Clark Magnet High School (2021 – 2022) Course Title: AP Calculus BC
Instructor: Amir Ghavam email: aghavam@gusd.net Website: aghavam.educatorpages.com
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You may be one of the fortunate ones to someday realize what this was all about. From that day forward, you owe it to yourself to pass it on to others and trust that they too will come to their own realization, in their own time and in their own lives!
I need you to learn to think your own thinking and be responsible for your own learning. Earn it! Own it! Graciously give it away, as an expression of your own gratitude!
IMPORTANT: The information in this course syllabus applies to the In-Person Learning time period. In the event of a possible switch to Distance Learning, Hybrid, etc. the content will be adjusted accordingly, as that becomes necessary. Students will be notified of the changes, at that time!
Course Description
You are registered for this course because you have successfully completed ALL the prerequisite material for this course. While the content of the previous courses may not necessarily be fresh in your mind, you are expected to recall those material, with minimal effort and little review. However, if for whatever reason you did NOT do your due diligence to successfully complete the previous course(s) by doing YOUR OWN WORK YOURSELF, chances are you will most probably NOT successfully pass this course.
Now, I am aware of most, if not all, of the challenges that all of us had to deal with during the past couple of years. While there are new topics covered in this course, some of the material is intended to be a review of what you previously learned in AP Calculus AB. The topics will be expanded and enhanced to add new depth in the content and applicability. Because of some special circumstances, it is possible that you may have missed some of the prerequisite material, during the past few years.
ON THAT NOTE, IT IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY TO SEEK ONGOING SUPPORT FROM ME AS SOON AS YOU ARE CONFRONTED BY ANY DIFFICULTY IN THIS COURSE. I AM AVAILABLE, AS YOUR PARTNER, DURING CLASSTIME, THE ENRICHMENT SESSIONS, AND THE POSSIBLE OFFICE HOURS. HOWEVER, IF YOU WAIT TOO LONG, YOUR CHANCES OF RECOVERY WILL BE SIGNIFICANTLY LOWERED. IT MAY EVEN BE IMPOSSIBLE TO FIX THE PROBLEM THEN. AS YOUR PARTNER, I WILL NOT ACCEPT ANY EXCUSE FOR YOUR LACK OF ENGAGEMENT.
This course is extremely challenging. It requires a high level of discipline, dedication, and rigor in order for the students to be successful. The course is based on utilizing critical reasoning, logical thinking, and sensible problem-solving skills. This course requires that students are fully familiar with topics in Integrated Math I, II, and III, as well as Precalculus and AP Calculus AB.
IMPORTANT: Students are required to read each section in the Textbook, once ahead of the class meeting for exposure and familiarity, and once after the class meeting for in-depth comprehension. Failure to do so will undermine the students’ level of comprehension and consequently their performance in the course.
One of the main intentions of this course is to train students and develop their skills that are necessary for a successful performance not only in this course, but also in their future math courses. This course requires that students provide clear and concise step-by-step reasoning for their work – as often required in any advanced math course. The step-by-step reasoning is absolutely critical to demonstrate the critical thinking required for each problem.
These steps often involve – but are not limited to – the identification of all the given information; the determination of a methodology and selection of various tools/formulas required to solve the problem; the arrival at the possible answer(s); and the verification of the accuracy and validity of each answer. Furthermore, students need to be able to explain all of these to someone else in an understandable manner.
Recommended Material
Students are required to keep ALL material related to this course for the entire academic year. (i.e., do NOT throw away anything related to this course unless you have been advised by the teacher).
You are required to keep a notebook (as explained below) and you may be required to turn material in, at any time during the academic year. It is EXTREMELY IMPORTANT that you keep everything organized.
The following material is often what is needed by students:
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* You may organize your binder, with 4-5 tabs, as follows:
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1) Handouts |
2) Lecture Notes |
3) Homework |
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4) Homework Corrections |
5) Lined and Graph Paper |
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** Students are NOT allowed to use Graphing calculators, on quizzes/tests.
