Course Syllabus

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Fall 2026 - Math 3A – Calculus I (Class Code 40279)

Instructor: Kelly Pernell       Email: kpernell@peralta.edu  Office Location: Rm 353

Class Meeting Times: Tue & Thu 1:30pm - 3:45pm, at BCC, Rm 322

Canvas Class Web site: https://peralta.instructure.com/courses/89597

Office Hours:

  • Tue & Thu 3:45 - 4:45 pm (US Pacific Standard Time) in person at BCC, MESA Center on 5th floor of BCC MAIN
  • Mon & Wed 12:15pm - 1:30pm, Learning Resources Center, BCC WEST, Room 203

YouTube Channel:
https://www.youtube.com/@kellypernell3298/playlists

Textbook and Required Materials

This course uses the following textbook as a guide and schedule to present the content of the course:

Calculus, Early Transcendentals, 9th Edition
by James Stewart, Daniel Clegg, Saleem Watson
Cengage
ISBN 978-1-337-61392-7

Chapters 1 – 5 will be covered.

Please see the Modules section of the Canvas Class web site for a calendar/schedule of the specific sections and topics that we will work on each week.

To save textbook costs, you are NOT required to purchase the textbook. Your assignments will not come from the above textbook. In the last few modules of the Canvas class website, you will find a free online textbook from OpenStax. It contains instruction and examples for all the content we will cover.

Online Required Materials

You will need a laptop or mobile device and an internet connection to access the Canvas site, connect to YouTube and Zoom videos.

You will need access to a scientific calculator to evaluate logarithmic and trigonometric calculations.Though a graphing calculator is not required for this course, I strongly encourage students to use one as a learning tool.

You will need to scan and upload PDF or jpeg files to the Show an Example assignments for each chapter. An electronic scanning app on a phone or mobile device will be necessary.

The online free app Desmos.com is a wonderful graphing calculator tool to use for the class.

AI Use in This Class

The goal of homework in this course is to develop your mathematical reasoning, problem-solving skills, and ability to communicate mathematical ideas clearly.

While AI tools can be useful for learning, inappropriate use can undermine this goal. Please practice your mathematical writing by writing up your own solutions to all problems.

Your exams are worth 50% of your overall grade. All problems on the exams will come directly from the homework assignments. 

All exams will be in-person, and paper-based.

Please practice your mathematical writing abilities.

Maximize your learning by using AI responsibly.

  • Think of AI like a calculator: sometimes it’s helpful; sometimes it’s not allowed; sometimes it's restricted (e.g. graphing vs scientific kinds).
  • You still need mathematical knowledge to use a calculator correctly. The same thing applies to using AI.
  • When stuck, struggle productively before looking at the solution—this deepens learning.
  • Math ability grows with practice and persistence, and especially with some struggles. It doesn't grow so much by simply copying solutions from other people or AI sources.

Homework Assignments

The course is separated into 3 Parts.

  • Part 1 - Ch 1 Preliminaries and Ch 2 Limits
  • Part 2 - Ch 3 Differentiation
  • Part 3 - Ch 4 Applications of Differentiation and Ch 5 Integrals

Each Homework Part is worth 15% of your course grade, making all homework worth a total of 45% of your course grade.

Homework assignments are designed as mastery-based assessments of your knowledge.

  • For each problem in an assignment, you have 3 chances to enter the correct answer.
    • If you do not get the correct answer after the third try, you can click the button "get a similar question" to try again.
  • You can move through an assignment and complete problems in any order (i.e. you can skip challenging problems and come back).

This course covers 2 - 3 sections each week.

  • Most homework assignments posted in each weekly module are due by the Sunday night of that week.
  • However, some weeks have exams, and some weeks cover three sections.
    • Around exams or weeks with 3 topics in one week,  due dates are extended by a few days. Please make note of the due dates for each assignment.
  • You will receive a 30% penalty for each problem completed after the due date.
    • You will still earn full points for any problem completed before the due date. The penalty only applies to problems done after the assignment's due date.
  • You have access to ALL assignments for the entire semester.
    • To access a past-due assignment, click the "Use Late Passes" button on the assignment. If you run out of Late Passes, just ask me to give you more.

Please make every effort to complete homework assignments by their due dates!

