Course Guidelines Math 181A
Dr. R. Beezer Spring 2009

Text We will be using University Calculus, (First Edition), by Hass, Weir & Thomas as our primary textbook. The bookstore is also stocking an optional text, Just-in-time Algebra and Trig for Early Transcendentals by Mueller for those needing a review of high school algebra or trigonometry.

I will also be referencing a new open-content (i.e. free) text, Whitman Calculus, by David Guichard of Whitman College. Look for a link on the course web page.

Home Page Start at http://buzzard.ups.edu/courses.html to locate the WWW page for this course.

Office Hours My office is in Thompson 303; the telephone number is 879–3564. Making appointments or simple, non-mathematical questions can be handled via electronic mail — my address is beezer@ups.edu. Office Hours are 10:00–10:50 on Monday and Friday, and 9:30-10:50 on Tuesday and Thursday. You may make an appointment for other times, or just drop by my office. Office hours are your opportunity to receive extra help or clarification on material from class, or to discuss any other aspect of the course.

Homework Problems will be assigned from each section covered, and collected at the start of the next class session. Of course, you are not limited to working just these problems. The list of exercises is attached, and is also available on the course web page.

It is your responsibility to be certain that you are learning from these exercises. The best ways to do this are to work the problems diligently when assigned and to participate in the classroom discussions. If you are unsure about a problem, then a visit to my office is in order. Making a consistent effort outside of the classroom is the easiest way to do well in this course.

Calculators You may use a calculator as you work homework problems, however exams will be designed so as to not require a calculator (and therefore will not be allowed). At a few points in the course, a graphing calculator will be useful.

Exams There will be six 50-minute timed exams — they are all listed on the tentative schedule. The lowest of your six exam scores will be dropped. The comprehensive final exam will be given on Monday, May 11 at Noon. The final exam cannot be given at any other time and also be aware that I will allow you to work longer on the final exam than just the two-hour scheduled block of time. In other words, plan your travel arrangements accordingly. Note also that an exam is scheduled for the Friday prior to the start of Spring Break. No personal electronics, scratch paper or hats are permitted during exams.

Grades Grades will be based on the following breakdown: Exams — 70%; Final — 30%. Homework, attendance and improvement will be considered for borderline grades. Scores will be posted anonymously at http://buzzard.ups.edu/courses.html.

Reminders Two reminders about university policies contained in the Academic Handbook. These are described thoroughly online, or a printed copy may be requested from the Registrar’s Office (basement of Jones Hall).

Withdrawal grades are often misunderstood. A Withdrawal grade (W) can only be given during the third through sixth weeks of the semester, after that time (barring unusual circumstances), the appropriate grade is a Withdrawal Failing (WF), even if your work has been of passing quality. See the attached schedule for the last day to drop with an automatic ‘W’. See http://www.ups.edu/x4727.xml#withdrawal.

All of your graded work is expected to be entirely your own work. Anything to the contrary is a violation of the university’s comprehensive policy on Academic Honesty (cheating and plagiarism). Discovered incidents will be handled strictly, in accordance with this policy. Penalties can include failing the course and range up to being expelled from the university. See http://www.ups.edu/x4718.xml.

Attendance Daily attendance is required, expected, and overall a pretty good idea.

Purpose One of the goals of your college education is to progress to becoming an independent scholar. To this end, you will be given a great deal of freedom in how you choose to learn calculus. Of course, with freedom comes responsibility. Read the book before the lectures, work the exercises diligently, tidy up your class notes each evening, and ask questions. Arriving late to class, or having conversations with others during class, not only disrupts your peers, but tells me you are not serious about your education. I will not routinely check attendance, but our class is small enough that I will notice when you are not here, and again this will be another way that you signal me about your commitment to the endeavor.

Calculus is one of the most amazing intellectual developments of the past several hundred years and is responsible in large part for many of the advances in science and engineering that we take for granted today. Your commitment to this course will be rewarded, and your inattention will be a waste of your tuition and your time.