Summer Assignment
|
|
How to Succeed in AP Calculus
KEEP UP WITH THE ASSIGNMENTS! Over the years, I have found that the best indicator of a student's success is whether they keep up with their assignments. Students who keep up, do well - students who don't, don't
REMEMBER THAT THE GOAL OF AN ASSIGNMENT IS TO UNDERSTAND THE MATERIAL - NOT JUST GET THE PROBLEMS DONE! !
TREAT ASSIGNMENTS AS "PRACTICE TESTS."
Fifty percent of your score on the AP test (as well as most tests and quizzes
during the year) will be determined from your solutions to free-response
questions. For these problems, the correct answer counts for as little as
twenty-five percent of the total score. The rest of the points are awarded on
the quality of your solution to the problem. This means that if you have
correct answers for all problems - with no (or disorganized, or incomplete, or
unreadable) supporting work - you will fail miserably. If you have a few
incorrect answers, but well-organized, complete solutions that use proper
mathematical vocabulary and symbolism - you will generally do well. Use your
assignments as an opportunity to practice presenting well-organized
mathematical solutions to problems.
The majority of the errors that students make on tests and quizzes are not calculus mistakes - they are algebra, geometry, and trigonometry mistakes.
TAKE GOOD NOTES DURING EACH CLASS and keep organized .
Good notes are essential for success in any technical field. They are essential
for review - not only for tests, but also for the problems you will work that
evening!
BECOME AS SELF-SUFFICIENT AS POSSIBLE.
There are many students, and just one teacher, and time is too valuable
for you to just wait for help. Look in your text and your
notes for sample problems that might shed some light on your difficulty. Learn
tenacity - don't just "fold" at the first sign of difficulty!
BECOME PROFICIENT AT USING A GRAPHING CALCULATOR.
BECOME PROFICIENT AT NOT USING YOUR GRAPHING CALCULATOR.
REMEMBER THAT THE GOAL OF AN ASSIGNMENT IS TO UNDERSTAND THE MATERIAL - NOT JUST GET THE PROBLEMS DONE! !
TREAT ASSIGNMENTS AS "PRACTICE TESTS."
Fifty percent of your score on the AP test (as well as most tests and quizzes
during the year) will be determined from your solutions to free-response
questions. For these problems, the correct answer counts for as little as
twenty-five percent of the total score. The rest of the points are awarded on
the quality of your solution to the problem. This means that if you have
correct answers for all problems - with no (or disorganized, or incomplete, or
unreadable) supporting work - you will fail miserably. If you have a few
incorrect answers, but well-organized, complete solutions that use proper
mathematical vocabulary and symbolism - you will generally do well. Use your
assignments as an opportunity to practice presenting well-organized
mathematical solutions to problems.
The majority of the errors that students make on tests and quizzes are not calculus mistakes - they are algebra, geometry, and trigonometry mistakes.
TAKE GOOD NOTES DURING EACH CLASS and keep organized .
Good notes are essential for success in any technical field. They are essential
for review - not only for tests, but also for the problems you will work that
evening!
BECOME AS SELF-SUFFICIENT AS POSSIBLE.
There are many students, and just one teacher, and time is too valuable
for you to just wait for help. Look in your text and your
notes for sample problems that might shed some light on your difficulty. Learn
tenacity - don't just "fold" at the first sign of difficulty!
BECOME PROFICIENT AT USING A GRAPHING CALCULATOR.
BECOME PROFICIENT AT NOT USING YOUR GRAPHING CALCULATOR.