(Students are NOT allowed to possess Messaging calculators at ANYTIME in my class; especially during quizzes/tests. Possession of such calculators will result in an automatic zero on assignments and assessments.)
Homework Policy
- Homework is extremely important. If you expect to pass this class, you must attempt each homework question assigned and you must do them constantly, consistently, orderly, neatly, and with special care and attention to detail.
- You are expected to follow the homework format as explained on a separate set of instructions. You must do homework for COMPREHENSION, NOT just COMPLETION!
- Homework will be collected, at random, AFTER it has been reviewed in class. Usually two questions will be checked at random. You can usually earn from zero to 10 points. This does NOT mean that if you happened to have done the 2 that I am checking, and not much else, you will earn all the points. Also, even if you have done tens of problems, but not the ones I am checking, you may not necessarily earn ANY points. (i.e., You must attempt EVERY SINGLE PROBLEM assigned).
- Be prepared to explain, in detail, how you did any question, on your homework, when asked.
- It is YOUR responsibility to submit the requested homework, when I ask for it. If I choose to collect the homework using the Google Classroom, you must submit it as a PDF during the open window, by its deadline, even if you are absent from the class meeting. If you fail to do so, you will earn a zero.
- You must check the answers for the odd-numbered questions assigned, in the back of your textbook, before you attend a class meeting. The answers for the even-numbered questions assigned will be shared with you, at the beginning of the next class meeting, when the assignment is due. You must make all the necessary corrections, on your paper, at that time. When grading your papers, I WILL BE looking for your corrections!
- Additional (Common-Core) Homework may be assigned for various numbers of points. Unless you are told otherwise, these homework assignments are often due at the end of each chapter.
- You must keep ALL related material organized, in your binder, until the end of the course, in case of announced notebook checks. (i.e., Do NOT throw away anything, unless I have told you to do so)
- Be advised that any homework from any chapter may be collected at any time during the academic year. Therefore, for each chapter, you are required to save ALL of your notes, your homework assignments, quizzes, etc. in your 3-ring binder for the entire Academic Year.
- If you are absent for any reason, it is YOUR responsibility to check with a class partners for the homework assignment that is due the following meeting as well as any other material, announcements, etc. that you might have missed.
- You are required to exchange name and contact information with at least two of your classmates:
Name: Contact Information:
Name: Contact Information:
If you or your partner(s) move to another period, you must update your Contact Information!
EXTREMELY IMPORTANT
- Cognitive research has shown that multitasking, while studying, does NOT work. If you are distracted by your cell phone, social media (Snapchat, FaceTime, Skype, Instagram, Tweets, Facebook, etc.), or any other unrelated activities while doing your homework or studying, you are sabotaging your own education and setting yourself up for failure. While I am NOT against social media, I am a very strong opponent of multitasking or anything else that divides students’ attention and causes distraction, while studying!
EXTREMELY IMPORTANT
- Be advised that I am fully aware of the various websites and phone Apps that are available for students to use and copy answers to homework questions and possibly use during online assessments. Copying answers from other sources does NOT constitute as studying! In fact, copying from other sources is considered as plagiarizing and cheating. If you use any of those websites or Apps (to get the answers for any part of your homework assignments or other assessment questions) you forfeit the right to have any legitimate complaints. You need to understand that you will most probably NOT pass this course with a favorable grade, regardless of how much you wish or hope. It is that simple!
- You WILL earn a zero for your grade. Additionally, I reserve the right to, at my discretion, refer you to the administration for the maximum additional and appropriate consequences!
Grading Policy
IMPORTANT:
Your grade is STRICTLY based on YOUR PERFORMANCE in this course.
