Calculus I

Keep it simple and make it fun!

Course Description

MTH 153 is neither an accelerated course nor an honors course, but it should add to the understanding that students bring from previous study of calculus. We will be covering Chapters 2, 3, 4, 5, 6.

The students will be expected to
  1. Correctly solve problems
  2. Write complete solutions in a coherent fashion
  3. Have a conceptual understanding of the material

Textbook

Stewart
   Calculus I, MTH 151 ~ Miami University
   (We are using the same book for MTH 151 and MTH 153).

Homework

The purpose of the homework is to help you learn and understand the subject. No matter how well you think you understand the material presented in class, you won't really learn it until you do the problems.

You are free to devise whatever strategy for learning the material suits you best. This certainly may involve collaboration with other students. However, most people will get the maximum benefit from the homework if they try hard to do all the problems themselves before consulting others. Try to find your own solution, expressed in your own words, even if you arrived at this solution with help from someone else. The effort you put in the homework is excellent investment of your time. Remember, you are doing the homework in order to learn the material; do not try to defeat the purpose of it.

The homework is not collected and therefore not graded, but it actually affects your final grade substantially. After you do and write down a lot of problems by yourself you will gain a lot of knowledge and confidence which will then show in the exams. Note that it is not enough to glance over the problems and say ``oh, I know this''.

Exams

There will be three written exams (100 points each) and a final exam (150 points). The use of the textbook or any other written reference is not allowed during the exams. Calculators are not allowed. More information on the content will be given in class as the time for the exams approaches.

It is your responsibility to organize your activities in such a way as to avoid missing any of the exams. Make up exams will be offered only in case of serious and well documented medical or family problems. No make up exam will be offered to students that did not talk to me about their absence before the regularly scheduled exam.

Quizzes and Written Assignment


There will be eight quizzes (10 points each) at a sequence of at least one a week. There are no make-ups for quizzes. I will drop the lowest two quiz scores. In addition, there will be a Written Assignment due Monday, December 8. (It is OK to turn this in early, but it is not OK to turn it late). In this assignment you will be asked to present briefly the most important concepts and skills that you have learned during the semester. Each student can choose the format that best suits their presentation, for example one might write an essay, a dialogue, a sample final exam with solutions. Whichever form is chosen make sure that it includes enough mathematical detail. This written assignment can be prepared individually or by groups of up to 5 students.

Grades

Your grade will be determined based on the following total points:

Three Exams
300 points
Quizzes 60 points
Written Assigment
 25 points
Final Exam 150 points

The letter grades that can be guaranteed at this point are given bellow:
  •  Some flavor of A for 90%
  •  Some flavor of B for 80%
  •  Some flavor of C for 70%
  • D for 60%
    • It is highly likely that the grading will be done on a scale that is more favorable to the students than the one suggested above.

    Incompletes are rarely given, and then only to people who have a passing grade on a substantial part of the course but have a good reason (usually medical) for being unable to complete the requirements. It is highly likely that your final grades will be determined on a scale that is more favorable to the students than the one suggested above.

    Smile a lot Life is beautiful


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