Syllabus
Course: Math 10a (Course Catalog)
Title: Calculus I
Credit Hours: 4
Catalog Description: Differential calculus of functions of one variable, with applications. Functions, graphs, continuity, limits, derivatives, tangent lines, optimization problems. (No credit given if taken after or concurrent with MATH 20A.)
Prerequisites: Math Placement Exam qualifying score, or AP Calculus AB score of 2, or SAT II Math Level 2 score of 600 or higher, or MATH 3C, or MATH 4C.
The following assessments will be given in this class.
- Homework: There will be online homework assignments through WebAssign and handwritten homework to be submitted to Gradescope.
- Quizzes: After each lecture, there will be a brief quiz (done through Google Forms).
- Tests: There will be weekly tests given in Weeks 1-4 (via Canvas) on Thursday of each week during your discussion section.
- Final Exam: There will be a final exam on the Friday of Week 5 (09/04/2020, 8:00a-10:59a) — Details TBA
Homework: Online homework assignments are accessible through WebAssign. Two additional free-response homework questions will be given each week in Gradescope.
Quizzes: After each lecture, there will be a brief quiz via Google Forms.
Tests: There will be tests given each week (Weeks 1-4) during discussion section via Canvas. There will be no make-up quizzes.
Final Exam: The final exam is scheduled for the Friday of Week 5 (09/04/2020, 8:00a-10:59a). The exam is scheduled for 8:00 am Pacific Time. Make-up exams will not be offered for the final exam.
Academic Integrity: Academic dishonesty is considered a serious offense at UCSD. Students caught cheating will face an administrative sanction which may include suspension or expulsion from the university. It is in your best interest to maintain your academic integrity. (Click here for more information about your rights and responsibilities as a student at UCSD.)
For all homework, quizzes, tests, and exams, you may consult your notes or book. You may not consult any other person. You may not use the internet or other technology to solicit or find answers or solutions to questions on homework, quizzes, tests, or exams. You may use technology to perform computations.
Note on Collaboration: You are allowed to discuss homework problems with other students. However, you should work them out yourself. You must not have others do your homework for you.
You may not collaborate with other students on quizzes, tests, or exams. Quizzes, tests, and exams must be done by you and you alone.
Sanctions for Academic Misconduct: Any suspected academic misconduct on an assignment, quiz, test, or exam will be reported to the Academic Integrity Office. Students found responsible for academic misconduct on an assignment, quiz, or test will be given a score of 0 on that assignment, quiz, or test. Multiple acts of academic misconduct will result in an F in the course. ("Multiple" means more than one.) Academic misconduct on the final exam will result in an immediate F.
Grading: Your course grade will be calculated according to the following table:
| Component | Percentage |
|---|---|
| WebAssign Homework | 20% |
| Gradescope Homework | 10% |
| Quizzes | 10% |
| Tests | 30% |
| Final Exam | 30% |
Please notice that outside factors, including the need for a certain grade for admission/retention in any academic program, scholarship or transfer credit, graduation requirements or personal desire for a specific grade DO NOT appear in the above calculations, and thus are not considered in any way in the determination of your course grade. Effort, improvement, class attendance and participation will all dramatically improve your grade in the course in that they will allow you to do well on quizzes, exams, and the final exam. They will NOT, however, actively participate in the calculation of your course grade.
No extra credit will be given in this class.
Changes to the Syllabus: Please be aware that circumstances beyond our control may force changes upon this syllabus. We live in uncertain times, and it may become impossible to collect or grade certain items. If this happens, then every effort will be made to make equitable adjustments to the syllabus or the grading criteria described above.
Filing for a Incomplete: Sometimes it is not possible to complete all of the work in the course due to circumstances beyond your control. (Being unable to take the final exam because of accident or sickness, for example.) In such a case, it may be possible to file for an Incomplete grade. If an Incomplete is granted, you will be given the opportunity to complete the work during the next quarter. (All work must be completed before the end of Week 10 the following academic quarter.) In order to be eligible for an Incomplete, you must meet the following criteria:
- Your incomplete work must be due to circumstances beyond your control. (Sickness, accident, etc.)
