COURSE SYLLABUS FOR MATH 150

Welcome to MAT 150

Winter, 2010-2011 Academic Year

Instructor: Dr. Gang Wang

Office: SAC 528

Phone: (773) 325-1352

Office Hours: MWF 10:10-11:10 a.m., or by appointment

Prerequisite:

MAT 131 or equivalent. It is strictly enforced by the math department. A prerequisite can only be waived by approval of the chairperson and me.

Text book:

Single Variable Calculus, 6th Edition by James Stewart. The book will be used for the entire calculus sequence MA 150-151-152. 

Course Description:

In MAT 150, we will cover almost the entire three chapters of the book: chapters 2 to 4. It includes limits of functions, continuity, derivatives, differentiation formulas, chain rule, implicit differentiation, max and min value of a function, concavity, curve sketching, and applications of derivatives. Students from other related field such commerce, music, and arts, are also encouraged to take if prerequisite is met.

Learning outcomes:

   MAT150-152 has designated as one of the Scientific Inquiry courses. More information regarding the learning outcomes and expectations can be found here.

Supplemental Instruction:

This section of MAT 150 was selected to participate in DePaul’s Supplemental Instruction Program.  Supplemental Instruction (SI) is a series of weekly review sessions for students taking historically difficult courses.  SI is provided for ALL students who want to improve their understanding of course material and improve their grades.

Attendance at sessions is voluntary (and free to you!).  It offers a chance to get together with people in your class to compare notes, to discuss important concepts, develop strategies for studying Mathematics, and to test yourselves before quizzes and exams.  At each session you will be guided through this material by your SI leader, a model student who has previously taken the course.

Each week, the SI leader will conduct three one-hour study sessions. You can attend the time the works best for you. You may not be able to attend a session each and every week. That’s OK, but the sessions will build on each other, so try to attend as many as possible. Session times and schedules can be found on the Supplemental Instruction web-site: www.depaul.edu/~si

Calculator:

A scientific calculator is required. Graphic calculator without symbolic algebra manipulation is allowed. A calculator with symbolic algebra manipulation, such as but not limited to TI-89, TI-92, TI-92 Plus,  CFX-9970G, are not allowed to use in all the tests. If you are unsure about if your calculator meet the standards, please ask me during my office hour.

Please remove all the programs or formulas from your calculator (except those distributed in the class) before taking tests. I may check your calculator during tests. If unauthorized programs or formulas stored in the memory were found, it is considered as cheating and violation of academic integrity. Test will be marked zero and other disciplinary actions will also be taken.

Technology:

In addition to traditional personal and telephone contact during office hours, all students are encouraged to use the Internet and e-mail. 

During the quarter, I will use the Internet to give major exam preparations. So it is important you take the full advantage of the technology by using the Internet if you haven't done so. You will find many other useful information on the class website. Visit it regularly, as many announcements will be made there in between classes.

 

DePaul has many computer labs for students to get access to the Internet. Click here to get the location and hours of computer labs nearest to you. All the information above can be found in the class website.

Grading:

In general, if your total grade is between 90% to 100%, you will get A for the class; 80% to 89% is B; 70% to 79% is C; 65% to 69% is C-; 60% to 64% is D; and below 60% is F. Plus and minus grade will be also given.

Your total grade is based on the following:

(i) Weekly quizzes, 40 percent

(ii) Mid-term exam, 20 percent

(iii) Final exam, 35 percent and,

(iv) Homework and class performances, 5 percent.

Weekly Quiz:

There will be a weekly quiz (about 15 minutes) given at the beginning or the end of the class meeting on Mondays. Each quiz usually has two to four questions that are similar to the homework assigned. It is important that you finish reading the class notes, books, and doing all the homework. Old quizzes  are also useful to prepare the current quiz and for the exams. They are available on the website.

Mid-term:

Mid-term exam covers 2.1-2.3, 2.5, 3.1-3.7 and is on Wednesday, February 9 in class. The time is 90 minutes. Review class for the Mid-term will be given on Monday, February 7.

Final:

In general, you have three chances to prove yourself that you know the material, one through on-line quiz, one through in class quiz, and one in the final. They have almost the same weight in grading, but the last two (in-class quiz and final) require independent work.

 

Final exam covers all we will learn (Chapter 2.1-4.8, except, 2.4, 3.8, and 4.6) in the class and is comprehensive. The time is Wednesday, March 16, 11:45-2:00 p.m. 

Homework:

Since writing is an integral part of communicating ideas and reporting progress in science, mathematics, and technology, you should carefully explain your reasoning in your lab reports and or homework.

I will limit 10 minutes of the class time to answer your questions on homework assignments. If you have more questions, please come to see me during my office hour, or ask math tutor on the 5th floor SAC outside my office. I will post some homework answers on the class website if necessary to accommodate class needs.

 

The homework will be assigned at each class meeting. It may or may not be graded. Since quiz problems are very similar to the homework, it is important for you to work them out in time and to have them understood.

     

It is possible that extra credit homework will be given. If that is the case, then your regular homework credit  percentage will be used to determine your extra homework credit. For example, if you get 50% of regular homework credit and 50% of extra homework grade, then your net extra homework credit for the course is  get 50% * 50% =25%.  

Class performance:

You are expected to show up in each of the class meetings, work actively with me and your follow classmates, use the internet to prepare your weekly quizzes and major exams, ask questions if you feel unclear and don't understand during class presentation, and come in the office hours to ask questions about homework problems if you don't know how to work them out and other class related questions.

Late works:

Late work will not be accepted unless it can be justified that a) it was due to the reasons out of your control and b) all the efforts have been made to prevent and avoid that situation to happen and to correct that situation after it happens. If the reason is personal, please discuss with me first to see if it is allowed. If it is medical reason, doctor's note is required for sickness excuse. If you are late for a test, you will automatically lose the time you miss. So please come to the test on time. Make-up quizzes and exams are usually rescheduled on the next available regular office hour, or by appointment.

 

Important Dates

The last day for withdraw from the class with 100% tuition refund is Sunday, January 16, 2011.
The last day to apply for pass/fail option is Monday, January 17, 2011.
Midterm is on Wednesday, February 9, in class.
The last day for withdraws from the class with grade "W" is Friday, February 18, 2011
Last day of class is Wednesday, March 9, 2011.
Final is on Wednesday, March 16, 11:45-2:00 p.m

Academic Integrity

DePaul University is a learning community that fosters the pursuit of knowledge and the transmission of ideas within a context that emphasizes a sense of responsibility for oneself, for others and for society at large.

Violations of academic integrity, in any of their forms, are therefore detrimental to the values of DePaul, to the students' own development as responsible members of society and to the pursuit of knowledge and the transmission of ideas.

Violations of academic integrity include but are not limited to the following categories: cheating; plagiarism; fabrication; falsification or sabotage of research data; destruction or misuse of the university's academic resources; alteration or falsification of academic records; and academic misconduct. Conduct that is punishable under the Academic Integrity Policy could result in additional disciplinary actions by other university officials and possible civil or criminal prosecution.

For more details regarding Code of Academic Integrity, please refer to your Student Handbook on Academic Integrity Policy for details.

Study Hard and Good Luck To Everyone!