UCONN CALCULUS: COURSE INFORMATION
Instructor: Mr. Lecky
Contact Information:
leckys@mpsct.org
Web Site: I’ll be posting solutions to all assigned problems as we progress through the course. It is my
hope that you will make frequent use of the website solutions. To access my site, go to
www.middletownschools.org/lecky
I. Course Description:
This course offers a rigorous study of the theory and operations of calculus with intense treatment of
differential and integral topics. Emphasis is made on those strategies relevant to real world situations.
All students will be well prepared for the UCONN Final Examination in January and for the Calculus
AB Advanced Placement Exam in May.
II. Emphases of Course:
 Applications of Mathematical Functions and Concepts
 Use of Technology to Collect & Analyze Data and to Explore Mathematical Concepts
 Development of Problem Solving and Communication Skills
 Building a Strong Foundation for Future Studies in Mathematics
 Preparation for the UCONN Final Exam and for the Advanced Placement Examination
III. Grading Policy:
The following weights will be applied in determining your grade for each quarter:
Quarterfinal (1 per term)
Lab Activities (4-5 per term)
Quizzes (3-4 per term)
Homework (3-4 assessed per term)
20%
30%
35%
15%
Important note: These percentages may be adjusted slightly depending on the emphases in a given
marking period.
IV. Details About How Student Work is Assessed
Labs:
Once during each 8-day cycle (approximate), you will be working in a group to complete a lab
investigation. Labs provide an opportunity to make heavy use of the graphing technology to explore
the images, concepts and applications of Calculus. All labs will be collected and graded.
IV. Details About How Student Work is Assessed, continued
Quizzes:
Two or three times per term, you will receive a quiz that will be assessed. The selected problems will
be closely aligned to the material most recently presented.
Homework:
Following each assignment, solutions to all problems (along with supporting work and justification)
will be posted on the website www.middeltownschools.org/lecky for your review. It is hoped that you
will be able to use the solutions as a valuable tool for assessing and improving your understanding of
the material.
Some homework assignments will be collected and assessed (prior to the posting of solutions). For
each collected assignment, only a sample of the assigned problems will be graded (usually 5 - 7
problems, each worth 3 points). Problems with incorrect solutions will earn partial credit if a
reasonably good effort is shown.
Quarterfinal:
At the end of each term, we will have a quarterfinal. You will receive a sample quarterfinal (with
solutions) well in advance of the test date. At the end of the second term, the quarterfinal will be
provided by UCONN. For those of you seeking UCONN credit, this will serve also as your UCONN
final examination for the first semester of Calculus.
V. Late Assignments and Labs:
All assignments and labs will have a due date. On those dates, the assignments must be turned in at the
start of class. The following table represents the late “fees”:
# of Days Late
% of Points Deducted from Final Score
1
10%
2
20%
3-4
50%
5+
100%
VI. A Note about Grading:
Partial credit will be widely used when grading all problems for homework, labs, tests and quizzes.
Therefore, it will benefit you to show all work and to justify solutions thoroughly. My philosophy
when grading is to look for places I can give you credit, not to look for places that I can take points off.
Furthermore, there may be the occasional problem that can be answered without justification.
However, do not expect full credit on homework and quiz problems if all that you provide is an answer
without any justification.
If you wish to contest a grade, this must be done within a couple of days of the return of the
assignment to you. Finally, please always check my addition in determining your point total.
VII: Final Note:
I hope you enjoy the class!!! I do!!!
IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT UCONN AND AP CREDIT
This course aligns with UCONN’s first semester calculus course and also with the
advanced placement Calculus AB exam. Students are expected to sign-up for one or the
other or both. The following information will (hopefully) provide you with information
on this decision.
SHOULD I SIGN-UP FOR THE UCONN ECE PROGRAM?
The UCONN Early College Experience (ECE) gives high school calculus students
in Connecticut the opportunity to earn 4 credits for the completion of Math 1131,
the most rigorous freshman calculus course that the University provides (designed
for UCONN’s undergraduate mathematics, science and engineering students).
Middletown High School follows the UCONN curriculum for the one-semester
Math 1131 course. We also must complete the course at the same pace, and
hence must complete the course by the end of January (which aligns closely with
the end of our first semester). As required by UCONN, our students who are
enrolled in this ECE program must take a Math 1131 final exam provided by the
university at that time. If a student earns an A, B or C in the course, after
weighing in the final examination grade, the student earns UCONN credit for the
course. This means the student will have a grade for Math 1131 and 4 credits on
their UCONN transcript. If the student chooses to enter UCONN upon
graduation, the student will have a head start on credits and then enroll in Math
1132 at the University.
UCONN is not the only school that accepts this credit. The credits will transfer to
many, but not all, colleges. More information is available at
www.ece.uconn.edu.
SO …….
Answer YES if:
I’ll likely attend UCONN or a school that accepts UCONN ECE credit.
This way, I can earn 4 credits for a small price (about $100), and then not have to
worry about taking the Calculus AB Advanced Placement Exam in early May. I
will not be required to take the MHS final examination in June.
