Textbook

Math 7 Course Reader

Scheduled Lectures

Groszek

MWF 1:45 - 2:50 (x-hour) Thu 1:00 - 1:50

103 Bradley Hall

Instructor

Professor Marcia Groszek

Office: 104 Choate House

Office Hours: Mon and Thu, 10:15-12:00, and by appointment.

Papers

This is an interdisciplinary writing course, which means you will be expected to write about both mathematics and philosophy. During the course of the term you will write four papers; they are described below.

Your papers must total at least 25 double-spaced pages, not including pictures and diagrams. Recommended lengths for each paper are given below, but I expect you to make each paper the right length for whatever you have to say. If it seems that your paper will be much shorter or longer than the recommended length, you may need to expand or narrow your topic. If at the end of the term your four papers do not total 25 pages, you may write a fifth paper to make up the difference.

On most Fridays you will have a paper due in either first draft or final form. On other days you may have a short assignment given in the previous class, generally a paragraph or two.

• Paper 1: An essay about a philosophical topic. Recommended length 5-8 pages.
• Paper 2: An exposition of a mathematical problem. Recommended length, 5-8 pages.
• Paper 3: A research paper. Recommended length, 10-15 pages.
• Paper 4: A paper about mathematics and philosophy. Recommended length, 5-8 pages.

More details about the paper assignments are on the "Papers" web page; due dates are on the "Syllabus" web page. (These pages have still to be added.)

Homework Policy

"Homework" in this course falls into three classifications. The most substantial homework assignments are the four papers described above.

You will also be assigned reading from the course reader. You should come to class prepared to discuss the assigned reading, and especially to ask questions about anything you found unclear. Due dates for readings are on the "Syllabus" web page (still to be added.)

Occasional short assignments, either a paragraph or two of writing or a math problem, may be given in class and are due the next class.

Grades

Your grade in this course sill depend on your class participation and your writing.

Class participation grades will be based on the following: Are you present in class? Are you prepared? When the class divides into small groups, do you work together with your group to help make sure everyone understands everything? Do you contribute to class discussions when you are asked to? Do your contributions to class discussions help to make the discussions go well? In other words, class particpation grades are not based on whether you talk a lot or say brilliant things, but on whether you are a responsible participant in the class's intellectual inquiry.

The occcasional short daily assignments will be graded on a credit / no credit basis. You may be asked to rewrite something in order to receive credit.

Papers will be given letter grades. The grade will be based on both content and exposition and will reflect the quality of the final version of your paper. First drafts are required, but count toward your final paper grade only in that you submit a complete first draft on time to receive full credit; comments on first drafts are a way of helping you produce a better paper in the end. More details about the standards by which individual papers will be judged will be given as part of each paper assignment.

Late papers will be accepted for partial credit. There is no way to "make up" a class particpation grade or short assignment, but see the professor if a genuine emergency prevents you from coming to class.

About 80% of your grade will be based on your four papers, and the rest on class participation and daily assignments.

The Honor Principle

Academic integrity and intellectual honesty are an integral part of academic practice. This does not mean that you can't work together or get ideas and help from other people. It does mean that you can't present somebody else's work or ideas without giving them due credit.

In the case of short daily assignments such as mathematics problems, feel free to discuss questions with other people and to work together to answer them. You must write up the answers yourself without copying from anybody. (This means you cannot copy down a joint solution arrived at by a group working together, even if you were part of the group. You must write up the solution in your own words.)

Obviously, you must write your papers yourself. It is fine to discuss your papers with other people and get help and advice, BUT: Whenever you are using another person's work, words, research, or ideas, whether they come from a book or from conversation with a friend, you must acknowledge the source. The booklet Sources sets out guildelines for acknowledging sources; you should read and follow them. You are responsible for knowing and following these guidelines.

The mathematics department writing specialist, Ms. Jane Whittington, is available for consultation on papers for this course or any other mathematical writing. You are encouraged, and may at some point in the term be required, to consult with her. If you do so, please turn in the copy of your draft that was edited by Ms. Whittington along with your final paper.

Disabilities

Students with disabilities who will be taking this course and may need disability-related classroom accommodations are encouraged to make an appointment to see the instructor as soon as possible. Also, they should stop by the Academic Skills Center in Collis Center to register for support services.

Links

Resources at Dartmouth: The mathematics department writing specialist, is Ms. Jane Whittington, and her web page is here. The booklet Sources sets out guildelines for citing and acknowledging sources. Dartmouth College holds you responsible for knowing and following these guidelines. The Student Center for Research, Writing and Information Technology in Baker Library provides a number of resources, including peer tutors.

The Elements of Style by William Strunk Jr. is a good reference for points of grammar and usage. (If you buy a copy, buy the version by Strunk and White; E.B. White's discussion of style is worth the price of admission.)

Here is a guide to writing in mathematics courses; the intended audience is first term calculus students who are writing rather short papers describing the solutions to calculus problems. Here is a paper about writing mathematics; the intended audience is undergraduate mathematics majors writing serious mathematics papers.

Marcia J. Groszek
Last updated May 31, 2008 12:24:46 EDT