Your grade is NOT AT ALL based on, your good intentions, how hard you tried, your friendly personality, any generous gifts you may give your teacher, your past track records, the number of tutors/teachers you have worked with, your performance in other courses you are taking, what any other teacher may have told you, the fact that you have had “A’s” in ALL of your previous math courses, etc.
- Students will have opportunities to gain points on Homework, Attendance and ACTIVE Class Participation, Possible Quizzes, Possible Team-Practices, Chapter Tests, and the Final Exam.
- In general, I do NOT assign extra credit assignments; however, there may be projects assigned, as special Homework Assignments. Do NOT ask for extra credits.
Approximate Point Distribution (by category):
- (10%) Attendance and ACTIVE Class participation – If you are late/tardy, leave before you are excused, or disrupt the session, you will lose part or all of your participation points for that session. (NOTE: EACH MONTH, 10 EXTRA PARTICIPATION POINTS WILL BE GIVEN TO STUDENTS WHO HAVE NOT ASKED TO LEAVE ANY SESSION DURING THAT MONTH).
- (20%) Homework (collected intermittently)
- (10%) Quizzes and/or Team-Practices – Quizzes may sometimes be given on the material presented that day, for a quick check-for-understanding. These quizzes must be submitted during the Session. Team-Practices are opportunities for students to work in a team environment and prepare for the upcoming chapter/unit test. They will be worth various points.
- (60%) TESTS will be worth various points: Chapter/Unit Tests (40%) & Final Exam (20%).
- IMPORTANT:
- Unless you are told otherwise, YOU MUST BRING YOUR FULLY-CHARGED SCHOOL-ASSIGNED CHROMEBOOKS TO EVERY TEST SESSION.
- FAILURE TO DO SO WILL RESULT IN A GRADE OF ZERO.
- There are NO spare Chromebooks to be given out to students during the test.
- You are NOT allowed to use your own laptop, Chromebook, etc.
- You will NOT be allowed to charge your Chromebook in the classroom.
- IMPORTANT:
IMPORTANT NOTE: In general, 20% of the overall grade is reserved for the Final Exam. Therefore, it is EXTREMELY IMPORTANT to take the Final Exam very seriously.
- Be advised: The Q grading system sometimes adjusts the grades down by a fraction of a percentage (throughout the semester) even when students get 100% in a category. However, the system automatically corrects itself at the end of each grading period. This has already been verified manually, numerous times, by many teachers! You need NOT be distressed about this issue during the semester!
- During each semester, at various times, I may make your letter and percentage grades in Q grading system invisible to you, for personal reasons! However, your up-to-date grade is always there.
Letter Grade Assignment:
- Your grade will be based on your percentage of the total possible points (by category) according to the following scale:
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90.0% – 100% = A |
80.0% – 89.9% = B |
70.0% – 79.9% = C |
60.0% – 69.9% = D |
Below 60% = F |
- In general, I do NOT round grades up. Please do NOT ask for it! However, for students who have shown extra effort, by attending and ACTIVELY participating, not just being a passive spectator, during the Enrichment Sessions and/or the Office Hours, on a fairly regular basis, I sometimes consider rounding their SEMESTER grades up (WITH NO OBLIGATION OR PROMISE). I will do this ONLY IF their semester grade falls within 0.9% of the higher grade.
- For example, at my own discretion, I MAY round 79.3% up to a “B” at the semester, if the student meets the requirements stated above.
- This means that even if you get (for example) 79.9%, I may choose NOT to round your grade up to a B, if you did NOT attend or attended but did NOT ACTIVELY participate during the Enrichment Sessions and/or the Office Hours!
Make-Up Policy
- HOMEWORK: If you miss submitting a homework assignment, during the open window, you will NOT have a chance to make the homework up for points. However, it is highly recommended that you complete the homework assignment for your own sake and in case it is again collected in the future.
- QUIZZES and TEAM-PRACTICES: If you miss a quiz or a team-practice, in general, there is NO make-up! Those points will NOT be counted for or against you.
