ACE AP Calculus – BC

AvonHigh School

2013-2014 School Year

Mr. Record

Course Requirements

The following items must be brought to class each day:

1. Text: Calculus of a Single Variable, Larson, et al. Brooks Cole, 2010.

2. Handouts of notes and homework worksheets.

3. TI-Nspire CX CASGraphing Calculator. Must be charged at all times.

4. Pencil (All work handed in to me MUST be done in pencil. NO exceptions.)

No special binder or folder is required, but you will find a binder (at least 1”) will be helpful in organizing your notes. Homework can be done on loose-leaf ruled paper, plain computer paper or even on graph paper.

Grading Procedures

1. Homework. In each section of our text, you will be givena listing of problems that I feel are important to your understanding of the material. The Homework will come in two varieties: Textbook and Worksheet. The Textbook HW assignments are optional and are graded only on a 10 point completion. The Worksheet HW assignments are mandatory and will also carry a 10 point grade based on accuracy. You will find out quickly that the key to a good grade in the HW category will be doing BOTH of these assignments each section. Note: Not all sections (lessons) will have a Worksheet HW. All sections (lessons) will have a Tetbook HW, however. Quiz content may include items found only in the textbook assisgnment.

I cannot emphasize enough how important it is for you to keep up with the daily homework.

IN THE CASE OF ABSENCE, ALL MAKE-UP HOMEWORK IS TO BE PLACED IN THE APPROPRIATE BOX ON THE WHITEBOARD IN THEBACK OF MY ROOM. UNDER NO OTHER CIRCUMSTANCES WILL LATE HW BE ACCEPTED.

Number of Textbook Assignment Succesfully Completed (8+ out of 10) / Extra Benefit
Sem 1 / 9-13 / Drop 1 lowest quiz score
14-17 / Drop 2 lowest quiz scores
Sem 2 / 7-10 / Drop 1 lowest quiz score
11-13 / Drop 2 lowest quiz scores

Helpful Hints to Making TextbookHomework “Work for You.”

  • 1. Clearly label each Textbook HW with your name, period,

the Assignment Section Number, page(s) and problem numbers.

This info is worth 1 point of the 10.

2. Write (or paraphrase) out the directions for each group of problems.

3. Document the problems that you needed assistance with. That way you know to go back and look at them

again before a test or quiz.

  • What is written in bold above is a requirement. You will lose 1 point for not doing this correctly.

2. Section Quizzes. Almost every day and after every section, you will take a short quiz that covers the material presented the day (or two) before. Each quiz will be worth 10 points and may contain either multiple choice problems or short answer problems. Multiple choice problems will always be worth 2 points each. Point values for short answer problems are contingent upon the amount of work required to solve them. (1 point to 6 points).

You will be allotted 15-25 minutes for each quiz. Some quizzes will allow the use of calculator but most will not.

If you are absent on the day of a quiz or any day where material was presented that appears on a quiz, you will have until the next same day on the ABC Cycle to make that quiz up. [For example, a student is absent on B day and misses a quiz. That student has until the next B Day (end of the day) to make the quiz up.] Every effort should be made to make up quizzes before school, after school, or during SRT. If you elect to make up a quiz during class, you are responsible for the material presented that day.

Failure to make up a quiz in the time allotted will result in a zero.

3. Enrichment Occasionally, you will have an additional assignment to work on outside of the homework in the textbook. These assignments may be in the form of short labs, worksheets, TI-Nspire activities, games, sample AP questions or CML practice tests. These assignments are typically checked for completion only, but may occasionally be graded for accuracy.

4. UnitExams. At the conclusion of each unit we will have anexam. Each exam will be worth 36 points and later scaled to 100 points. The exams will be a combination of multiple choice and multi-part free response questions. Each of these two sections will be further divided into a “with calculator” and a “without calculator” section.

Section 1: 5 Multiple Choice – (With calculator) Each problem is worth 1 point each. 5 points total.

Section 2: 1 Free Response – (With calculator) The problem is worth 9 points . 9 points total.

Section 3: 10 Multiple Choice – (Without calculator) Each problem is worth 1 point each. 10 points total.

Section 4: 1 Free Response – (Without calculator) The problem is worth 9 points . 9 points total.

(The Multiple Choice points you receive will be multiplied by 1.2 to balance the two portions of the exam equally)

There is no penalty for guessing on the Multiple Choice sections.

