Professor Alisa DeStefano
Office
Swords 330
Email
alisad@radius.holycross.edu
Phone
(508) 793-2403
Announcements
Classes
  • Section 2: MTWF 10:00-10:50 pm, Swords 328
  • Section 3: MTWF 12:00-12:50 pm, Haberlin 103
Office hours (For Study Period and Final Exam Week)
  • Wednesday, April 30th, 2:00-3:30pm
  • Thursday, May 1st, 1:00-2:00pm
  • Tuesday, May 6th, 1:00-2:00pm
  • Wednesday, May 7th, 1:00-2:00pm

Office hours are the times I have set aside specifically for answering questions. You should try to visit me during these hours first. If that is not possible, you may try to find me at other times or make an appointment to see me. Occasionally other duties make it necessary for me to cancel my regular office hours, sometimes with little advance notice. If this is the case, I will put a note on my door saying when I will be available. There is also a Calculus Workshop where you can go for help in the evening (see below).

Textbook
Calculus (Single Variable) - Concepts & Contexts, Third Edition - James Stewart. We will cover material from chapters 5-8.
Calculators
You will need a basic scientific calculator. You do not need a graphing calculator but you may use one for homework if you have one. Basic scientific calculators will be provided for the exams. Specific instructions regarding the use of calculators during exams will be discussed in detail in class.
Homework
There will be weekly homework assignments posted on the course web page. NO late assignmens will be accepted without a serious documented reason. Should this happen, you need to contact me before the homework is due.

Please follow these guidelines when writing up your homework papers.

  • On the first page, write your name, the assignment details, and your section number.
  • Write neatly. It is your responsibility to make sure the grader can read your work.
  • Remove any frayed edges and staple or clip multi-page assignments together.
  • Show your work. Correct answers without any explanation will not receive full credit.

Computer Labs
Five times during the semester we will go to the computer lab in Haberlin 408, where you will use the mathematics software package Maple. No previous experience is necessary. You will be given instructions on how to use the program during the lab. Maple can plot graphs of functions, symbolically compute derivatives, numerically compute definite integrals, and much more. We will use Maple to visualize and experiment with many of the concepts covered in class. Work sheets will be provided and the due date will be written clearly at the top of the sheet.
Exams
There will be three midterm exams and a final exam. Please plan your schedule accordingly. If you have a conflict with any of the exam times, you must notify me well before the exam date, so that alternate arrangements can be made.
Exam I - Wednesday, February 20th, 6:00 - 7:30pm
Exam II - Wednesday, March 26th, 6:00 - 7:30pm
Exam III - Wednesday, April 23rd, 6:00 - 7:30pm
Final Exam (cumulative) - Section 2 - May 7th, 2:30-5:30PM - Swords 328
- Section 3 - May 8th, 8:30-11:30AM - Beaven 118
Any end of semester travel arrangements must be made for after the final exam.
Grading
Grades will be determined as follows:
Three Midterm Exams - 20%,20%,10%
(in decreasing order of scores)
Final Exam - 30%
Homework - 10%
Computer Labs and Discussion Write-ups - 10%
Attendance may be used to determine grades in borderline cases.
Academic Honesty
The protocol for work in this course is as follows:
  1. Homework and Labs: You are encouraged to work together on homework assignments but all solutions must be written up independently. In particular, simply copying someone else's work is considered academic dishonesty. If you work with other students you should make a note of this at the beginning of your solutions. Answers to the odd-numbered problems are in the back of the book. These may be used to help you check your solutions to the problems. However, simply copying the answers is a violation of the policy on Academic Honesty. You are not allowed to have access to an instructor's solution manual unless you have my permission. The same rules apply to each assigned group or pair for the lab assignments.
  2. Exams: No help given or received. No notes, books, etc. may be used during the exams. Specific instructions regarding calculators must be followed. All cell phones and iPods must be turned off and put away during the exams.
For a full description of the policy on Academic Honesty, see the College catalog or web site.
Calculus Workshop
The Calculus Workshop provides drop-in peer tutoring on a first-come, first-served basis. It is open Sunday through Thursday, 7:00-9:00PM in Swords 302. Many students have found the workshop helpful. If the tutors are busy or can't help on a particular problem you should come and see me. Ultimately, you are responsible for learning the material and doing your own work.
Hints for Doing Well in this Course
  • Come to class every day with your homework completed.
  • Do a little work each day.
  • Good time management skills are essential in a college math course.
  • Spend as much time as is necessary to complete each assignment.
  • Read and work through the book and go over your lecture notes.
  • The best way to learn math is by doing it.
  • If necessary, do more problems than are assigned, especially if you feel uncomfortable about how you understand the material.
  • Find out how to do every homework problem.
  • Never leave work undone or not understood.
  • Material which is studied today will be used tomorrow.
  • Seek help when you do not understand something!