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: 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: In addition on all three tests you may have:

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: