OAKTON COMMUNITY COLLEGE                     SYLLABUS                                                   Fall 2008

 

Instructor:  Professor Paul Boisvert  (Pronounced “BWA--VAIR”)            E-mail:      pboisver@oakton.edu           

Offices:     Des Plaines:  Room 2554       

Phone:       847-635-1935 (Voicemail--repeat name & phone # twice.)    Web Page:   Google my name:  “Paul Boisvert

Office Hours:     Mon:  10am – 11,  1 pm -2 pm       Tue/Th:    10:30am – 12:30pm        

                           Wed   10am – 11,  1 pm – 2:30       Other hours during week by appointment

 

I.          Course Prefix       Course Number    Course Name                                 Credit:          Lecture          Lab

      MAT                   250                 Calculus I                                         5                    5                 0

 

II.         Prerequisites: MAT 149, or both MAT 140 and MAT 122, all with grades of C or better, or an appropriate score on             

             the Mathematics Assessment Test.  Note:  Grades of  C in prerequisites are a sign that extra effort will be needed.

 

III.       Course (catalog) Description:  This is the first course in calculus and analytic geometry focusing on limits,

continuity, derivatives, indefinite and definite integrals, differentiation and integration of exponential and logarithmic functions, and their applications.  Calculators/computers will be used when appropriate.

 

IV.        Learning Objectives

     A.  Understand the concept of limit.

     B.  Understand the concept of continuity.

     C.  Understand the concept of derivative.

     D.  Evaluate derivatives of algebraic, trigonometric, exponential, and logarithmic functions.

     E.   Use derivatives to solve optimization problems, motion problems, and problems involving rates of change.

     F.   Use derivatives to analyze functions and their graphs.

     G.  Understand the concepts of indefinite integral and definite integral.

     H.  Evaluate indefinite and definite integrals.

     I.    Use definite integrals to find area, average functional value, distance traveled, and total change.

                  J.    Use technology for finding limits, derivatives, and integrals.

V.  Students, Faculty and administration at Oakton Community College are required to demonstrate academic integrity and follow Oakton's Code of Academic Conduct. This code prohibits:   cheating, plagiarism (turning in work not written by you or lacking proper citation), falsification and fabrication (lying or distorting the truth), helping others to cheat, making unauthorized changes in official documents, pretending to be someone else or having someone else to pretend to be you, making or accepting bribes, special favors, or threats, and any other behavior that violates academic integrity. 

     There are serious consequences to violations of the academic integrity policy. Oakton's policies and procedures provide students with a fair hearing if a complaint is made. If you are found to have violated the policy, the minimum penalty is failure on the assignment and a disciplinary record will be established and kept on file in the office of the Vice President for Student Affairs for a period of 3 years.  Details of the Code of Academic Conduct can be found in the Student Handbook.

VI.       Outline of Topics:  (with approximate time guide)                                                                                    Weeks                                                                                                                                                            

Appendix B   Review:  Intervals, Inequalities, Lines, Circles, Parabolas, Trig Functions                                                1.5

Chapter 1   Functions:  Functions,Graphs, Combining Functions, Exponential, Inverse and                                        1.5

                   Logarithmic Functions                                                                                                                                                   

Chapter 2   Limits and Continuity:  Rates of Change and Limits, Infinite Limits, Continuity, Tangent Lines            1.5

Chapter 3   Differentiation:  Derivative as a Function, as a Rate of Change, Differentiation Rules,                             4

                   Derivatives of Trig Functions, Chain Rule, Parametric Equations, Implicit Differentiation,

                   Related Rates, Derivatives of Inverse Trig Functions, Derivatives of Exponential & Log Functions                 

Chapter 3    Differentiation:  Applications:  Related Rates, Linearization and Differentials                                         2

Chapter 4   Applications of Derivatives:  Extreme Values, Mean Value Theorem, Derivative Tests and                     2.5

                   Shapes of Graphs, Concavity, Curve Sketching, Optimization

Chapter 4   Integration:  Estimation with Finite Sums, Sigma Notation and Limits, Definite Integrals,                         3

                   Fundamental Theorem, Indefinite Integrals, Substitution, Area between Curves         

 

VII.      Methods of Instruction:  Lecture, Problem-Demonstration, and Student Problem-Solving, Including Technology

 

 

VIII      Course Practices Required:  Minor changes to these may be made with 2 weeks notice given in class.

1.  Homework Policy:  Homework consists mainly of Odd-numbered problems, which have answers in the back of the book.  You must check each answer to each problem, and, if you don’t get it correct, ask me about it at the start of the next class.  Homework will only be collected during the next class meeting after a Test, by which time you should have learned how to do every problem.  Homework and writing assignments are graded on a Credit/No Credit basis, with a check-mark indicating that Credit was received for the assignment.  Credit is given if it looks like you have done almost all of the assignment satisfactorily, with the work and steps involved fully shown.  The total check-marks received divided by the total number of assignments is your HW grade for the term, which can easily be 100% if you do all the assignments.

2.  Missed Tests and Dropped Tests:  All tests must be taken.  If you miss the scheduled time for any reason, you must take a make-up test in the testing center within 1 week.  Check the time deadline for this makeup with me very carefully!  This make-up test will carry a 7% penalty the first time, and a 14% penalty if you miss a 2nd test.  No makeups for a third test missed—you will get a zero.  However, at the end of the term, a student’s lowest test score will be replaced by their (Final Exam score minus 10%), if this result is higher than the lowest test score.

3.  Attendance, Tardiness, and Leaving Early.  This is a college mathematics class, and will move at a fast pace and with comparable difficulty to such classes at 4-year colleges.  It requires constant, serious effort and work by students.  Unless you are quite sick or have a legal obligation, missing any portion of class is a very bad idea!  If you have a problem attending the full, scheduled class times, you should probably drop the class.  Do not fall behind the pace of this class.  Do homework immediately when assigned, and study and review material every day or two.  Letting even a few days go by when you don’t give this class your serious attention is a recipe for low grades or failure.

4.  Questions and Extra Help:  Please ask questions as often as you wish.  The more questions, the better every one learns.  Asking questions is the best way to learn!  I love to answer questions, and can help the whole class learn more if you make clear what is puzzling you.  We will start every class with questions on Homework, so make sure you have done it, and are ready to ask about anything confusing you.  For extra help, I’m available during office hours and by appointment to help you with material if you are not getting all your questions answered during class.  If you are occasionally absent, or if a concept needs more explanation, please come and see me right away for help.  Do Not Wait! 

 

 

IX.       Instructional Materials:  Required Textbook:  Thomas' Calculus (Early Transcendentals), 11th Ed., by Weir, Hass, and Giordano.  Pearson / Addison Wesley, Boston, 2006 

             NOTE:  Text books now available in partial editions.  See me before buying—it is complicated.

             Also required:  Graphing Calculator (TI-83 or 89 recommended, others ok--85 is poor--IF you have a manual.)

 

X.         Methods of Evaluation:        4 Tests:                 65%    Two hours each.  Given every 3 to 4 weeks.

                                                       Homework:          10%    Collected on the class day after each test.          

                                                       Final Exam           25%     Comprehensive, covering almost all the material.

                                                                                       (Technology assignments included in Test or Final grades.)

            Grading Scale:  A:  90-100%  (Excellent work, with very few or trivial mistakes)

            B:  80-89%    (Good or above average work, with few or minor mistakes)

C:  70-79%    (Average work, with some minor or few major mistakes)

            D:  60-69%    (Poor or below average work, with many minor and some major mistakes)

                                    F:    0-59%     (Unacceptable or failing work which does not show adequate understanding)

 

XI.     Other Course Information:  If you have a documented learning, psychological, or physical disability you may be entitled to reasonable academic accommodations or services. To request accommodations or services, contact the ASSIST office in Instructional Support Services. All students are expected to fulfill essential course requirements. The college will not waive any essential skill or requirement of a course or degree program.

 

Important Dates:

Sep 21:   Last day to withdraw and have course completely dropped from your record, or to change to Audit.

Oct 19:   Last day to withdraw with a “W”.  Students will receive a grade of A,B,C,D, or F if still enrolled on Oct. 20

Dec 16:   (Wednesday) Final Exam is given in this class.  Last day of all classes for this term.