Northeastern Illinois University
Department of Mathematics

Math 203/31
Calculus III
Spring 2003

Instructor:  David Rutschman
Office Hours:  TR 4:30-7:00 pm, W 1:00-3:00 pm (Study Hall, S-240) or by appointment (S-218D)
Phone:  (773) 442-5780 (office) / (773) 275-5389 (home)
Class:  TR 7:05 - 8:55 pm, S144
Text:  Multivariable Calculus, McCallum, Hughes-Hallett, Gleason et al, Third Edition.

This course is the continuation of single variable calculus and most of you are familiar with the authors -- they wrote the book we use for Calculus I and II.  This class is about you learning more calculus, and that involves your active participation.  This semester will be an experience in learning together - and it will not succeed unless each of us is willing to do our share.  It is not about competing; it is about challenging yourself and sharing with others what you have learned.  I hope you enjoy the experience!  My goal for this course is that you learn the material in a way that makes it yours and that you enjoy learning and using this knowledge.

In this class I expect you to read the text.  In class we discuss topics from the assigned reading for the day (remind me each session to tell you what to read for the next class!).  We will mix class discussion with small group work.  Reading the text in advance prepares you for participation in class discussions and small group work, which in turn prepares you for the class assessments (tests, quizzes, etc).  Bring your book to every class session.  We will use Maple for graphing and other procedures.

You are responsible for all material in the text, regardless of whether it was discussed in class or not.  This implies that it is your responsibility to find answers to your questions - ask your classmates, ask during class discussions, get tutorial help, ask me.  It also means that you should attempt as many of the problems in the book as you can manage (beyond those that we do together). You should expect to spend at least 2 or 3 hours studying for each hour in class.

A part of my job as your teacher, my least favorite (!), is to grade your work.  I tend to make students work a lot, and you will get feedback on what you do.  My evaluation of your performance in the course is based on:

• Homework:  Homework assignments will be due weekly (usually around 10 points each) and the assignments will be posted on the web.  Homework is meant to help you understand the material by doing it.  Please refer to the Homework Guidelines.  I will attempt to provide an answer key to the homework or go over the problems in class when the assignment is handed in.  For this reason, late homework cannot be accepted under most circumstances.  If late homework is accepted it will be graded on a 5-point scale.

• Quizzes:  We will usually have a 10 point quiz each week.

• Tests:  We will have two tests, tentatively scheduled for February 11 and April 1.  Tests are graded on a 100-point scale.

• Group Work, Attendance & Participation:  We will frequently spend time in class doing problems in small groups.  These group projects are handed in and make up most of the points (up to a maximum of 50) for attendance and class participation.

• Final:  A 100-point cumulative final examination will be given on Thursday, May 1, from 8-9:50 pm.  A passing grade for the final (based on the grading scales of the previous tests) is required to pass the course.

The March 13^th class session (before Spring Break) will be cancelled.

The final letter grades for the course are based on total points achieved.  Final averages above 90% correspond to an A, above 80% to at least a B, above 70% to at least a C, etc.  The class curve may lower these cutoffs.  You will be given an indication of my grading scale when tests are returned and reviewed.  Please keep all graded papers on file.

Feel free to stop by my office to give me feedback or to get help with the course.  I would like to get to know each of you, and hope that you enjoy the semester.  If for any reason you decide to drop the course please talk with me before doing so.

Math 203 page

David Rutschman's Home Page

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Homework Guidelines

Homework problems may be discussed with others, including classmates or the instructor.  It is assumed, nonetheless, that you fully understand the solution you hand in and that the write-up is your own.  Copying someone else's work is not allowed and will result in an F for the course for both parties involved.  Homework that does not follow the guidelines below will be returned ungraded.

1) Homework should be handed in on 8.5" by 11" paper with your name on the upper right corner of the first sheet.  Multiple sheets should be clipped or stapled together.

2) Problems must be written up in the order assigned.  Work from the top down, don't try to use a two column format.

3) Illegible work will not be counted.  This means work neatly!  I suggest that you work the problems on scratch paper as a first draft (to keep for your records) and then make a final copy to hand in.  It is preferable to use pencil to allow for erasures.  Crossing out is not acceptable.

4) All work must be shown.  Do not omit steps.  Whenever possible write your answer in words, and make appropriate comments.  When writing use full sentences with correct spelling and grammar.

Compliance with these guidelines will help get homework returned more quickly and make my job more pleasant.

Northeastern Illinois University