Welcome to
Back to School Night !
Mr. Gorsuch
Calculus AB
In the next few minutes...
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Course Outline
Grading Policy
Homework
Extra Help Opportunities
Questions/Comments/Complaints
Before We Begin....
• All of this is on the WEB!!! Don’t copy
anything down 
• For website & e-mail go to:
– Foothill High School
• Faculty Directory
–Scott Gorsuch
• Here’s what it looks like >> Mr. G's
Home Page
Course Outline
• AP Calculus is a college level introductory
course.
• District prerequisite is completion of PreCalculus with a C or better.
• REALISTIC prerequisite is completion of PreCalculus with a B- or better.
• My primary goal for the course is to prepare
the student for the AP test in May.
• The difficulty level of this course is very
challenging – especially considering that
most students in Calculus AB have had no
exposure to honors level material in math.
Grading Policy
• Composition of Grade (First
Semester)
• Homework / Class work - 10%
• GROUP Quizzes - 10%
• Tests - 60% (ALWAYS posted at least a week in
advance)
• Final Exam - 20%
Grading Policy (con't)
• Grade updates are completed after
each chapter.
• Grades are available online. Let’s see
here Mr. G's Home Page.
Homework
• Homework should be considered a
WORK ETHIC grade.
• Homework assignments are given out
for the entire chapter:
– Students can work in advance.
– Students can do homework if they are at
home sick.
– Expect homework every night including
weekends.
Homework
• STUDENTS RECIEVE 100% FOR
HOMEWORK AS LONG AS THEY:
• Check their odd answers against the back of the
book.
• Correct papers in class as we talk about
problems/answers.
• Leave no blank answers (they must at least ask a
clarifying question).
• Show work where appropriate.
• Complete the assignment.
• PLEASE NOTE THAT I PUT THE ONUS ON THE
STUDENT IN AN AP CLASS TO COMPLETE AND
UNDERSTAND THE ASSIGNMENTS.
Extra Help
• I truly believe that AP Calculus AB is one of the
hardest courses on campus.
• No/little homework will result in no/little success.
• This course will require that (most) students get help
from somewhere – for many, it is the first class where
they feel uncomfortable.
• Asking questions on a daily basis from teacher,
fellow student, tutor, etc. will be essential to their
success. Trust me. I was there!
• COLLABORTIVE LEARNING – The typical Calculus
AB student will benefit greatly from setting up and
keeping in contact with a a peer network. THIS SKILL
SHOULD BE PRACTICED NOW SINCE IT WILL BE
CRUCIAL IN COLLEGE.
Extra Help Opportunities
• With Mr. G. (and fellow Calculus AB students)....FREE!
– Mornings (Wed excepted) 7:30 am
– Every day at lunch. YUM YUM.
– Other times by asking!
• Other Options
– Other Calculus Teachers (Mr. Hailey, Mr. Dixon).
– Calculus BC students (typically 1-2 chapters ahead of
the AB students).
– STEPS tutoring center downtown Pleasanton.
– Website Resources. Let’s see here > Mr. G's Home
Page
It's time for...
• Questions ?????????????????
• Comments %)&*^@&)$#)$&4
• Complaints !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!