Villa Joseph Marie High School
Mathematics Department
Course Syllabus - Honors Calculus
Textbook: Calculus of a Single Variable (Eighth Edition) – Larson, Hostetler, Edwards
Houghton Mifflin Company, Boston, New York (2006)
Instructor: Mr. Steven Stodghill
Classroom: 302
Phone: 215-357-8810 ext. 172
Email: sstodghill@vjmhs.org
Course Description:
Honors Calculus provides the student with a rigorous course in calculus with in-depth instruction
in the basic concepts of calculus. The course is designed for those students not planning to take the
Advanced Placement Examination in Calculus. Calculus brings together many of the concepts and
procedures from algebra, geometry and trigonometry. The focus in the first half of the year will be
on functions, limits and differential calculus with an emphasis on real world problems in the area of
related rates, optimization and motion. The focus in the second half of the year will be on integral
calculus with applications that include finding areas enclosed by the graphs of functions, finding the
volumes of shapes defined by functions and calculating quantities by integrating derivative
functions.
Course Goals:
Students will be able to:
 Graph functions identifying discontinuities and asymptotes.
 Find limits as x approaches a constant or infinity.
 Find the derivative of a function using the limit definition of a function.
 Find rates of change over an interval and at a specific point.
 Find derivatives of functions.
 Optimize function.
 Solve related rates problems.
 Use differentials to approximate.
 Approximate with Riemann sums.
 Find anti-derivatives.
 Evaluate integrals.
 Find the derivative of an integral function.
 Find volumes of shapes defined by functions.
Classroom Rules:
Be your best by coming to class on time and being prepared to learn.
Be respectful at all times.
Eating and drinking (excluding water) in class is prohibited.
Course Materials:
 Composition Notebook for math journal
 Spiral notebook or 3 inch binder with loose leaf paper for class notes/practice problems
 Graphing calculator
 Pencils, pens, highlighters, erasers
Grading:
There will be a test given at the conclusion of each chapter covered. They will be accompanied by
quizzes which will be given weekly. All tests will be announced at least three school days before
administration and all quizzes will be announced at least one day before administration. Students
are expected to complete homework assignments prior to class and record daily math journal
entries. Homework and journal participation will not be counted as an independent grade but will
serve as the main criteria for earning bonus points. Bonus points can only help the students’ grades.
The points earned on tests and quizzes (plus any bonus) will be divided by the total possible points
to determine the final grade for each grading period.
***A student that has earned an A in quarters 1, 2, and 3 as well as the midterm will be exempted
from the final exam.
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
covered 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 after school Monday through Thursday for extra help and for make-up tests/quizzes.
I am also available every morning before school. My availability/open periods during the school
day are 3rd, 6th, 7th and 8th periods (if following a Day 1 rotation). If a student would like to set up
an alternate time for assistance, I am more than willing to accommodate.