Villa Joseph Marie High School
Mathematics Department
Course Syllabus - AP Calculus AB
Textbook: Calculus for AP* Early Transcendentals (2nd Edition) – Rogawski, Cannon
W.H. Freeman and Company, New York, NY (2012)
Instructor: Mr. Steven Stodghill
Classroom: 302
Phone: 215-357-8810 ext. 172
Email: sstodghill@vjmhs.org
Course Description:
Calculus AB will develop the students’ understanding of the concepts of calculus and providing
experience with its methods and applications. The courses emphasize a multi-representational
approach to calculus, with concepts, results, and problems being expressed graphically,
numerically, analytically, and verbally.
Course Goals:
 Students should be able to work with functions represented in a variety of ways: graphical,
numerical, analytical, or verbal. They should understand the connections among these
representations.
 Students should understand the meaning of the derivative in terms of a rate of change and
local linear approximation, and should be able to use derivatives to solve a variety of
problems.
 Students should understand the meaning of the definite integral both as a limit of Riemann
sums and as the net accumulation of change, and should be able to use integrals to solve a
variety of problems.
 Students should understand the relationship between the derivative and the definite
integral as expressed in both parts of the Fundamental Theorem of Calculus.
 Students should be able to communicate mathematics and explain solutions to problems
both verbally and in written sentences.
 Students should be able to model a written description of a physical situation with a
function, a differential equation, or an integral.
 Students should be able to use technology to help solve problems, experiment, interpret
results, and support conclusions.
 Students should be able to determine the reasonableness of solutions, including sign, size,
relative accuracy, and units of measurement.
 Students should develop an appreciation of calculus as a coherent body of knowledge and as
a human accomplishment.
Classroom Rules:
Be your best by coming to class on time and being prepared to learn.
Be respectful at all times.
Eating or drinking anything other than water in class is STRICTLY prohibited.
Course Materials:
 Spiral notebook or binder with loose leaf paper for class notes/practice problems
 Graphing calculator (TI N’spire recommended but not required)
 Pencils, pens, highlighters, eraser
Grading:
There will be a test at the conclusion of each chapter covered. These tests will be accompanied by
quizzes given every fifth day of class without exception. All tests will be announced a minimum of
two school days prior to its administration. Students are expected to complete any homework
assignments prior to the start of class. Homework will not be counted as an independent grade but
will serve as a mechanism for earning bonus points. Bonus points can only improve a student’s
grades. The total number of points earned on tests and quizzes (in addition to any earned bonus
points) will be divided by the total number of available test and quiz points to determine the final
grade for each grading period. The grading scale is as follows:
A
B+
B
C+
C
D+
D
F
100 – 94
93 – 90
89 – 86
85 – 81
80 – 77
76 – 73
72 – 70
69 or below
Classroom Procedures:
All students are required to follow the classroom rules and procedures as outlined in the Student
Handbook.
1. Students must be prepared and in your seat by the second bell. That includes having your
textbook, notebook/binder, calculator, and pencil out on your desk.
2. YOU MUST USE A PENCIL WHEN COMPLETING COMPUTATIONS.
3. ALL WORK MUST BE SHOWN for credit to be given.
4. I encourage questions and discussion about misunderstandings.
5. Cheating, dishonesty, and plagiarism will not be tolerated. If a student is caught cheating they
will receive no credit for the assignment and will be reprimanded according to the Student
Handbook.
Make-Up Work/Absences:
In the event that a student is absent, they are expected to find all missed notes and assignments
upon return. In the event that a student is absent the day of a quiz or test, and was present the day
before, they are required to make-up the quiz/test on the day of return. If the student was absent
the day before a test/quiz, the student has three days to make it up. Prolonged absences will be
handled on an individual basis.
Additional Support:
I am available before and after school Monday-Thursday for students to make-up assessments or to
receive additional assistance. If a student needs to set up an alternate time I will do my best to
accommodate them.