Math 205: Introductory Calculus I

Fall 2021 Policy Information

Instructor: Roger Thelwell
Office hours MW 9-10 & WF 1-2 or by appt

Primary contact: thelwerj@jmu.edu with "MATH 205 FA21" in subject line.
Send me an email anytime, but fyi - I'll rarely respond to email between 5 pm and 8 am on weekdays, or over the weekend.
Class Times: Section 2 10:30-11:20 Section 3 11:45-12:35
Class Location: Roop 212
Webpage: http://educ.jmu.edu/~thelwerj/205
Canvas site: https://canvas.jmu.edu
Last free drop: 9/3/21
Last W drop date: 10/27/21

Prerequisite
Strong algebra preparation and math placement score of 23 or above OR successful completion of one Math 135, Math 155, or Math 156.

Textbook
Applied Calculus for the Managerial Sciences (10th) by Soo Tan. Available at the JMU Bookstore and on the Cengage website. You will need an access code for required WebAssign homework assignment, and the code will also allow you to access the e-book and other material. Once you have access, you can read the book and access homework through our Canvas coursepage.

The bookstore offers two options:

Cengage Unlimited Access - electronic bundle + access to ALL other Cengage e-books .
LoosePgs w/ Access - print copy + electronic bundle: e-book, WebAssign HW, and extra e-resources.

A third option of Web-Assign Access + eletronic book bundle is offered directly from the Cengage site. To submit homework, you must have access to WebAssign HW.

Need a little extra help?
I'll be offering in-person and online office hours this semester! Currently scheduled for MW between 9-10 am and WF from 1 to 2, or by appointment. I will be physically in Roop 106 and have my personal zoom room open during this time, and respond to questions as quickly as I can. If there is no activity in the Zoom session by 9:15 I will close it and focus on students who are there in-person. Whenever you send email, always include "MATH 205 FA21" in the subject line . Doing so will help me manage my email - those with that subject line will be filtered and get top priority, those without can easily get buried!

For help outside of office hours, check out the Science and Math Learning Center at https://www.jmu.edu/smlc/, which offers FREE help in a variety of science courses, including Math 205. It's a great resource!

Course Goals

To develop an understanding of the logical structure and style of mathematics by:
a) Using reason in an orderly, cogent fashion.
b) Writing clear, well organized solutions to problems.
Structure refers to the foundations of mathematics and to the techniques used to build on those foundations. Style refers to the clarity, elegance, efficiency, and precision desirable in mathematical expression.
To develop ability to use mathematical tools to solve problems and to transfer this knowledge to analogous situations by:
a) Using differentiation to solve problems involving optimization and rates of change.
b) Using polynomial, algebraic, exponential, and logarithmic functions in mathematical computations and in modeling applications.

Course Content
This course covers topics in

Chapter 1: Preliminaries: Precalculus review
Chapter 2: Functions, Limits, Continuity, and the definition of the derivative
Chapter 3: Derivative Rules
Chapter 4: Derivative Tests and Applications
Chapter 5: Exponential and Logarithmic Functions
Chapter 6: Integration and Applications

See the Canvas course website for detailed information and homework assignments for this semester. NOTE: Chapter 1 is prerequisite material that you should know coming into this course. I'll ask you to take a diagnostic quiz in the first few days to help you decide if you need to revisit bits of your precalculus preperation.

Course Website
Online material can be found on JMU's Canvas site: http://canvas.jmu.edu.

Grades
Grades will be assigned on the 10 point scale: 90-100 A- to A range; 80-89: B- to B+ range; 70-79 C- to C+ range; 60-69 D- to D+ range; 59 and below: F.

Grades will be computed using the weights below.
Homework (online via WebAssign): 20%
Class Quizzes (at least one per week): 5%
In-class tests (6): 50%
Comprehensive Final exam: 25%

Attendance Policy
In the event that an excused absence falls on a assessment date (a quiz or test), the assignment will need to be completed within one week of your return to class. You will need to provide sufficient offical documentation for an excused absence.

COVID-19 required policy
To be admitted and to remain in class, the following are required:

Mask: You need to be wearing one in class at all times, unless you can provide a documented exclusion.
Self-Reporting: Use the MyJMUChart when appropriate.

Homework
Your homework scores contribute 20% of your course grade, and I will drop the lowest 6 scores. You'll access all homework through Canvas, and complete problems that are bundled with your textbook. This requires you to purchase an access code, either through the JMU bookstore or directly from Cengage, the publisher. Please follow the directions on the Canvas site to get into Webassign. It is your responsiblity to regularly monitor assignment due dates, and to complete them on time. Missed and/or late assignments will count as zero.

If you have difficulty accessing the homework, you should work with Cengage to resolve your issues within the first two weeks of semester, and notify me during this same time period. We will step through enrollement on the first day of class.

Quizzes
Your quiz scores contribute to 5% of your course grade. These are low stakes, but useful to give you feedback and practice in working in a testing environment. There will be numerous quizzes throughout the semester. These will be short, only a problem or two, and require you to submit your work.

Tests
Your test scores contribute to 50% of your course grade, and I'll drop your lowest test score. There will be 6 chapter tests, which will consist of problems which will be very similar to the textbook and homework problems. These will be online, and you'll need to bring a laptop or take them on your smartphone during the testing window. They are currently scheduled following dates:

Test 1: Friday, September 3, 2021
Test 2: Monday, September 20, 2021
Test 3: Wednesday, October 6, 2021
Test 4: Wednesday, October 20, 2021
Test 5: Monday, November 8, 2021
Test 6: Friday, November 19, 2021

Any change to the dates above will be announced at least one week in advance of the new date, and will be annouced in class and on Canvas. The tests will be in-person and in-class, with part handwritten and part submitted electronically so you will need to bring your computer or phone to access it.The tests will look a lot like your homework.

Final Exam
Your final exam contributes 25% of your course grade. Check the JMU Registrar's final exam schedule for the exam time for your section: FALL 2021 exam schedule.

Honor code
Remember that JMU has a strict honor code. All tests, exams, handouts, and materials for this course, including those posted on Canvas and on faculty and course websites, are the intellectual property of the instructor. Dissemination of any of these items, in whole or in part, through any other agency or website is a violation of the JMU honor code and will be referred to the Honor Council.

Diversity and Inclusion
James Madison University is a community dedicated to diversity and inclusivity. As faculty, we believe that learning environments should support a diversity of thoughts, perspectives, experiences, and identities. We invite you to share anything with us that might help create a more inclusive and welcoming learning environment.

Common JMU Academic Policies
Visit http://www.jmu.edu/syllabus/ for information about: Attendance, Academic Honesty, Adding/Dropping Courses, Disability Accommodations, Disruptive Behavior, Inclement Weather, and Religious Accommodations. If you need to make use of Disability and/or Reglious Accommodations, you must notify me within the first two weeks of the semester.

Nature of the Course Content
(directly from course catalogue)
Math 205. Introductory Calculus I. 3 credits. Offered fall and spring. Topics from differential and integral calculus with applications to the social, behavioral or life sciences and business or management. Prerequisite: One of MATH 135, MATH 155, MATH 156 or sufficient score on the mathematics placement exam. Not open to mathematics or physics majors or to students who have already earned credit in MATH 232 or MATH 235. Not recommended for chemistry majors.