Course Information Sheet


Course: Math 171-01 - Calculus I - 5 Credit/Contact Hours - Fall 2012
IAI Code:  M1 900-1, MTH 901
Delivery Mode: Face-to-face
Meeting Time: MW 12:00pm-12:50pm  TTh 12:00pm-1:15pm
Meeting Place: Room 4270

Instructor: Steve Kifowit, Rm 2305, Ph. (708) 709-3954
Email: skifowit 'at' prairiestate.edu
Web: http://prairiestate.edu/skifowit/math
Office Hours: MW 9am-10am & 1pm-1:30pm, TTh 9am-10pm, or by appointment

Text: Calculus, 9th edition (2010); Larson and Edwards

Course Description: This is the first course in the three-semester sequence of courses covering calculus for scientists and engineers. Topics covered include lines, limits, derivatives, applications of derivatives, antiderivatives and definite integrals, and applications of integrals.

Course Prerequisite: Math 165 with a C or better or equivalent.

Course Goals/Objectives:
1.) Demonstrate basic knowledge of Calculus I necessary for science and engineering majors.
2.) Use the material from Calculus I as a basis for further mathematical study.
3.) Apply differentiation and integration techniques to solve practical problems.
4.) Demonstrate a greater awareness of the use of mathematics and how one translates questions into the language of mathematics.

Attendance Policy: Regular class attendance is an essential component of successful learning. Students are responsible for prompt attendance and participation in all class meetings. If you miss class, you will not be allowed to make up any tests, quizzes, or assignments that you may have missed. All material covered in class is the student's responsibility.

Grading: Your grade will be based on your performance on three 100-point tests, a 150-point final exam, approximately ten 10-point quizzes, and miscellaneous problems and projects (0-50 points). The grading scale is as follows:

A --- 88% and above
B --- 77% - 87%
C --- 66% - 76%
D --- 55% - 65%
F --- below 55%

You may estimate your current grade at any time during the semester by computing the following percentage: 100% * ( Total points accumulated ) / ( Total points possible ). Please feel free to discuss your grade with me at any time during the semester.  Throughout the semester, grades will be posted online at http://www.engrade.com/skifowit.

Homework: Homework problems will be assigned on a daily basis. Your work will not normally be collected, but we will often discuss homework problems in class. Keep up to date on your homework! Homework problems will often show up on quizzes and tests.

Quizzes: Be prepared for a 10-point quiz on each Thursday, unless a test is scheduled. No make-up quizzes will be given. Your lowest quiz score will be dropped at the end of the semester.

Tests/Exams: Test problems will be similar to class examples, quiz problems, and homework problems. In addition to computational problems, tests may include multiple choice, true/false, short answer, and/or writing problems. You must show all work on all tests to receive full credit. You must work individually on all tests. No make-up tests will be given. At the end of the semester, your lowest test score will be replaced by two-thirds of your final exam score (if this helps you).

Final Exam: The final exam is comprehensive and will be worth 150 points toward your final grade.  The final exam counts for more than 25% of your grade.  Please take it seriously!  See the lecture pace for the date of the final exam.

Calculators: The TI-83/84 Graphing Calculator is required for this course. At times, we will use the TI-92 during class. We will also make use of computer algebra systems such as Mathematica, MuPAD, Maxima, Sage, or GeoGebra.

Misc. information:
1.) The last day to withdraw from the course is November 9. For refund information, refer to the fall schedule book. If you wish to withdraw from the course, it is your responsibility to do so. Any student who does not come to class, yet fails to withdraw, will be given an F.
2.) You are expected to spend roughly 15 hours per week on coursework - 5 hours in class and 10 hours out of class. If you cannot make this commitment, you may want to reconsider taking this course.
3.) The grading scale will be strictly adhered to! Final percentages will be rounded to the nearest whole number.
4.) This is a fast-paced course! We will cover much material in little time. You are responsible for thoroughly reading the textbook and keeping up with the assigned material.

 

Course information, including lecture notes and answer keys for test and quizzes, can be found at http://prairiestate.edu/skifowit/math