Welcome to

AP CALCULUS AB

2003-2004

Course Information and Policies

Instructors: Mrs. Vereyken and Mrs. Antink

Office hours/Sources of Help

I usually arrive around 7 am and leave around 3:30 pm and my prep periods are 3^rd and 7^th. Please feel free to come to the Math Resource Center (MRC) to see me during those times! There are math teachers in the MRC every period; you are welcome to ask anyone for help anytime during the day. You or your parents may also reach me by calling the Math Department phone (329-3845) or through e-mail (mvereyken@pausd.palo-alto.ca.us).

Sources of help outside the Math Department: You may sign up for free tutoring in the Academic Resource Center (ARC) or see me for names of paid student and professional tutors for help off-campus. There may also be review sessions run by Mrs. Antink before each test.

Curriculum

This course is taught at the college level. It is designed to help prepare you for the AP exam and thus the topics are studied in depth. They include functions (analysis of graphs, limits, asymptotes, continuity), derivatives (at a point, as a function, second derivatives, applications, computational techniques) and integrals (Reimann Sums, definite integrals, applications, Fundamental Theorems of Calculus, numerical approximations, differential equations). The text is Calculus 5^th Edition by Howard Anton.

Required Materials

Graphing calculator. You must have one for this course and for the AP exam. The TI-89 is highly recommended and will be used for in-class demonstrations.

Paper (binder and graph), pencils, and a binder (does not have to be specific for this class).

Other helpful tools: erasers, straightedge/ruler.

Grading

HOMEWORK/IN-CLASS ASSIGNMENTS (25%): With very few exceptions, homework is assigned every day. Unless otherwise specified, each homework assignment is worth 10 points and is due at the end of the period the next time the class meets. In-class assignments are due at the end of class (duh!) How homework is graded:

10 points will be earned if the two problems I chose to grade are correct (including the supporting work), as well as it being complete, legible, on time, and, overall, it looks like it was done with an honest attempt.
A maximum of 8 points may be earned if only one of the two problems graded is correct, and 6 if neither is correct.
Extensions: If more time is needed on an assignment after an honest attempt has been made on it, you may ask for a 1-day extension on the due date. You must see me to have the extension approved.
Late work: You may receive possible full credit on assignments missed for"health" excused absences ONLY! You may turn in other late homework up until the day of the unit test for no more than 5 possible points. NO OTHER LATE WORK WILL BE ACCEPTED! (Be familiar with the policy in your Student Handbook.)

QUIZZES (10%): Quizzes may be announced or unannounced. You are responsible for knowing the days of announced quizzes from your assignment sheets. THERE ARE NO "MAKE-UP" QUIZZES FOR ABSENCES. If you miss a quiz due to:

A "health" excused absence, you will receive a weighted grade from the corresponding unit test.
Any other "excused" pre-planned reason (college visits, sports, field trip, family trip, etc.) you will get a ZERO unless prior arrangements are made with me to take the quiz.
A cut, suspension, or tardiness, you will get a ZERO.

TESTS (50%): Tests will be given after each unit, in general, after each chapter, and will be worth 100 points. While the material from the present unit is stressed, any material from past units is fair game.

There will be multiple choice and free response questions; calculator and non-calculator portions.
If you have a "health" absence only on the day of the test, you will take it on the day you return to class. If you only miss the day before a test, you will take the test on the scheduled day.

For any other "excused" pre-planned absence (college visits, sports, field trip, family trip, etc.) you will get a ZERO unless prior arrangements are made with me to take the test.
An absence due to a cut or suspension will result in a ZERO.

FINAL EXAMS (15%): A 2-hour final will be given at the end of first semester and the week before the AP exam.

EXTRA CREDIT: Six extra credit homework points may be earned for each confirmed, free hour of tutoring in the ARC, up to 60 such points. You may not earn EC for any tutoring done not in the ARC. You may also earn 10 EC homework points each semester by being a responsible, helpful, and dependable TA for a math teacher.

Grading scale Cut-Offs

88% A-

76% B-

64% C-

52% D-

Your grades will be available for viewing on-line; please check them regularly for accuracy. Keep all returned papers until you see your scores were entered correctly. Borderline quarter and semester grades will be considered for rounding only if your overall homework percent is at least 90%.

Attendance

Absences: See items under "grading" for when you may make up missed work and how. KNOW THE ABSENCE POLICY IN YOUR STUDENT HANDBOOK and please ask if you have any questions! NOTE: You will be dropped from the class after the 5^th cut. NO exceptions. Make sure your parents call in all "HEALTH" absences!!!!!!!!!

Tardies: If you are having trouble arriving to class on time, your parents will be notified, you will be placed on a tardy contract, and you risk being dropped from the class. No extra time will be given on quizzes or tests if your arrive late, and, of course, if you miss them completely you will earn a zero.

Academic Honesty

You are allowed to consult (NOT COPY) one another on homework. Copying homework will result in zeros for all parties involved. For assessments, you and your parents need to know the school policy on, and consequences of, cheating as outlined in the Handbook. If I believe you have cheated, the policy will be in effect. It is serious and awful for both students and their parents. PLEASE do not let this happen to you! Some examples of behaviors I consider cheating during a test or quiz are:

Talking without permission

Unauthorized use of books, notes, (in some cases, calculators), etc

Looking at another student’s work
Allowing another student to look at your work
Talking to other students in another section of the course about the material on the assessment

Class Rules

In a nutshell, be respectful, responsible, and prepared. Bring all required materials everyday. Come to class on time, ready to learn, and, hopefully, to have some fun, too!