Instructor Name: Dustin Cartwright
Office Hours: M 2:50–3:50, W 9:15–10:15, F 11:15–12:15 in Ayres 210, or by appointment
Email: cartwright@utk.edu
Course Webpage: Additional information, including updates to this syllabus, is on the Canvas webpage for this course.
Course Communications: Reminders and routine announcements will be made in class. I will use Canvas announcements only for more important messages, such as changes to assignments. I will use email for urgent messages, such as class cancellation.
The best way for you to contact me is by email. I will reply on the same day to emails received before 2:30pm on a work day. For emails received after 2:30pm or on a weekend or holiday, I will reply no later than 10am on the next work day.
Upon completion of this course, students should be able to:
I expect you to attend every class, pay attention, and participate in class activities. During lectures, you should not use your laptop, cell phone, or other electronic devices. Taking notes on a tablet is okay.
Fundamentals of Differential Equations by R. Nagle, E. Saff, and A. Snider, 9th edition.
This book is available to you through Total Access.
Scale for letter grades (adjusted one point more generous since first posted): A 92–100, A- 89–91, B+ 85–88, B 81–84, B- 77–80, C+ 73–76, C 69–72. At my discretion, I may adjust the scale to be more generous.
I will drop the lowest homework score, the lowest quiz score, and the lowest group work score.
Homework: Homework is due by 7:00am on Friday mornings. You will submit your homework on Canvas. Assignments will be posted on Canvas at least a week in advance.
You must write your own homework solutions in your own words. You must give credit to any person our source who helped you with the problem, including the use of generative AI.
You must always show your work on all homework problems.
Homework will be graded on completeness and effort.
Quizzes: On most Fridays, class will begin with a short quiz of about 10 minutes. Each quiz will cover material similar to the homework due the same day. The quizzes will be taken without books, notes, or electronic devices.
Group work: Group work will be done in class, possibly unannounced. You will work with other students and be graded on effort.
Exams: The in-class and final exams must be taken without any books, notes or electronic devices. The second and third exams will cover material since the previous exam. The final will be cumulative.
Late homework submitted within 24 hours of the due date will receive at most 70% credit. No homework will be accepted after 24 hours.
Missed quizzes and exams will be excused only in circumstances which unavoidably prevent you from being present, such as a medical or family emergency. Any accommodation is at my discretion. Excuses will need to be documented, usually through the Student Life Division. Missed quizzes will generally be removed from the grade computation and missed exams might have a make-up or might be replaced by your final exam grade.
Please let me know as soon as possible if you will miss a quiz or exam.
Consistency: Come to class. Do the homework. Read the book, either before or after class. Look at the book’s examples. Read over your own notes. Start the homework early. Try every problem by yourself before getting help. Be comfortable struggling with concepts, because that’s part of learning.
Resources: Many resources are available to you:
Quizzes and exams: The purpose of quizzes is to ensure that you know how to do the weeks’ problems. Any mistakes are a sign of what you need to study. Look over your quizzes and exams after they’re graded. Look at the solutions. Understand what you did wrong. Use this to find out what you’re doing wrong and to improve.
If things go wrong: If you find yourself falling behind, it is important to adjust and get help sooner rather than later. If you are not doing well on the quizzes, spend more time on the homework.
We will cover the main topics of Chapters 1–5, 7, 8 from the textbook. The approximate daily schedule will be listed on the Canvas page “Daily schedule.”
Campus Syllabus
If the instructor finds it necessary to make informational changes (e.g. office hours, schedule adjustments) due to students’ needs or unforeseen circumstances, students will be notified in writing/email of any such changes.