- ATTENDANCE AND PARTICIPATION: If you are absent, you will not gain any attendance or participation points. Those points will NOT be counted for or against you.
- CHAPTER/UNIT TESTS and FINAL EXAM: (EXTREMELY IMPORTANT)
- If you miss any Chapter/Unit Test or the Final Exam and your absence is an excused one, YOU MUST SEND ME AN EMAIL, ON THE SAME DAY to arrange for a make-up test. Tests can be made up at a time that is convenient for the teacher. If you fail to send me an email, on the same day, or if you fail to make the test up, you will earn a zero on that test.
- If you miss any Chapter/Unit Test or the Final Exam, and your absence is NOT an excused one, or if you were absent due to ANY suspension assigned by ANYONE, you WILL automatically receive a zero and no make-up test will be given to you.
- If you disable, deactivate, or alter any of the Activity Monitoring software/apps utilized for browsing restrictions, on your School Chromebook, you WILL get a zero on the test.
Additional Requirements
- Follow Instructions: Adhere to ALL school/district policies, teacher’s instructions, classroom rules and policies at ALL times.
- Calculators: You may invest in a graphing scientific calculator. I do NOT require one for this course. However, if you purchase one, be sure it is allowed on the AP Exam, if you are taking an AP course that requires it. Also, you are responsible to learn its features on your own.
- Legible: Your work must be legible and clear for me to be able to read and grade it. If I ask you to submit your work online, in the Google Classroom, your work must be in PDF format, legible and clear. If I cannot read your handwriting and make sense of what you have done (on my own without you explaining it to me), you will lose points. Please be sure your pictures are clear, large, right side up, and focused. If you do NOT submit your online work as PDF, I will NOT accept it.
- Be honorable: Do your own work! If you cheat, I WILL give you a zero for your work AND I reserve the right to refer you to the administration, for the maximum allowable consequence. (See the Academic Honesty Policy handout for more detail).
Extra Assistance
- In this course, I expect you to do all of your own work, at all times. I highly encourage you to form Virtual (or in-person, when appropriate and safe) Study Groups with your classmates, to meet in the evenings and/or on the weekends.
- If/when you need my assistance, I invite you to come to my daily Enrichment Sessions and/or Office Hours, whenever possible.
- In order to be fair to ALL students, on the day of the exam, I will not answer any questions, before the exam. Additionally, in case I teach the same course on both odd and even days, and when there is a test scheduled for both days, at my own discretion, I may not answer any question on the previous day, for the students taking the exam on the second of the two test days.
- Emails: You can always reach me via email. Email is the way you will communicate with me, when not in class. Though I reserve 24-48 business hours to reply to emails, more often than not, I reply on the same day. However, your first point of contact should always be one or both of your classroom partners/buddies, in case you miss something. Do NOT post messages in the Google Classroom for me.
- Be sure to turn your notifications ON, on the Remind messaging, Emails, and Google Classroom. Those are the modes and methods I will be communicating with you.
- The format of my daily Enrichment Sessions and my Office Hours is one that I will answer one question per person – first asked, first served. You may get back in line and wait your turn again, time permitting! Often times, your questions may get answered while I address someone else’s question.
In addition to being your teacher, I am offering you my partnership. I am here to support you! Take advantage of it and do NOT wait until it is too late!
RECOMMENDATION LETTERS: If you need a recommendation letter from me, or if you need me to complete a school referral form, please be sure to give them to me AT LEAST TWO WEEKS in advance. Do NOT expect me to accommodate you immediately, as I often need time to gather the required information.
PLEASE COMPLETE THE PORTION BELOW. SCAN THIS ENTIRE PAGE, AND POST IT IN THE GOOGLE CLASSROOM, AS A PDF.
I acknowledge that I have read and have fully understood Mr. Ghavam’s Course Description and Policies/Course Syllabus and will adhere to the content, at all times:
Name: Period:
Signature: Date: