Summer Calculus

In response to some interest from students in the Spring 2009 semester, I am teaching a section of Calculus I during the summer session. For those students who have enrolled, there are some important things to keep in mind.

1. Calculus goes at a fast pace during the fall and spring semesters. Things will go twice as fast during the summer. We will be covering the same amount of material during the summer as would be covered in the usual semesters. Normally we would have sixteen weeks to get through everything. The summer session, however is only eight weeks long.
2. You will need to do several hours of homework each night. The rule of thumb for college work is that students will need to do two hours of work outside class for every one hour inside class. Thus, students will need12-14 hours per week to keep up with Calc I in the summer.
3. Attend every class. Missing class will hurt you badly. Attendance and class participation are factored into your course grade. If you are not in class, this will affect your grade. Of course, it will probably also have a negative impact on your understanding of the material as well.
4. Make yourself a test review as we go. Keep a running list of the most important topics from each section. Have this on a separate sheet that you can refer to when you're studying for your tests.
5. Look for connections. Thinking about how the topics we cover are related to those covered earlier in the course (or even ideas from algebra and trig) will help you understand the material.