Attendance
in class is crucial. You should not
miss class for anything other than extraordinary circumstances. However, attendance is not directly counted
for points toward your grade.
Class-time will be spent answering questions about the homework and
discussing new material. Students
are encouraged to ask and answer questions and to participate in classroom
discussions and activities. It
should be noted that it is impossible to cover textbook material in the same
depth that it is presented in the textbook itself. Students are expected to study the textbook to learn information
not presented in class.
If
you must miss class due to an excused absence to participate in an official
university activity (i.e., an athletic event in which you are a participant, a
field trip, etc.), it is your responsibility to notify the instructor one week
in advance and provide appropriate documentation.
Calculators:
This
course requires a graphing calculator. Homework and exam problems sometimes
require a graphing calculator. The instructor will use the TI-85
calculator. Other calculators with
equivalent graphics capacity are acceptable.
Although
calculators are an important and useful tool for learning calculus related
content, there is a dangerous potential for abuse and over-dependency. A word
to the wise: Use calculators only to enhance learning—not to avoid it.
Try to understand how calculators accomplish the commands you enter so that you
better understand their capabilities and limitations and so that you can better
interpret the displayed results. Do not become dependent on a calculator to
perform fundamental computations that can be done more efficiently using other
techniques (once mastered).
As
incentive for following the suggestions above, exact answers are often required
on exams. Thus, rather than giving a calculator’s decimal approximation, you
may be required to leave symbols, such as p, 
, 
, e, etc., as part of the answer. You may also be
asked on exams to show your work, etc. rather than use your calculator.
Tutoring:
Free tutoring is provided at
various times and locations by the Academic Resource Center (see
http://www.usu.edu/arc/index.php?site_id=17#math).
Assignments:
At the end of this syllabus, you will find a list of textbook homework problems. Homework will be due on the class-day following the day that the assignment is given. Assignments can be handed in at the end of class or brought to the instructor’s office anytime before the end of the day (just slip the assignment under the door if nobody is there). Make sure your name and class time appear prominently on the front page of each assignment. Late homework will be accepted for partial credit only. Homework will not be accepted more than two class days late, NO EXCEPTIONS.
You may work with others or consult with anyone on the homework, but be sure you can do the problems independently and understand the related concepts. Peek in the Solutions Manual only as a last resort. Then come back later to see if you can do the problem by yourself. The TEC CD may be of help for the exercises whose numbers are displayed in red. Help on homework can also be obtained at the tutoring sessions or by visiting your instructor. Problems with the homework may be discussed in class, as time allows.
Homework
assignments will be graded on a 10-point scale. These 10 points will be distributed as follows: 6 points for
completion, 4 points for accuracy of a few select problems. Additional homework
assignments/projects may be assigned at the instructor’s discretion. At the end of the semester, all homework
(except the lowest two scores which will be dropped to account for bad luck,
absences, etc.) will be totaled and scaled so that the total possible will be
80 points. Please keep all returned homework until after grades are posted and
you are satisfied that your scores have been recorded accurately.
The
final homework assignment will not be collected, but students may see homework
problems from this assignment or similar problems on the final exam.
Examinations:
There will be two 100-point midterm exams and a 200-point comprehensive final exam (Drop the class immediately if you will not be available for the final exam as scheduled in the official USU Spring 2004 Schedule of Classes). Midterm exams will not be given early or late to an individual except under extremely extraordinary circumstances; requests to do so are not appreciated. Please keep copies of all exams until grades are posted and you are satisfied that your scores are recorded accurately.
Sample Exams:
Copies
of old exams will be made available at the website http://eres.usu.edu/courseindex.asp.
To get to the exams, choose ROWLEY from
the instructor menu (you may ignore the other menus and search windows) then
click on the appropriate GO-button. Click on MATH 2210 and use the
password row2210. At this point the titles of all
available exams should be displayed.
Click on the one you want.
Grading:
An
approximate grade breakdown is shown below.
The final breakdown may be adjusted to account for test difficulty, etc.
Any questions about the grading policy or your standing in the class can be
directed to your instructor during an office visit. Due to laws governing privacy, grades can no longer be posted by
student ID numbers or given over the phone. Grades will be posted, but you
will need to remember your scores on the exams to identify which set of scores
is yours.
Approximate grade breakdown:
480 A 431 B 383 C 311 D
432 384 312 240
Incomplete Grade:
A
grade of incomplete will be given only if you have serious (usually medical)
problems that prevent you from completing the course, can produce
documentation, and are passing the course with most of it complete.
Should you get a grade of incomplete, together with the instructor, you will
agree on a plan to complete the course in a reasonable period of time. The
scores that you acquired up until the event which prevents you from completing
the course will be included in the computation of your grade. Never will an
incomplete be given to avoid a bad grade!
NO EXCEPTIONS!