Mathematics 213        Calculus III

Section 84784        Bonelli 307                            5:00 – 7:25 pm            TTh

Final Exam:  Thursday, May 31, in class

Textbook: 

Thomas' Calculus, 12th Edition, revised by Maurice D. Weir and Joel Hass

Addison-Wesley        ISBN  978-0-321-58799-2

INSTRUCTOR INFORMATION

Office Phone:  (661) 362-5049                       Office: Seco Hall 207

E-mail:  george.rhys@canyons.edu                 WebPage:  www.canyons.edu/faculty/rhysg    

Please make a habit of checking the web page periodically for announcements and instructor ranting.

Visit-the-Instructor Hours: 

And  many other times by appointment, including Fridays.  Call 362-5049.

ASSIGNMENTS

Homework is assigned for every class meeting.  I will make random in-class checks.

The effort expected by any college professor for a course at this level is:

Late homework is of diminished value, as you will not be able to share in classroom discussion.  Therefore, late homework will not be credited to your grade. 

TESTS and QUIZZES

During class I will give occasional MicroQuizzes, which are single questions pertaining to the subject at hand. These quizzes will not always be returned to you, but you will know your results immediately.  Their purpose is to let you and me know if you have met the day’s objective.

            You will take five chapter-level tests and a comprehensive Final Exam.  All tests are counted equally, except for the Final Exam, which counts as twenty percent of the final grade.

Once the tests have been distributed, no student may leave the room then return to work on the test.  Manage your bathroom needs.

There will be no make-up tests, no exceptions.  Missed tests count zero.  Your Final Exam score will be averaged with your lowest test score, if that improves your average. 

If you know that you must miss a test, you may make arrangements to take the test ahead of time.  To do this, you must give the instructor sufficient notice, in writing, because he will forget otherwise.   

SUPPLEMENTAL INSTRUCTION WORKSHOPS

Dedicated College of the Canyon faculty have put together an ever-expanding collection of workshops, designed to support your learning and fill in any gaps.  I emphatically urge you to attend all workshops that address your problem areas.  You will receive credit for each workshop you attend.

ACTIVE LEARNING

Because you will not be able to do homework you have not learned, and because engaged students learn while passive students just spin their wheels, my lessons are designed to involve you in mathematics as much as possible.  There are many varieties of active learning; mine is modest but effective:

Every new topic builds on those that went before.  During my presentations, when we come to a portion of the work that you already know, I will have you do that work rather than leave you to sit back and watch me do something you already know how to do.

Throughout the semester, time permitting, we will write up several challenging problems as a more formal presentation.  The purpose is to give you practice in writing mathematics.  Your cumulative grade on these assignments will count as one additional test.

CLASSROOM CONDUCT

             I will not tolerate disruptive behavior or off-task activity.  Such behavior includes, but is not limited to:  conversing during instruction, texting, working on unrelated assignments, sleeping, writing notes, or refusing to participate in group activities.

            I find teaching to be an exciting but very demanding profession, and it requires a lot of concentration.  I lose my concentration—and your classmates lose theirs—when a student is disrespectful or inconsiderate of the rest of us.  I’ll try not to be rude about it, but I am not very good at being nice to people who are rude to me.  Please respect what we are trying to do here.

            Students who persist (after a warning) in obstructing or disrupting the education process—theirs or that of others—will be removed from the classroom for the remainder of that class session and possibly for the next meeting.  (I don't think I have ever needed to do this.)  Obstruction or disruption of the College’s function is grounds for disciplinary action.  Please see the College catalog. 

INTEGRITY

College policy is emphatic that I report instances of cheating to the dean.  I am not permitted to give a zero for cheating, which is bad for cheaters because it makes it easier for me to turn them in.  Just do your best and I’ll do my best and there will be no need to cheat.

As stated in the Student Rights and Responsibilities section of the COC Catalog and in the COC Schedule of Classes, “Cheating, plagiarism, fabrication, and other forms of academic dishonesty, and/or facilitating academic dishonesty” are grounds for disciplinary action.  

ATTENDANCE

Regular attendance is essential to success.  Regardless of the reason for an absence, every absence reduces the chances of your doing well in any course.  For that reason, there really is no such thing as an “excused” or “unexcused” absence.  It is not a disciplinary issue; it is a success issue.

I will not give permission for any student to double-book this class with another.  If you put yourself into the position of being unable to attend every class from start to finish, I will drop you for non-attendance rather than allow you to continue and fail this class.

If, for reasons of health, family, or job, you cannot attend this class regularly, it is your responsibility to officially withdraw from the class by the drop deadline through Admissions and Records and make room for a student who can attend.  Any student who does not drop and does not complete the course must be given a grade by the instructor.   If you disappear without withdrawing, that grade will most likely be an F.  Withdrawals after the first drop date may count as attempts at the course, which are limited to three.

You may be dropped from the course if you miss more than five class hours.  Late arrivals and early departures count as half a class hour.

You are responsible for all course content, notices, and assignments, whether you are absent or not.

GRADING

            In calculating your grade, three components are weighed as follows:

            I will update your grade on MicroGrade after each test.  Don’t count on the final exam to save a low grade.  The final exam score is likely to be closer to your test average than to your quiz average.

During the semester, projected grades will weigh tests at 85% and HW/Quizzes at 15%.

To compute your own grade as we go along, use the formula:

 (0.85)(Test Average) + (0.15)(HW/Quiz score)

            To find your test average, simply add all the test scores and divide by the number of tests.  To find your HW/Quiz score, divide the total points you earned by the number of points available.  These averages are available at the grades link on the web site.          

WHERE TO GET HELP

To strengthen your overall performance, join a study group, or form one with your classmates.

If you are having trouble with a particular problem or set of problems:

TLC (Tutoring, Learning, Computing) in BONH-209 offers free tutoring in an environment conducive to study.

MESA in Aliso Lab also offers tutoring, in a more intimate setting.

Supplemental Instruction workshops.  Please see the link at the home page.

If you are having trouble in general, keep getting low scores, or feel lost, swallow your pride and go to an instructor.  An instructor can diagnose your confusion, and possibly uncover a mistake or two that you have been making consistently.  Also an instructor can make helpful suggestions about study.  These services will save great amounts of time in the long run.

Whatever you do, act quickly.  Waiting to get help, for whatever reason, magnifies the difficulty.