AP Calculus - Diff
Welcome!
Check here for Differentiated Calculus Assignments
I look forward to an enjoyable year with you. We will cover the same material which is covered in Math 106 and Math 107 at UNL. This means that when you finish the year, you should be ready for Calculus III (third semester calculus).
Obtaining college credit for the work you do in high school is an important issue. Diff Calculus students should not plan to enroll in first semester calculus in college.
1. If you enroll at UNL, and you successfully complete Diff Calculus, you may register for Math 208, and upon successful (C or better) completion of 208, you will be awarded credit for Math 106 and 107 -- ten credit hours at no cost. This benefit is only for UNL students, however. If you take 208 at UNL in the summer or during the next school year (for those of you who are juniors) and then go elswhere for the rest of your college education, UNL will not grant you transfer credit for 106 and 107.
2. Many colleges accept the AP exam. There are two: Calculus AB and Calculus BC. all of the material in the BC exam. In the past five years, most students taking the AP exams have received scores of “4” or “5”. There have been several “3’s”. Last spring, 9 students out of 16 received a score of “5”, and 3 received a score of “4”. If you take the BC exam, they report a BC score, and another score for the portion of the test which was AB material. So for example, you might get a “4”, with a “5” also being reported for the AB portion.
3. The Wesleyan Honors Academy will give 10 hours of credit - 5 for Calculus I and 5 for Calculus II - and will provide a transcript which most schools will honor. You will receive Wesleyan grades which are the same ones as you earn at Southeast for first and second semester of Diff. Calculus. Tuition for two semesters of calculus through the Honors Academy is $700 this year.
4. Some schools use their own placement exams and/or procedures.
I cannot stress enough how important it is for you to communicate with the schools you are interested in attending! I also strongly advise that you talk to the math department, or, if you are going into engineering, that you speak to people in that college. Do not limit your discussions of this matter to admissions people! (Possibly, do not even begin them with admissions representatives!) Math departments and engineering colleges often have policies which differ from the rest of the college or university.
As for our work this year, a few “nuts and bolts” should be mentioned.
Grading scale:
90-100% A
85-89% B+
80-84% B
75-79% C+
70-74% C
65-69% D+
60-64% D
We will have a “Gateway” test over the first chapter, which is precalculus material. You will need to score at least 80% on that test or retake it until you do. Your grade on that test will be the first grade you receive or 80%.
Your grade will be based on tests, quizzes, and occasional assignments for credit. You will have daily homework, but I will not grade it. We will have some assignments (often of AP problems) which I will grade. On Tuesdays and Thursdays we will have short quizzes. These quizzes will be problems similar to or identical to recent homework problems.
I would prefer not to have students make up these quizzes if absent. I will drop the four lowest grades each semester. If you make arrangements to make the quiz up before the rest of the class takes it, or come in the morning before school the next day, you may make it up.
We will have chapter tests for each chapter.
Chapter tests will contribute 60% of your grade. Mini-quizzes will count 7%, graded assignments 8%, and the final exam will be 25% of your grade.
For the record -- although I do not anticipate any problems in these areas with you -- I follow school policy regarding truancies and tardies. It is your responsibility to make up material missed due to absence. If you miss a test, you have one week only to make it up unless your absence was an extended one. If you know about your absence in advance, you should attempt to make up your test ahead of time.
I am generally available for help after school. I do not have a first period class, so will usually arrive at about 7:15. If you need to see me in the morning, please try to let me know ahead of time so that I will have time available to work with you -- otherwise, I might be tied up with last minute things for that day. I have an eighth period class this semester, so will not be available after school until 2:50.
Supplies, Equipment
You will need a graphing calculator. You may purchase your own or use a TI-83 which I will check out to you. You MAY NOT USE a TI-89, a TI-92, or similar CAS calculator of any brand on tests.
Lincoln Public Schools, Lincoln, Nebraska
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