NOTE:

  • This course officially ends Sunday December 20th at 11:59pm! The Canvas site will close. You will not be able to submit anything after this date.
  • If you are two or more weeks behind on assignments:
    • please check in with me right away via email or office hours
    • please seek tutorial assistance, and
    • dedicate more time per week to studying and completing assignments.

 

Self-Assessments and Discussion Assignments

There are a total of 5 Self Assessments and 5 Discussion Assignments worth a combined 5% of your overall course grade.

NOTE:

  • These assignments are VERY EASY to complete.
  • They usually take no more than 15 minutes to do.

At the end of a chapter, you will be given a self-assessment assignment to report on your learning, understanding of concepts and to show one example.

  • There are no incorrect answers for the self-assessment. Each one consists of 5 questions, most of which are are multiple choice/option questions. You will be asked which topics you can explain to a friend, which topics are most challenging, how much time you are spending on the class each week, and what things you can do to make improvements if any.
  • You will automatically receive the full 5 points for completing each self assessment.

Connected to each self-assessment assignment is a Discussion assignment. In the self-assessments you are asked to scan and upload one math problem to demonstrate your understanding of a topic you believe you know well. You are then asked to share that same math problem to the Discussion for that chapter.

  • You earn one point for sharing your example.
  • You earn another point for reviewing and commenting on another classmate's shared solution.

Please be positive, constructive, and supportive in your comments to other classmate's work.

Please take the time to review other student work and take note of where you may improve your own written work. Look for comprehensive, thorough examples. They will help you prepare for exams.

Try to make your own examples comprehensive and thorough. Write all steps. Draw diagrams/graphs if applicable. Try the more challenging problems so you get the practice and also so you help others in the class.

A 10%-per-day penalty will be given to both the Self Assessment and Show an Example assignments for submissions after the due date.

Exams

There a total of 3 exams in the course -- one for each Part.

All exams will take place in class. Please see the Modules section for dates each exam will take place.

Exams are worth 50% of your overall grade (16.67% each).

  • Exam 1 covers Ch 1 & 2 on Preliminaries and Limits.
  • Exam 2 covers Ch 3 Differentiation
  • Exam 3 covers Ch 4 & 5 Applications of Differentiation and Integrals
  • You must take each exam.
  • There is no comprehensive Final Exam. You will just take an exam for each Part.
  • I do not drop the lowest exam score. All exams will count.

Each Part's in-class exam will consist of problems taken directly from homework problems.

  • NOT Permitted: Internet, laptop, phone, or mobile device.
  • Permitted: Graphing/scientific calculators.
  • Permitted: Two extra pages of notes  (8.5x11inch double-sided).
    • I will provide printouts of the Derivative Tables and Trigonometric Identities, and Exponent and Logarithm rules. You can find these summaries in the Resources area of the Canvas site.

Grading:

  • To earn full credit on each exam problem you need to provide comprehensive solutions.
    • Draw diagrams/graphs.
    • Show all steps.
    • Answer application questions in complete sentences.
    • Organize your work.
    • Circle/box your final answers so they are easy to find.
  • You will earn minimal credit if you just provide the answers.
  • Partial credit will be given for work shown even if the final answer is incorrect.

I DO NOT give Make-up exams.
If you have scheduling conflicts, you must make arrangements
IN ADVANCE of any exam date.

Time Commitment

Remember, this is a rather intense 5-unit course.

You should dedicate approximately 15 hours per week to read, study, and watch lectures, to attend class, and to complete assignments.

If you are serious about pursuing a career in mathematics, science, technology, or business, please fully commit to this course. It will help you beyond measure.

Please see the Modules section of the Canvas Class site for a list of topics to study and work on each week.

The best way to learn the material is to

  • Regularly study
  • Attend class
  • Complete homework assignments on time.
  • Try not to work alone! Make friends with people in the class.
  • Ask questions as soon as you need help.

Important Dates:

  • The last day to drop a class without a W this term is September 15, 2026.
    • It is very important you attend class and sign in and also log onto the Canvas site and begin work on the first assignment. That way I will know you have intentions of taking the course. If I do not see you in class or any activity from you by September 15, 2026, I will drop you from the course!
  • The last day to drop this course with a W grade is November 20, 2026.
    • It is your responsibility to drop a class if you feel you cannot complete it with the grade you wish to earn.
    • I will not drop anyone from the course in November because I've had too many requests from students to be reinstated after I've done so.
      • Please understand, you need to make this decision for yourself. If you remain in the class after November 12th, you will receive a letter grade of A, B, C, D, or F.
    • I do not consider requests for an Incomplete Grade.