Answer NO if:
The school that I will likely be attending does not accept UCONN transfer
credit for this ECE course (you must check with each school individually).
Therefore, it is pointless to apply for the UCONN ECE credit. I’ll take the
Calculus AB Advanced Placement Exam in early May (also about $100) and will
plan to score high enough on the exam and hence earn credit to the school of my
choice. If I take the AP exam, I also will not be required to take the MHS final
examination in June.
WHAT IF I SIGN UP FOR THE ECE PROGRAM AND THEN DO POORLY IN THE
COURSE?
UCONN allows an ECE student, at the end of the course, to opt out. There is not
reimbursement of money, but there will not be a poor grade on the transcript.
They will show that you “audited” the course on the UCONN transcript, but this
will have no bearing on your credit, standing or grade point average at UCONN
or at any other school. So, it is a “no-lose” proposition (except for the $100).
I’VE ALWAYS DONE WELL IN MATHEMATICS COURSES. HOW COULD I
POSSIBLY FAIL MATH 1131?
Well, it happens and here is the reason: UCONN puts great emphasis on their
final examination. They will not allow a final course grade that is more than one
letter different from the final exam score. So, suppose you have earned a B
average for MHS calculus all semester long. But on the UCONN final, which is
quite challenging, you score a 55% and hence a failing grade. UCONN will not
allow your final grade to be higher than 65% (D) even though you performed at a
high average all semester long. Hence, you are no longer eligible for UCONN
ECE credit. The university will automatically show an “Audit” on your
transcript, so no harm is done. But, it can be discouraging if this happens.
I should note, your MHS grade will not be a D. Your second-term grade would
dip a bit as a result of a poor final (because we use it for all students as the quarter
final in term 2 and weight it at 20%), but would not likely drop more than one full
letter grade.
HOW IS THE AB ADVANCED PLACEMENT EXAM DIFFERENT FROM THE
MATH 1131 FINAL EXAM?
The Calculus AB AP Exam, since it is given in early May, covers more material
than Math 1131. It is equivalent to 1½ semesters of work in Calculus. If one
earns a 4 or a 5 (out of 5) on the AP Exam, just about any school will award
credits for first semester calculus (including UCONN). Some schools also award
credit for a 3 on this exam.
SO ….
SHOULD I PLAN ON TAKING THE AP EXAM IN MAY? (This decision does not
have to be made until February.)
Answer YES in February if:
I signed up for UCONN ECE, but then scored poorly on the Math 1131 final
exam. I did not earn ECE credit. Therefore, I’ll try again on the AP exam in
May. By then, I will have had much more time to master the material from the
first semester of calculus. (Historically, we have done better on the AP exam due
to the later test date and the opportunity to master the calculus more thoroughly)
OR, I am planning on attending a school that does not accept UCONN ECE
credit. (Even if you signed up for ECE and earned the credit, you may be
discovering that your new school of choice does not take the UCONN ECE
transfer credit.)
Answer NO in February if:
I signed up for UCONN ECE, scored well on the final exam in January, and
earned the UCONN credit. I am going to UCONN, or a school that accepts the
UCONN ECE transfer credit. There is no reason for me to take the AP Exam.
WHAT DOES MR. LECKY RECOMMEND?
Well, if UCONN (or other schools that accept UCONN credit) is on the short-list
of schools you may be attending next fall, I think you go ahead and sign-up for
Math 1131 in the UCONN ECE program. You will know by mid-February what
your final score is with UCONN. If you earned the four credits, you are all set!
Worst-case is that you do not earn the UCONN credits and lose the $100 or so.
But, there will be no poor mark on the UCONN transcript, and you’ll get a second
chance on the AP exam in May.
On the other hand, if schools that you are thinking seriously of attending do not
accept UCONN credit, you may decide to pass on the UCONN ECE sign-up.
There will be no record at UCONN whatsoever of your participation in this
course. While you’ll still get the experience of the 1131 course and final exam,
you’ll be focused on a strong performance in May on the AP Exam.
And a final note, as I mentioned earlier, we have historically performed very well
on the AP Exam in May, but not as strongly on the UCONN Exam in January.
We have to move at a very fast pace to meet the UCONN requirements from
September to the end of January. Furthermore, their final examination is
extremely challenging. While we continue at a fast pace during February – May,
we keep encountering first semester concepts and hence improve our
understanding of the early material as the year continues. This, I think, is the
reason we have historically done better on the AP. The level of rigor on the AP
exam certainly matches that of UCONN, but we’ve simply had more time to
master the essential concepts.
Many schools have opted out of the ECE M1131 course due to poor student
results. I don’t wish to do that. It is good for the students to experience the pace
and rigor that will be expected in college in degree programs related to science,
mathematics and engineering. And with the ability to audit the course if the
performance is poor, this really is a “no-lose” opportunity.
I hope this information has helped clarify the similarities and differences between the
UCONN ECE program and the AP Exam. Add/drop forms for UCONN ECE are
available in guidance and must be completed in early September. The deadline is usually
around the 9th or 10th. As for the AP sign-up, again that does not take place until
February.