- You must be able to verify the circumstances with official documentation.
- Your course work must be of "non-failing quality" (from the Academic Senate Regulations).
Follow this link to find more information about filing for an Incomplete on TritonLink. To apply for an Incomplete, you must fill out and submit the official form.
Credit by Examination: This course is not eligible for credit by examination.
Study Suggestions: Below are some suggestions that I hope will help you to succeed in this course:
- Spend sufficient time on the course. According to the policy of UCSD's Academic Senate, "The value of a course in units ... shall be reckoned at the rate of one unit for three hours' work per week per quarter on the part of the student." During a ten-week quarter, for a 4 credit course, you should be willing to spend about 12 hours per week on the course. During a five-week quarter, then, you should expect to spend 24 hours per week on the course!
- Keep up with the homework and do not miss a midterm. Missing a homework assignment will hurt your grade because no homework scores will be dropped. This policy is designed to encourage students to complete all the assignments and reward those who do.
- Get started on the homework assignments early. And "early" means "right after the lecture in which it is discussed". This will reinforce the topics we discuss in the lecture, help you keep up with the class schedule, and allow you to make the most of your discussion section time by coming prepared with specific questions. And if you don't put the homework off until the last day, you won't have to worry about something coming up and preventing you from doing it! (Seriously, don't put the homework off until the last day.)
- Read the section of the book we are covering before the lecture. Or, if not the whole section, try skimming through it. Read the section titles, the definitions, the theorems, and anything else that the book emphasizes. Skimming the section before we talk about it in class will give you some added context, and will help you make connections between the topics we discuss.
- Take notes by hand (whenever possible). Studies have found that students retain information better if they take notes by hand.
- Always try to work out a problem before reading a solution. Coming up with a solution yourself is a very different cognitive process than understanding a solution someone else provided. Whether it is a homework problem or an example from the textbook or one given by WebAssign, you should try to solve the problem first. Work on the problem for at least five minutes. Set a timer.
- Don't worry if you make mistakes sometimes! We all make mistakes. Mistakes are great, because they show us where we might need some extra work. Mistakes on exams are a little more costly than mistakes on homework. That's why you should treat all homework exercises as if they were exam or quiz questions. Get all of the mistakes out of the way on homework, and then you won't have to worry about them showing up on exams!
- Read the book. And get a physical copy of the book, if you can. It helps more than you might expect. If you want to look up a topic, try looking in the book instead of online. Check out the index in the back of the book.
- The best way to learn something is to teach it, so try teaching the topics to your classmates, or a family member, a friend, a pet, a stuffed animal, or even an empty chair. Try to anticipate what questions someone will ask you. It is a great way to assess your own understanding, and it helps to find gaps in your own knowledge of the subject.
Name and Gender Pronouns: UC San Diego is committed to supporting its students' name and gender preferences. Class rosters provided to your instructor and TAs have students' legal names, but we will strive to honor your request to be addressed using a preferred name or gender pronoun. Please let your instructor and TA know your preferences so that we can make changes to our records. (Certain university records may be beyond our ability to change, however.)
Equity, Inclusion, and Respect: We are committed to the UC San Diego Principles of Community. "To foster the best possible working and learning environment, UC San Diego strives to maintain a climate of fairness, cooperation, and professionalism. These principles of community are vital to the success of the University and the well being of its constituents." The principles of community include (but are not limited to):
- "We affirm each individual's right to dignity and strive to maintain a climate of justice marked by mutual respect for each other."
- "We reject acts of discrimination based on race, ethnicity, sex, gender identity, age, disability, sexual orientation, religion, and political beliefs, and, we will confront and appropriately respond to such acts."
- "We promote open expression of our individuality and our diversity within the bounds of courtesy, sensitivity, confidentiality, and respect."
- "We are committed to promoting and supporting a community where all people can work and learn together in an atmosphere free of abusive or demeaning treatment."