Grading Policy

  • 90 - 100% = A (Exceeds Standards)
  • 80 - 89% = B, (Above Average)
  • 70 - 79% = C, (Meets Standards)
  • 60 - 69% = D (Below Standards)
  • < 60% = F (Missing Work and Below Standards)

Any missing assignment, quiz, or exam will be assigned a grade of 0%.

I DO NOT give Make-up exams.

If you have scheduling conflicts, you must make arrangements IN ADVANCE of any exam date.

I do not drop lowest scores for any assignment area. All exams, quizzes, homework assignments, self assessments, and discussions are included in the course grade.

I do not offer Extra Credit assignments. The only way to pass the class is to do the assignments and take all the exams.

As mentioned above, I do not accept requests for an Incomplete grade.

  • Homework Assignments: 45% (of course grade)
  • Self Assessments and Discussions: 5%
  • Exams: 50%

The Course and the Canvas Site will officially end on Sunday, December 20, 2026 at 11:59pm (close to midnight).

No one will be given time extensions beyond the end of the course to complete assignments.

Attendance Policy

  • To earn an A or B in the course, you many only have two unexcused absences in the semester.
  • To earn a C, you may only have three unexcused absences.
  • Missing two weeks of classes without prior notice may result in being dropped from the course.
  • Excused absences require a doctor's note or prior consultation with me regarding the reason for your upcoming absence.

Cheating Policy

Cheating is a very serious offense that I will not tolerate.

If you are caught cheating on any assignment or exam in the course,

  • You will automatically be given a 0% grade for that assignment or exam.
  • Your overall course grade will be lowered by one grade level (From A to B, B to C, C to D, or D to F). It will be impossible to earn an A in the class.
  • All parties involved in the incident will be charged.

Learning Resources

Please come to online and/or in-person Office Hours to ask questions and to request additional examples.

BCC Online Tutoring is available from our Canvas site. From there, please click on the Learning Resources Center link for more information. Otherwise, please visit: https://www.berkeleycitycollege.edu/lrc/.

Online Tutoring is available to you via your Canvas site's navigation as well.

Student Accessibility Services (SAS)

Berkeley City College is committed to providing reasonable accommodations for all individuals. This syllabus and the course materials are available in alternate formats upon request. If you have a disability that may have some impact on your work in this class and for which you may need accommodations, please contact a staff member in Student Accessibility Services (SAS) to request accommodations. 

For more information, please visit Student Accessibility Services at https://www.berkeleycitycollege.edu/sas or by phone at (510) 981-2812 or (510) 981- 2813.

NOTE:

  • I need to receive a Letter of Accommodations in order to provide them.
  • Accommodations only apply on and after the date I receive the Letter of Accommodations.
  • For students who have accommodations that provide extensions on homework assignments, I recommend a maximum of a 3-day extension because this is a rather intense math course with a lot of topics that need to be mastered. It is in the best of interest for any student to not extend study on any topic beyond this time frame. I truly want all students to succeed in the class while also learning the material in manageable "chunks," and not feeling pressured by falling too far behind.
    • I need to receive requests for these 3-day extensions in advance of homework due dates.
    • I am open to hearing/considering a longer extension.
      • However, though open, I do not recommend that anyone become two or more weeks behind on the course material. Therefore, I may not honor a specific request.

 

Student Learning Outcomes

Representation: Represent relevant information in various mathematical or algorithmic forms.

Calculation: Calculate accurately and comprehensively.

Interpretation: Interpret information presented in mathematical or algorithmic forms.

Application/Analysis: Draw appropriate conclusions based on the quantitative analysis of data, while recognizing the limits of this analysis.

Communication: Explain quantitative evidence and analysis.

Justification for the Course

Satisfies the General Education and Analytical Thinking requirement for Associate Degrees. Provides foundation for more advanced study in mathematics and related fields, such as physics, engineering, and computer science. Satisfies the Quantitative Reasoning component required for transfer to UC, CSUC, and some independent four-year institutions. Acceptable for credit: CSU, UC.