AB Calculus Course Syllabus

Spring 2005

Instructor
Rita Pascale
Email
Classroom: C109/C107
Math Office: C106

Textbook:
Calculus: Graphical, Numerical, Algebraic by Finney, Demana, Waits, Kennedy

Overiew: At the conclusion of this course, students will be prepared (and expected!) to take the AB AP Calculus Exam. The course will develop the student’s understanding of the concepts of calculus and provide experiences with calculus methods and applications. Problems will be expressed graphically, numerically, analytically, and verbally. Technology will be used to explore, investigate, and reinforce the relationships among the multiple representations of functions and to confirm and interpret results.

Grades: Grades are based on tests, quizzes, notebooks, homework, and classwork. The percentages are:

      Tests:                                                   75%
      Quizzes/Homework/Classwork:            25%

      Tests and quizzes: Tests and quizzes will be given throughout the semester. Be prepared to take these without your graphing calculator.

      Homework: Homework from the textbook will be assigned daily. AP questions will be handed out on occassion to be collected and graded for accuracy.

Written Work: All work should be legible, with pertinent steps shown. Set-ups must be written out, even if the final value of the answer will be obtained from the calculator since this is the requirement on the AB exam.

Test Corrections “Cap”: You may only do test corrections for 1 test in the 3rd quarter and none for 4th quarter. You must get better at doing things correctly the first time as the AB exam looms nearer.

Supplies: In class each day, students should have the textbook, as erasable writing utensil, paper, the math notebook, and a graphing calculator (preferably the TI-83+ or TI-83). Note that you may not use a TI-89 or a TI-92. Also, there will be tests and quizzes that you will not be permitted to use a calculator.

Extra help:
I am available for extra help after school Tuesday and Wednesday from 2:15 – 3:00. I will also be available at other times by appointment. TAP help is available in C209 Tues-Thurs. 2:15-3:15.

The following B–CC policies are consistent with the new MCPS Grading and Reporting Policy as outlined in Learning, Grading and Reporting Guidelines (MCPS, 2004). These will apply in all courses offered at B–CC.

• Teachers will assign grades to reflect individual achievement on course objectives.
• Teachers will determine grades based on a variety of assessment methods.
• Teachers will issue progress reports at the 4½ week mark in each quarter.
• Teachers will establish clear due dates and deadlines. The maximum penalty for work submitted after the due date but before the deadline is one letter grade on an A-E scale or 10% on a 100% scale.
• Teachers will record 50% as the lowest possible grade if percentages are used except in cases of academic dishonesty.

Academic Dishonesty
This applies to both written work and oral presentations. Examples of academic dishonesty include, but are not limited to, the following: the willful giving or receiving of an unauthorized text, unfair, dishonest, or unscrupulous advantage in academic work over other students using fraud, duress, deception, theft, trickery, talking, signs, gestures, copying, or any other methodology.

Plagiarism:

• Submitting or presenting another person's work as your own without proper documentation, including downloaded information from the Internet and lab data.
• Using another student's material without prior approval.

• Giving or receiving information during a test, quiz, and/or class work assignment without teacher authorization.
• Using hand signals, gestures, and the like during tests or quizzes to obtain/give information.
• Using unauthorized materials during a test or quiz.

Cutting class:

• If you cut class on a day when an assignment is due or a quiz or test is given, the earned grade will be a zero with no 50% rule and no makeup.