Ma 221 Course Policies

Updated Thursday February 12, 2015 07:14 AM

Course Description, Course Objectives and Learning Outcomes

This is a first course in differential equations.  The course description, course objectives, and learning outcomes can be found at http://archive.stevens.edu/ses/math/courses/ma221/

Honor System

All exams, and homework are to be pledged. The policies of the Honor Board are to be strictly followed. Any perceived violations will be immediately reported to the Honor Board.

Grades, Exams, and Homework

If you want to do well in this course, expect to

The best (only) way to master the material presented in this course is by solving the many problems assigned for homework. There is no math gene. The most important key to your success in this course is your willingness to work hard and seek help when (not if) you have trouble.

There will be three (3) hour long exams, each worth 100 points together with a 200 point final exam.  In addition, there will be five short quizzes, each counting 10 points, given in recitation. Homework will count another 50 points. You are to turn in the homework at the beginning of each recitation. Most of the time selected problems will be graded and scored.   Thus, there is a total of 600 points for all the work associated with the course. The final letter grade given will be based upon these 6o0 points. No hourly test score will be dropped.
 

Component

Quantity

Points Each

Sub Total

Hourly Exams

3

100

300

Final Exam

1

200

200

Quizzes

5

10

50

Homework

weekly

 

50

 

 

Total Points

600

Attendance

We will begin taking attendance on Monday, 2/2/2015.

Attendance at all classes, both recitations and lectures, is mandatory. Our experience is that there is a definite correlation between poor attendance and poor grades. The following policy regarding absences will apply:

Unfortunately,  we have too often in the past seen students who would have passed Ma 221 based on their point total fail the course due to excessive absences and the point deduction policy above.

An attendance sheet will be circulated at the beginning of each class. It is your responsibility to sign this sheet. Any student who arrives at class more than 10 minutes late will be considered absent and should not sign the attendance sheet. 

If you have a valid excuse for missing a class, please email your lecturer explaining why you missed class.  Your teaching assistant cannot excuse your absence, so please do not email him/her about an absence.

Consistent unexcused absences will result in your receiving a lower final grade.

Grade File on the Web

Throughout the semester a grade file will be posted on the Ma 221 site. If you find an error in your grades, please let your lecturer know as soon as possible. It is your responsibility to make sure that the grades that we post for you on the Web site are correct. The cut-off for changing grades on the Web will be December 8. Absolutely no grade changes will be accepted after this date.
 

Group Work on Homework

Many students find it beneficial to work with other class members on homework. Indeed, working well with others is an essential skill if you are to be successful in the real word. You may work with up to two other people on a homework assignment. This means that at most three people may work together on a given homework assignment.  If you do work with others on a homework assignment, then you must indicate the names and recitation sections of those whom you worked with. Each of those who work together on a given assignment are to turn in a handwritten copy of the solutions. This means that if three people work together, then 3 homework papers will be submitted each in the handwriting of the person submitting the assignment. One paper for all 3 may not be submitted.  All homework is to be pledged by all who worked on it.

Reading

It is essential that you read the notes that you have downloaded as well as the textbook. Contrary to widely held belief, this is both possible and productive. However, do not expect to read these materials as a novel---mathematics must be read slowly if it is to be understood. Because reading the text is essential, we offer the following suggestions for getting more out of it:

  1. Read carefully: read in sentences, not paragraphs or pages, and make sure that you understand what you are reading before you move on.
  2. Backtrack: if you find that something doesn't make sense, go back---find the definition that you need, or go back to the beginning of the part that doesn't make sense and read it carefully line-by-line.
  3. Work the examples in the book: when the book does an example problem, make sure that you see how it was done---the best way of doing this is by working the problem yourself on scratch paper! Math is meant to be read with a pencil in hand and paper nearby.

Our Philosophy

It is our objective to help you learn as much as you can in this class, and to help you enjoy learning it. While this does not free you from the responsibility of working hard, we hope it will make your work worthwhile (and fun!). If you are willing to work at understanding the material we cover, we will do as much as we possibly can to help you do so.

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