Home, 10/11
Exam 1 scores were in line with my previous classes, not bad, but not anything to write home about. If you got a poor grade on this exam - that had a number of basic and predictable problems, I strongly urge you to strengthen your effort, as chapter 7 is generally regarded as the hardest chapter of our course. Here are some suggestions for a better grade:
- Come to class regularly. Even though notes from lectures and board images from homework discussion are all posted on Canvas, many people find it easier to follow a class if they are physically present.
- Turn in joysheets. These help you get more practice and anticipate exam problems. Joysheet 3 especially had a weak return rate, and every joysheet is about 1% of your overall grade.
- Come to see me for help during office hours. Many things can be cleared up with a little conversation, and you can get help on your joysheet, something many people could use, but hardly ever ask for.
- Work on more practice exams than one. There are several samples on the MOTHERLODE. If you'd like, you can take a sample exam during office hours and get immediate feedback.
As it turns out, a change in travel plans during fall break makes it impossible for me to return in time for our Monday class, and it is therefore canceled, along with Monday's office hours. I will make up for this class with a video lecture on section 7.2, which will be posted to Canvas soon.
On Wednesday, we will discuss homework: first finish section 7.1 and then start on section 7.2. Due date for section 7.1 on MyLab has accordingly been pushed back.
Home, 10/3
After exam 1, relax a little.
On Monday, we'll start chapter 7 (the hardest part of our course).
If you haven't gotten joysheet 3 to me yet, bring it on Monday.
Home, 9/25
Exam 1, covering sections 6.1-6.6, is scheduled for Friday. Check out sample exam 1 on the "scores and docs" page. Try to do it in 50 minutes. If it's not going smoothly, then find some more sample exams on the MOTHERLODE to practice on.
There is no MyLab assignment for section 6.6, because the book does it in a different way that relies on previous knowledge from college algebra. You can practice problems from this section by doing homework problems from the book in the manner described in lectures.
For further practice of section 6.5 and 6.6 material, I distributed joysheet 3. Turn it in on Monday if you would like to get it back before the exam. (If you did not get one today and want it before Monday, find it at the link above.)
On Monday, we will wrap up homework discussion of section 6.6 and start new material from section 7.1, which will not be on the exam. We will work on the sample exam on Wednesday.
Home, 9/18
On Monday we will finish section 6.5 after which we will discuss homework for this section. Section 6.5 is open on MyLab, due on Thursday. The most important goal of this section is to easily be able to evaluate trigonometric functions of standard angles in any quadrant.
Our first exam is coming after we finish chapter 6 - and we have only one section remaining, 6.6 - so, during the week after next. I will tell you more precisely when it will be once we get closer to end of next week.
Home, 9/11
Since we are still discussing homework in section 6.4, I have postponed the due date for its MyLab to Tuesday. On Monday, we will discuss some more problems from this section and then start a new section.
On Wednesday, we will have an in-class joysheet over sections 6.3 and 6.4, to reinforce this material.
Remember that drawing and understanding pictures is one of the most important aspects of our course. For better understandng, make sure you draw pictures, even if a problem might not specifically ask for one.
Home, 9/4
Section 6.3 is due on MyLab on Sunday - I extended it because several people have not submitted it yet.
We will finish section 6.4 on Wednesday and then immediately dive into homework. This section has been assigned on MyLab and is due on Saturday of next week.
Free tutoring starts at the Lowry Center on Tuesday. See the schedule on the "free tutoring" page.
Home, 8/28
We finished homework discussion on section 6.2 - it is due on Sunday on MyLab.
I also handed out the first of our worksheets today (known as joysheets in this class). It is due on Wednesday. If you have not received your copy and would like it before Monday, find it at the "joysheets" link above.
After a joysheet is given out, solutions of a corresponding joysheet from the past is made available on the "scores and docs" page - look at IC joysheet solutions. These may help you work out the assigned joysheet.
Home, 8/21
We finished lectures on section 6.1, so we will discuss homework from this section on Monday.
The first homework on MyLab (section 6.1) is due on Wednesday. Six people from the class do not yet appear on the roster on MyLab: please use this weekend to get connected with MyLab and start working on the homework (see info on this in the previous post, below).
Free tutoring at the Ross Center starts on Monday, and starts on Sep 8th at the Lowry Center. Check the "free tutoring" link for more information.
Home, 8/18
Welcome to the course! Look around to familiarize yourself with the layout of these webpages. To get to other pages, click on the links in the menu (or drop-down, if viewing on a smartphone). The most often used pages are in the first line of the menu (or the first several choices of the drop-down). "Scores and docs," for example, has all the documents for the course.
Your first exercise is to find the syllabus on these pages and read it. The most important items there are in larger font.
These pages will get more content as information becomes available. Check back often: useful information is provided in the "home" section (which you are reading), typically updated weekly. For now, here is some information on the textbook, online homework and Canvas.
Textbook and online homework: In this course, you have signed up for "Inclusive Access," which automatically bills you for access to the online homework system and includes the e-book. You can access these materials by clicking on Canvas/Course Materials. If you do not already have a Pearson account, you will need to create it and then link it to your Canvas account.
Canvas: Canvas will only be the repository of class notes and your grades. Information about the course and weekly messages will be posted to this website (also accessible from Canvas). (Why bother with the website outside of Canvas? Two reasons: it's easier to make updates to it, and it stays public. I value this, and you may grow to as well, as a service to future students of this course.)
Lecture notes: I will distribute the printed notes in class. Have these with you so that you can follow the lectures in class without having to copy a lot. The filled-in notes written in class are posted on Canvas.