Accelerated Calculus
2011–2012 Course Guide
Mr. John V. Platt
Lakeside US Mathematics
Class web site:
E-mail: john.platt@lakesideschool.org
Phone: (206) 440−2923
Information and policies in this guide are subject to change; see the class web site for the latest version.
Course Description
M515 Accelerated Calculus: This course is
an introduction to differential and integral
calculus, equivalent to two semesters of
college-level calculus, for students with no
previous exposure to calculus. This course
emphasizes an intuitive, geometric
understanding of calculus concepts and utilizes
varied applications and problem solving
techniques from numerical, graphical, and
algebraic perspectives. Topics include limits
and continuity, the derivative and applications,
the integral and applications, the Fundamental
Theorem of Calculus, differential equations
with slope fields, series and applications, and
the calculus of parametric, polar, and vectorvalued equations. The TI-83/84 calculator is
used extensively. This course covers the
material necessary for success on the AP
Calculus BC exam in May.
Prerequisite: a year grade of “A-”or higher in
Precalculus or successful completion of
Intensive Precalculus or permission of the
department.
Expectations
There is a single rule governing class conduct:
Be respectful to your classmates
and to your instructor.
A productive and respectful classroom
atmosphere is essential for learning. Individual
behavior can support or undermine the
learning environment for everyone. You are an
important part of you class and have a stake in
its success.
Course Materials
Our text is Calculus: Single Variable, 4th ed. by
Hughes-Hallett, Gleason, et al.
A graphing calculator is required for this
course. Since certain powerful calculators
have advanced symbolic features, I won’t
allow them on class tests. Here is a grid:
in class
on AP
allowed
TI-83/4/5/6
TI-83/4/5/6/9
not allowed
TI-89, TI-92
TI-92
Computer programs we will use frequently this
year include Geometer’s Sketchpad, Excel,
Wolfram Alpha (free web application) and
Winplot (free graphing utility that you can
download later in the year).
Assignments & Assessments
Homework will be assigned daily in class. For
your convenience homework assignments will
also be posted on the course website.
Occasionally there may be homework
completion checks in class. The frequency of
such checks varies, based on criteria that
should be self-evident.
Tests are given every 2-3 weeks after we
complete a substantial amount of material. I
will always announce major tests at least a
week in advance. There may be some shorter
tests scattered throughout a term.
Skill Quizzes occur only occasionally and will
be given so students can have feedback about
their understanding of specific important
skills. These may or may not be announced.
Presentation Problems will be given so
students can work creatively on interesting and
longer-term problems, creatively applying
knowledge of course material.
Accelerated Calculus, 2011-012 Course Guide, page 2
Grades
Tests (about 4/5 of the grade)
You know what tests are like.
Presentation Problems (about 1/5 of the grade)
Students can expect a couple of presentation
problems each quarter.
Skill Quizzes (about 0/5 of the grade)
Students can expect skill quizzes throughout
the year. These quizzes serve a purpose to
determine if the material is understood at a
fundamental level.
Homework/Attendance (about 0/5 of the grade)
You won’t succeed without these. They are
necessary – though probably not sufficient –
conditions for success in this class.
The final grade in this course is made up of
each term grade (40% each) and a cumulative
final exam (20%).
Absences and Makeup Tests
Whenever you are absent, you have the
responsibility to find out what you have
missed. I will provide reasonable support to
help you catch up. If you are absent the day of
a test you should make arrangements to make
it up as soon as possible. If at all possible you
should contact me ahead of time to make
arrangements. I check email frequently and
often that is the best way to inform me that
you will be absent.
Corrections on Unit Quizzes & Tests
Corrections are always encouraged and
available to all students on Tests (not Skill
Quizzes). The formal corrections procedure is
outlined in a separate document on the course
website.
Getting Help
I encourage you to seek my assistance with
your math learning outside of class time. This
support can benefit anyone, not just students
who are struggling. I am available during the
day, and can almost always be available before
or after school on most days. It is part of
becoming a mature learner to have the
discipline to seek help when you need it.
In the rare event that I am not available to help
you exactly when you need it, the entire math
department is eager to help you succeed in
math. Feel free to ask any of the teachers who
are free if they can spare a few moments of
their time.
Final Exam and AP Review
As part of a thorough review in preparation for
the AP Calculus exam in early May, the final
exam is administered early. In the past, this
has meant taking the Final Exam in the days
following the AP exam. Students can also take
the final in June, if they so choose, although
this has not been a popular choice for most
students in the past.
All students in this class will be prepared to
take the AP BC Calculus exam. Last year
nearly all students in this class sat for the exam
and they performed quite well.
After the AP Exam, we will work on
interesting projects because they are
interesting. What a fun and novel idea!
About Me
This is my fourth year teaching at Lakeside. I
am helping coach the x-country team this fall
and enjoy my role as advisor to several
student-led activities here at Lakeside and I
have also been a GSL and outdoor trip leader
in the years past. In my free time here in the
Seattle area, I enjoy social-dancing, playing
soccer, and running.
A brief summary of my years before arriving
to Seattle: I was born in Peru, grew up in
Oregon, took a gap year before college and
lived in Portugal as an exchange student, and
then spent 13 years on the east coast; 4 years at
Williams College, two years in Washington
DC, and seven years teaching in Rhode Island
at a boarding school. I enjoy brain-teasers and
puzzles that challenge one’s mind (please
share ones you know with me!).