answer both ``What are the concepts?'' and ``What computations should I be able to do?'' Then make sure you understand those concepts and can do those computations.