precalculus

This class will probably be different from other math classes you have taken in the past. I really do want you to read the textbook. You will see new material first through the reading assignments and labs, and we will use class hours largely to review and discuss what you have read. Therefore, if you skip any reading, you are skipping a vital step in the learning process. Please spend time reading the material and thinking about what you have read.

With each reading assignment you will be asked to answer two or three short questions on the reading. Your grade on the assignment will be a 0, 1, or 2, calculated as follows:

You did not turn in the reading response, or what you did turn in did not indicate in any way that you read the assignment.	0
You turned in a response that showed some understanding of the reading, but in my opinion was not sufficiently thoughtful.	1
You obviously read the material and answered the questions.	2

Your reading responses will be due at the beginning of the next class meeting. We will use them as a starting point for our discussions. I do not plan to return the reading responses to you, but you are free to check on your progress or otherwise consult with me at any time.

In addition, there are several types of problems interspersed throughout the text. I will not ask that you turn these problems in, however, please complete all of the problems in the sections you are asked to read. The more of these problems you complete, and the more time you spend thinking about them, the better you will do in this course. Some of them, called "Check Your Understanding," have solutions provided for you at the end of each chapter. Please use these to check your answers and think about the ones you have gotten incorrect. Some other problems, called "Stop and Think," you might not be able to solve right away, and we will often spend some time talking about them in class.

All of this means that much of the learning you do will be done outside of the classroom, but it doesn't mean that when class is dismissed you are on your own. I encourage you to work with your classmates on the homework assignments (as long as your written work is your own), and come to see me during my office hours with any questions that you might have.

Please don't consider office hours to be a resource of last resort. I consider them to be a part of the course like any other. There is much that I can do for you in a one-to-one situation that I simply cannot do when you are one of many students. You should take advantage of the fact that I am easily available to help you outside of class.

In addition, there is a Calculus Clinic available to you every Sunday 8:00-10:00 PM, Tuesday 8:00-10:00 PM, and Thursday 9:30-11:00 PM. There will be tutors in MAP 311 during those times to answer any questions you might have relating to this course. Please use this great resource often.

Homework Assignments:

Homework will be due approximately once a week. The problems in our text are meant to be extend and deepen the understanding you have gained from the reading and the class period. Some problems will just allow you to practice skills you have already learned, but generally the problems you are assigned will expect you to take the ideas presented in the text and in class and apply those ideas in various contexts which will help you to understand them more thoroughly for yourself. The problems are not always easy, but the thought that goes into them always pays off in the long run.

No late homework assignments will be accepted. If you have advance notice that you will be absent, I expect you to make arrangements to turn in the assignment early or to have someone turn it in for you (for example, sporting events, your sister's wedding, religious holidays, etc.). Whatever the reason, it is always better to tell me about planned absences in advance.

Lab Reports:

Good problem-solving and writing skills are essential to almost all successful mathematical pursuits. During the semester you will be asked to report on several labs that you will work on in class. For each of these reports you will be working with one or two partners. Your group will turn in a single report and, except in extraordinary circumstances, each member of the group will receive the same grade.

The process of writing a lab report has two major components, each of which should constitute about half the work on the report. The first is to work out the mathematical details of the topic that you have been assigned. The second is to make sense of those mathematical details and to organize them into a coherent narrative. The report may very well include symbols, computations, and graphs; however, these will need to be accompanied by generous verbal explanations that explain the mathematical ideas. You will be expected to write clearly and coherently, using correct mathematical and English grammar.

Exams:

You will have two exams and a final exam during the semester. The second will cover mostly the material which has been covered since the first test; however, you will be responsible for all the material covered in the course in as much as it relates to the topics being tested.

Examination Dates:

Exam 1 Friday, September 28

Exam 2 Friday, November 9

Final Examination Tuesday, December 18, 6:30-9:30 PM

The final exam will be at the time set by the Registrar for period 8. If you cannot attend the final exam due to illness or another unforseen emergency, permission to take the final at another time must be granted by the dean's office. See the student handbook for details.

Academic Honesty:

Though you are encouraged to work with other students on outside assignments, it is understood that every piece of written or computer-generated work that you submit must finally be your own (or your group's when you are working in a group). In any case, if you work with a fellow student or students, you should make a note of this at the end of your paper. (There is NO PENALTY for this! It is merely a matter of academic honesty.) If the assignment is a group assignment, the members of the group should contribute equally to writing the final product---in other words, don't put your name on a paper written by others. For further information, consult the student handbook or ask your instructor.

Resources for Help:

Your instructor is the primary source for help with the course. Do not hesitate to ask questions in or out of class. (As I mentioned above, I consider working with students in office hours to be a part of the course like any other.) Other students can also be a source of help. Having a classmate with whom to work and talk regularly about class work is a well-known factor in improving performance in calculus. You need not look for a student who "knows more" than you do. This arrangement works best for both partners if the students who are working together are well matched in ability.

Disabilities:

If you have a physical, psychological, medical or learning disability that may impact your ability to carry out assigned course work, feel free to discuss your concerns in private with me, but you should also consult the Office of Disability Services at 5453. The Coordinator of Disability Services, Erin Salva (salvae@kenyon.edu), will review your concerns and determine, with you, what accommodations are appropriate. (All information and documentation of disability is confidential.) It is Ms. Salva that has the authority and the expertise to decide on the accommodations that are proper for your disability. Though I am happy to help you in any way I can, I cannot make any special accommodations without proper authorization from Ms. Salva.

Exam 1	Friday, September 28
Exam 2	Friday, November 9
Final Examination	Tuesday, December 18, 6:30-9:30 PM