Math 220: Calculus
Spring 2008
Lecture BL1
Instructor: Jennifer McNeilly
Office: 121 Altgeld Hall
E-mail: jrmcneil@uiuc.edu
Office Phone: 244-1659
Office Hours: To be determined
Website: I will be maintaining a website for this class that will contain general information, announcements, and answers to frequently asked questions. You should always check the website before e-mailing me with questions. In fact, if you e-mail me with a question and I don’t respond, it is probably because that information is available on the website: www.math.uiuc.edu/~jrmcneil/math220sp08.html
Text: The required text is Calculus, Single Variable Early Transcendental Functions, 3rd Edition, by Smith and Minton. This year new books come bundled with MathZone codes (which you will need to do the on-line homework). You can also buy the MathZone code separately. Note: The MathZone system includes pdfs of the textbook sections.
Lecture: The notes you take during lecture are an important component of the course. They are meant to be read again later. Due to the pace of this course, you may find yourself lost during lecture. During these times, it is still important that you continue to take notes so that you can read them over later. Many of you may find it helpful to rewrite your notes and then come to office hours to ask questions over anything you still do not understand. In the lectures (both in the large lecture and the discussions), I am telling you what I believe is important. Be aware that I may use colors to separate ideas. You may find it useful to have different colors when taking notes.
Discussion Sections: I will work extremely closely with the discussion section TAs. A typical discussion section will be comprised of a short lecture (delivered by your TA) followed by working practice problems in small-groups. Understand that I dictate the material that will be reviewed in discussion and that you are responsible for all of the topics covered in discussion. Discussion is not optional and it is not simply a place to work on homework problems. I will often ask the discussion TAs to cover topics that I cannot get to during the large lecture. Thus, discussion is an integral part of your instruction in this course.
UIUC MAP: Every student is required to complete an ALEKS assessment (entitled UIUC MAP) by the 10th day of enrollment. (Jan 28). This is an all-or-nothing grade. To obtain a passing grade you must do one of the following:
1) Achieve a percentage grade of at least 60% in the first 10 days of enrollment (between Jan 14 and Jan 28)
2) Achieve a percentage grade of at least 60% on any attempt between Sept 14, 2007 and Jan 14, 2008 AND achieve a percentage grade of at least 20% during the first 10 days of enrollment (between Jan 14 and Jan 28)
In other words, if you earned at least a 60% prior to the start of the semester (anytime after Sept 14, 2007), that score will only count if you also complete an assessment during the first 10 days and earn at least 20%.
For information and instructions on how to take the assessment, please go to http://www.math.uiuc.edu/Bourbaki/ALEKSCore.html.
Homework: There will be two different types of homework: on-line homework and written homework.
On-line homework will be conducted on a web-based system called MathZone. In order to use the system, you must first register in MathZone for a specific course/textbook. To do this you will need a “registration code” that either came bundled with your text or that you bought separately. You will then also need a “course section code” to make sure that you enter the right course. Our course section code is 9BB-7E-7D3. For more information on the registration process, please go to MathZone Details.
Written homework will be due (approximately) once a week during your discussion section. You must turn written homework in at the discussion for which you are registered. All written homework will be collected at the start of the class the day it is due. Any homework handed in later than 10 minutes after the start of class will be considered late. Homework must be written on stapled loose-leaf paper. Your full name (as it appears on your i-Card), the name of your TA, and the time of your discussion section must be clearly printed on the top of each page. Any homework that is illegible (this includes your name), written on spiral bound paper or folded at the corner to hold the pages together, will not be graded. No late homework will be accepted under any circumstances. As a result of this no late homework policy, to accommodate illness and absences, every student’s lowest written homework grade will be dropped when calculating final grades.
Exams: There will be four exams given during the semester. They will be held during the regular lecture time. You must bring a picture ID with a clear picture all exams. It is possible that the exam location(s) will not be our normal classroom. If so, a few days before each exam, a link will be posted on the website as to where you will attend the exam. It is important that you are in the properly assigned room. Attending the wrong room may result in your exam not being accepted. Tentative exam dates are as follows:
Wednesday, February 13
Wednesday, March 5
Wednesday, April 2
Wednesday, April 23
Please note that these dates may change slightly depending on our progress through material. I will give you at least one week’s warning if any of the exam dates will need to change.
Make-up Exams:
Makeup
exams will only be given if you notify me before the exam by phone or
e-mail. You must present official documentation excusing your absence (such as
a not from a doctor to verify a serious/confining illness, documentation from the
Emergency Dean, etc) before your score will be recorded. It is completely my
discretion whether or not you will be allowed a make-up exam.
Final: The final will be cumulative and will be held Friday, May 2 from 1:30-4:30pm. Failure to take the final exam will result in a failing grade for the semester.
Grading: Your course grade will be based on the following:
UIUC MAP 10%
On-line Homework 4%
Written Homework 8%
Exam 1 12%
Exam 2 12%
Exam 3 12%
Exam 4 12%
Final Exam 30%
Maximum cutoffs for letter grades will be the traditional 90%, 80%, etc with plus and minus grades given at the following intervals. Curves are possible but very rare.
A+ = 96.67-100 B+ = 86.67-90 C+ = 76.67-80 D+ = 66.67-70
A = 93.34-96.66 B = 83.34-86.66 C = 73.34-76.66 D = 63.34-66.66 F = below 60
A- = 90-93.33 B- = 80-83.33 C- = 70-73.33 D- = 60-63.33
Calculators: A graphing calculator can be an invaluable learning tool. Some of the homework questions may become significantly more straight-forward if you have access to one. Since not all students have access to the same level of technology (the really good calculators are quite expensive), calculators will not be allowed on any exam.
Returned Work and Grade Disputes: Written Homework and Exams will be returned in discussion. If you are unable to pick up your work in class, you need to make arrangements to collect your homework from your discussion TA and your exams from me in office hours. Questions about your graded written homework are to be directed to your TA. They will involve me if necessary. Questions about your graded exams are to be directed to me. You will have exactly one week after the day papers are passed back to discuss any grading issues. After this time, no changes will be made to your score.
Classroom Decorum: This is a very large lecture with many people. The classroom environment should be conducive to learning by all. Thus, your behavior should be in no way disruptive to your classmates. Cell phones and MP3 players are to be turned off during lecture, and please keep chit-chat to a minimum. If your behavior is disrespectful, you will be asked to leave.
Accommodations: If you are entitled to accommodations sanctioned by DRES, I need to be notified with official documentation no later than one week into the course.
Teaching Assistant Office Hours: In addition to my own office hours, every TA will hold office hours every week. These office hours are open to anyone from our large lecture. Times and locations of the TA office hours will be posted on the course website.
Tutoring Room: There will be a free tutoring room available for Math 220 Monday through Thursday from 7-9pm. For specific information, see the link on our course webpage. If you interested in private tutoring (not free), the “Private Tutor List” is at the bottom of that same webpage.