One of the formulae used to calculate your percentage for a unit exam will look like this: For composite scores 6 and above:

Composite score (out of 36) x 1.7 + 38 = Percentage out of 100

For composite scores below 6:

5 = 45%, 4 = 40%, 3 = 30%, 2 = 20%, 1 = 10%, 0 = 0%

The formula used for a given exam is determined by the historic difficulty of the exam.

If you are unable to take the Unit Exam due to absence (either the day of the exam or a day prior), the make-up policy is the same as with quizzes. The make-up exam will NOT be the same as the original exam.

5. Extra Credit Project.

Semester 1:

  • If you choose to, you may elect to read a book entitled, Escalante: The Best Teacher In America by Jay Mathews. You will be asked to complete some questions based on your readings and write a short essay. This can be handed in at any time during the first semester. You will receive the following (however, it will not be entered until the end of the semester):
  • 5 Extra Credit Points to be added to your Quiz Portion of your semester grade and
  • 5 Extra Credit Points to be added to your Unit Exam Portion of your semester grade and
  • 2 Extra Percentage Points to be added to your Final Exam grade.
  • If you decide that you are interested in this, see me for the handout. You can find this book used and rather inexpensive online ( or at a larger library. I have a few copies I can loan out as well. I would prefer that you not begin this assignment until after we begin Chapter 2.
  • Due Date: December 13, 2013

Semester 2:

  • IUPUI Math Contest – There will be 4 questions and 1 essay - due approximately March 16th , 2014 (details to come). Each problem properly submitted (not necessarily correct solution) will receive 1 point in both the Quiz and Unit Exam categories plus up to 2% points added to your Semester 2 Final Exam. You do not have to attempt all problems. There are monetary prizes awarded through IUPUI.
  • Stand and Deliver – We will be showing the movie about Jaime Escalante (most likely on a Sunday afternoon and Monday evening in late April – dates to be announced). Attend viewing and complete packet to grade replace one quiz score to a 10 before any low scores are dropped due to the textbook HW benefit outlines earlier.
  • Stand and Deliver – We will be showing the movie about Jaime Escalante (most likely on a Sunday afternoon and Monday evening in late April – dates to be announced). Attend viewing and complete packet to grade replace one quiz score to a 10 before your lowest 3 are dropped.

Timeline

Beginning each semester you will receive a syllabus with a detailed timeline including homework problems assigned and quiz/test dates.

Semester 1 Semester 2

Chapter 7 (Sections7.4-7.7 only) “Applications of Integration” Miscellaneous Topics

Chapter 8 “Integration Techniques, L’Hôpital’s Rule, Improper Integrals” (Differentials, Hyperbolic

Chapter 10 “Parametric Equations and Polar Coordinates” Functions

Chapter V “Vectors and Calculus”

Chapter 9 “Sequences and

Series”

Classroom Rules
  • Tardies. I DO COUNT THESE. (especially 1st hour). Late to my class is defined as not being in the room at the end of the bell. The following penalties will occur:

Tardy 1: Verbal Notification

Tardies 2-3: After School Detention for each

Tardies 4-5: Saturday School for each

Tardies 6: Hearing with Assistant Principal for removal from class with a W/F.

Note: Tardies accumulate until the end of a semester.

  • Respect. Respect all others at all times. Pay attention when I am addressing the class and while another student is addressing the class. Respect one another's property and that of the room.
  • Progress Reports. You can easily check your grades online through Power School at any time. I am pretty quick about entering enrichment and quiz grades. Exam grades may take an extra day or two. If you happen to need a printout of your grade report, let me know in person or by e-mail and I can have one prepared for you.
  • Be Prepared. You each will be given a syllabus outlining everything that we will do throughout the chapter. Follow it. Don't get behind. Listen to the Lectures. Don't try to work ahead unless told otherwise.
  • Be Here. Limit your absences to an absolute minimum. Getting behind in AP Calculus is not an enjoyable experience.

Important Information

After School Help. KEEP IN MIND THAT THE SCHOOL DAY DOES NOT HAVE TO END AT 3:00!

Since this is a higher level college preparatory course, I will leave it at your discretion as to when you should meet with me. If at any point you still have questions over a particular homework assignment, please take advantage of this time. I will typically be in my room until 4:15 pm each afternoon.

Occasionally I will schedule evening review sessions for those who cannot attend after school sessions.

You are welcome to come in for assistance during SRT on “B” Days. Be sure to get the appropriate pass from prior to that time.

MP3 Players/Cell Phones. Although I am a huge fan of music, I struggle mightily with the inclusion of an MP3 player within the school day. Please leave these in your bookbags/purses or in your locker. You are to not have cell phones out at any time. Please be sure to silence them throughout this class and all others.

UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCE IS AN ELECTRONIC DEVICE TO BE OUT OF YOUR BACKPACK DURING A QUIZ OR EXAM.

The only exception is your TI-Nspire Graphing Calculator.

Food. I do not mind if you have VERY SMALL food items in the room. Just be very inconspicuous with them. Gum is allowed. The only drinks you’re supposed to have is water.

AP Exam. On Wednesday, May 7th you will all be taking the Advanced Placement Calculus AB Exam. By performing well on this exam you will have the opportunity to test out of math completely at the college level or to take an advanced course earlier. I must know by the first of March, whether or not you plan on taking this exam. There is no cost. A score of 4 (which is approximately 60%) will get you credit virtually at any college or university.

CML Exams. Four times during the school year, we will participate in the Continental Math League Exams. Each exam is 8 questions and will be taken during class. The top six scores from AHS will be submitted to the CML. Avon High School is the ten-time defending state champion in this competition. We have placed as high as 2nd in our Midwestern Region and 4th nationally during last year’s competition. As each test nears, I will assign tests from previous years as Enrichment/Homework. The first CML Exam isn’t until early December. I will outline how these are graded later in the year.

Grading Scale. This class will use the standard school scale. Grades are based on the following weighted system.

Semester 1Semester 2

Homework15%Homework15%

Quizzes 25%Quizzes 25%

Unit Exams40%Unit Exams15%

Enrichments 5%Enrichments10%

AP Review/Lab20%

Final Exam 15%Final Exam15%

Final Semester Grades. Plenty of opportunity is given in the form of extra credit and benefits to assist grades. Powerschool is set to round grades up from the hundredths decimal place. For example an 89.50% will be an A-. An 89.49% is a B+ . Please do not ask me to “bump” grades up at the end of a semester.

Percentage / Letter Grade / Percentage / Letter Grade / Percentage / Letter Grade
92.50-100% / A / 76.50-79.49% / C+ / 59.50-62.49% / D-
89.50-92.49% / A- / 72.50-76.49% / C / Below 59.50% / F
86.50-89.49% / B+ / 69.50-72.49% / C-
82.50-86.49% / B / 66.50-69.49% / D+
79.50-82.49% / B- / 62.50-66.49% / D

Absences and Make-Up Lectures. If you are absent or know you will be absent in the future, I strongly encourage you to check out and take home the accompanying DVD to our text. We have several copies of it. It is extremely well produced and does a great job and bringing up to speed. You can also find dozens of screencasts of my lectures on my youtube channel: hijumpr111 and on my class website. Throughout the year, it will be my goal to upload more and more screencastsof lecture material and HW solutions to these websites.

Unexcused Absences. As our school policy dictates, if you receive an unexcused verification for an absence from this class, any work that was either due that day (Quiz) or to be done that day (Quiz or Exam) will receive a zero. If you are suspended, the only work that will receive credit is a UnitExam. Missing school on the day of an exam should try to be avoided if at all possible.

TI-Nspire CX CAS Graphing Calculators. AHS will provide this calculator to your for a $25 rental fee. However, it is your responsibility to make sure it is suffieciently charged all times.

Evening Review Sessions. Usually once prior to each Unit Test, I will have an evening review session here at school in Room 115. I will try to do this two days prior to the test, but sometimes, time constraints may limit the session to the evening before the test.

Study Groups. I cannot emphasize enough the benefit of getting together with a small group on a regular basis and working together on Calculus Homework. You will find that if you are struggling with the concepts and truly use this opportunity wisely, that it can have amazing consequences.

Class Web Site. It is very important that you become familiar with my class web-site. The site can be access from the Avon High School web page or by the following URL:

I would like all students to periodically check the website for important information. This is my primary means of communication with your parents well. I provide A LOT of useful information on this site. Make a habit to check it on a regular basis. Encourage your parents to periodically check the site as well.

It is on this site that you can download and print lecture notes PRIOR to each day so that you can follow along in class much easier. You can always get the notes from me in class, but if you have a color printer at home, the notes will look a lot better! You will also be able to view screencasts of lectures and HW problems from my website.

Throughout the year, you will go though a whole world of emotions with AP Calculus. You will experience joy, frustration, anger, humiliation, etc. The only thing that I ask of you all is that you focus on the LEARNING that’s taking place – not so much the grades. Allow the grades to take care of themselves. You have a much larger goal in this class – and that is how prepared you can become from now until May 8, 2013 – the day of the AP Calculus Exam. You know what it takes to succeed. You’ve been through this before. Just make it happen.