Math 112 A Syllabus
Basic Information
Notebooks
You need to write up complete solutions to every problem
in every worksheet, as well as to the problems in the three "pre-tests".
Solutions, as opposed to answers, give a description of steps and reasons
which lead to and explain your "answer".
Your notebook will be graded and counts for about 5% of your course grade.
Grades
The tests are given only at the times and days listed in the
Daily Schedule.
There are two (2) Midterms, six (6) Quizzes, a Differentiation Proficiency
Quiz, and a comprehensive Final Exam.
Your grade for the course will be based on the total number of points you
accumulate over the quarter:
- Six Weekly Quizzes (10 points each - best five count)
- Midterm #1 (50 points)
- Midterm #2 (50 points)
- Differentiation Proficiency Quiz (25 points)
- Notebook (15 points)
- Final Exam (100 points).
Your term grade will be based on the total number of points you get out of
the 290 possible points. Grades are not based on a curve - there are no
fixed percentages of A's, B's, and so on. Grades will be competency
based. The exact correspondence between total points and numerical grades
on a 4.0 scale can't be determined in advance. It depends on factors like
how difficult the exams are.
Makeup policy
The tests are given in lecture on the days listed in the
Daily Schedule.
If you have compelling and well documented
reason for missing an exam, contact your instructor as soon as
possible.
There are no makeups. If you have a compelling and
well documented reason for missing a test or quiz, then your final
exam will be weighted to compensate.
Bad Day Rule
If one of your midterm scores is less than 70% of the average of your other
midterm score and the final exam score (with the final exam
weighted twice as heavily as the midterm), then at the end of the quarter
this low score will be replaced by 70% of that average. For instance, if
your exam scores are 40 (first midterm), 70 (second midterm) and 80
(final), then the weighted average of your last two exams is 77 and your
first exam score will be replaced by 54.
Incompletes
We do not give Incompletes except under the
conditions described in the
Student Guide.
Material allowed during tests
On all tests and quizzes, except the Differentiation Proficiency Quiz,
you are allowed to have the following:
- a straightedge,
- a calculator,
In addition on all three tests you may have:
- one 8.5'' x 11'' sheet of
handwritten notes with writing on both sides of the sheet.
Differentiation Proficiency Quiz
A twenty-five (25) minute
proficiency quiz on differentiation technique will be given twice
during the quarter. This is a closed-book,closed-note test. To pass it,
you must get four out of the five problems completely correct (no partial
credit). Once you have passed it, you do not have to take it again. If you
fail both attempts, you will receive the average score of all of your
attempts.
Getting your questions answered
Students often think that their questions are stupid, and that instructors
get mad when students ask questions. The opposite is true: There are no
stupid questions, there are only minor, medium-sized and major
misunderstandings, gaps or instructor goofs;
we instructors welcome your questions, be they
small or big. Your questions will be answered only if you ask them!
There are several sources of answers to your questions:
- Your fellow students --- they are in the same boat as you and
experience the difficulties with the material very much as you do. We found
that students get a lot our of talking to each other.
- The Study Sessions---
At least one (and usually two) member(s) of our teaching staff will be
present at all times to help you when you get stuck.
- Your TA --- s/he will answer your questions in quiz sections
and office hours.
- The lecturer --- unless otherwise announced, the first part of
every Friday's
lecture will be devoted to answering your questions on the week's
work. This is done as follows: We ask you to write down your questions
in advance and to put them on the lecturer's desk at the beginning of
the class period. The lecturer will sort them out and then try to organize
a coherent response to the questions that most puzzle you. The lecturer will
not prepare a lecture for that day; you profit from these
``Question-and-Answer'' periods on Friday as much as you invest in them by
asking your questions.
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Mon Mar 29 18:46 1999