Contact Information: 214-5 Elizabeth Hall ext. 7551 campus box 8340 http://www.stetson.edu/~mhale/

Office Hours: Mon 2:30 - 3:20 Tue 10:30 - 11:20 Wed 10:00 - 10:50 Fri 10:00 - 10:50 or by appointment

Course Overview   This course is for students who must take calculus and want to be better prepared. It is not open to those who already have credit for calculus: MS 226, MS 222, or MS 201. Beginning next year, this course will be replaced by a two-semester course, Calculus I with Review, which we hope will be a better path to calculus. If your schedule permits, consider waiting. Another alternative is to take and pass the Math Placement Test, which will satisfy the Stetson math requirement, earn you three hours of credit, and let you go directly to calculus. If you are sure you will not be taking calculus but you need a math course, it makes much better sense to take a 150-level math course. These courses require only high school math, and, for students not heading for calculus, they are easier and more interesting than precalculus.

Text and Calculator   The text is Hornsby, Lial, and Rockswold Graphical Approach to Precalculus with Limits, A Unit Circle Approach, 4th ed., parts of Chapters 1–5 and R. Along with the book, you should own a graphing calculator. The features of the TI-84(Plus) are best for this course and the following calculus course. Instructions for the TI-83/84 are online.

Grading   Your grade will be based on four tests (18% each), and a final exam (28%). The grading scale is A: 85%+, B: 75%+, C: 65%+, F: 65%–. The grading policies reflect the goal of preparing you for calculus. A limited amount of partial credit will be given for incorrect work that nevertheless shows understanding of the problem. No credit will be given for unsupported answers, even if correct. When you learn a technique, learn how to support its use.

Policies and Due Dates   Tests will contain mostly problems similar to homework and a few less familiar problems requiring you to synthesize ideas we have learned. You must take them during the scheduled time unless you have a valid excuse cleared with me ahead of time. Tests are on Mondays: 2/2, 2/23, 3/30, 4/20. The final exam is Tuesday 5/5, 1-3 pm.

Homework should consume about 6 hours per week outside of class. Problems are grouped on the syllabus by type. Within each group, do odd problems, checking answers, until you have mastered the technique. Then do one even problem to bring to class. On occasion at the beginning of class I will ask you to copy from your notes the solution to an even-numbered problem from a group of my choosing. Grades on these provide further feedback for both of us.

Attendance is expected. Previous students have found that loyal attendance (2 or fewer absences) is required for success in my courses.

Assistance   All work on tests must be your own, with no help from books, notes, or other people. Homework may be done with others, or taken to the Math Clinic, but should be re-done in your own words. I support the Stetson University Honor System.

This is a college level course. You are responsible for learning the material, reading the text, identifying your questions and difficulties, talking with me inside and outside of class, keeping up with the syllabus, reading your email, and knowing class policies. Study Tips are provided. Use the Math Clinic: room 209E, Monday-Thursday 2:30-4:30 and 7-10 pm, and Sunday 8-10 pm. Visit my web site to find out more about me and about the course. If you have special needs, please don't hesitate to discuss them, either with me or with the Academic Resources Center.

Communication   I use Blackboard to communicate important information about the class. To reach me, see my contact information above. You are welcome in my office, my voicemail, and my Inbox.

spring 2009 syllabus
instructions for the TI-83/84
study tips
back to precalculus
back to Margie's home page