MT140 CALCULUS I Course Syllabus - Dr. Liz Haynes-Wiget

One to three sections from the book will be assigned for homework each lecture. Homework will be collected Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays and graded for completion, not accuracy.  At the top right corner of your homework, you should write your name, due date, and MT140 M1. On the top line of your homework, you should write your textbook section(s), and the homework problems assigned.  If there is more than one textbook section assigned for the same day, you need to clearly indicate where the next section begins in your work by labeling the new section and listing all problems assigned for that section, but you do not need to start each section on a new page. You should write out each problem, and then show all your work (work down, not across) to get the solution to the problem.  See the image at the bottom of this section for an example of how to label the top of your homework.

Homework should be scanned and submitted on BlackBoard by the due date.  There is some leeway after the due date—if you submit a homework assignment after the due date but before I finish grading that assignment, I will still grade it the same as though you had turned it in before the due date.

Each assignment is graded out of 5 points.  5/5 means the homework looks like it was done completely and is scanned (with the pages presented in order) as one PDF document (if more than 1 piece of paper). 1/5 means the student turned in a blank piece of paper with their name on it. At the end of the semester, students who have scored a 4 or higher on all homework assignments will receive a 10-point bonus towards their test points tally (you can think of this as one test scored will be raised 10% if you earn this bonus).

For your homework, the work must be your own work.  You are allowed to receive help, but you must have attempted the problem and you must credit anyone who helps you as well as any website, app, or AI you refer to for help (including the answer section in the textbook).  By acknowledging their contribution, you do not make your work any less valuable (hence, it will not lower your grade) and you express gratitude for the help you received.  You are not allowed to copy from other people or from any other source.

There will be frequent quizzes given throughout the semester, usually on Fridays. In case of absences, any in-person quiz can be taken using Zoom, but the make-up must be scheduled by 3 pm the day of the missed quiz.  At the end of the semester, the lowest two quiz scores will be dropped.  Quizzes (and tests) are graded for accuracy.  In order to receive full credit, you must show your work, and do all work correctly (points will be taken away for incorrect work, even if you make enough mistakes that your mistakes “undo each other”).  There are different ways of working problems and if you are curious about whether your method is correct and/or if it shows enough work, please come to my office and ask me.

There will be 4 in-class exams and a final.  The tests are currently scheduled for September 12, October 3, October 31, and November 21. The final exam is scheduled for Monday, December 8, 10:15 am-12:15 pm. Missing an exam is a serious matter and should only be done under the most extenuating of circumstances. Appropriate documentation is necessary for an excuse to be validated.  (See the current Student Handbook for the college’s Attendance Policy.) Tests should be made up as quickly as possible. In the event that a student has an acceptable excuse and notified me in advance, the student will have two school days to make up the test for full credit, or an additional three school days to make up their exam for half credit. In the event that a student does not have an acceptable excuse, or if a student fails to notify me in advance, the student will have two school days to make up the test for half credit, or an additional three school days to make up their exam for quarter credit. 

Please refrain from wearing scents (cologne/perfume/body odor/etc.) that could disturb the learning environment of the classroom. I will not tolerate disruptive behavior, be it use of cell phones, talking out of turn, passing notes, yawning loudly, and/or falling asleep. There is no tobacco use in the classroom.  All music should be turned off before entering the classroom. There is no texting/gaming/watching videos on your phones during class. There is no packing up to leave this class before class is over. If there is a genuine reason you need to receive a call (e.g., awaiting an important call from a family member) let me know before class begins.

You are required to use your Wilmington e-mail account for this course.  I will use it to relay messages about the course. If you send me an email and I haven’t responded by the next school day, please email me again to make sure I’ve seen your email. Please include your class/section in your email.