Mathematics 310, Winter, 2004
Introduction to Mathematical Reasoning

Syllabus

Course description

What are the goals of this course? The course aims to deepen your capacity for mathematical reasoning and your ability to communicate the results of that reasoning. The use of class time, the assignments and the assessments will all be based on that fundamental goal.

Since both of those objectives are far better achieved by doing things than by watching someone else perform them, during most of your class time either you will be working in groups or one of you will be at the board and the rest of the class will be aiding and abetting her/him. Most class days you will have work to turn in as a group, and that work will count towards your course grade. The form of the work will vary, and it will be assessed on the basis of evidence of thoughtful, engaged, collaborative effort, not on quantity of output.

On the other hand, contrary to popular image, mathematicians don’t just think, they think about something. The something we think about in here will mostly be supplied by our text book, Mathematical Thinking, by D’Angelo and West. Some of the group work and almost all of the homework will come from it. You will have reading assignments in it most days, and the work assigned in class will assume that you have done the reading. You should bring the text with you to class every day. There will be an assignment from it due once a week (tentatively on Mondays). I will grade as large a subset of the problems as I can, and give you an opportunity to discuss the rest among yourselves.

Grading Policy

In lieu of a midterm we will have several (tentatively three) Super Problem Days, for which you will prepare some problems in advance with your groups and write up the solutions on your own during class time.

The final will be given in the regular class room at the scheduled time: 8:30-10:20 a.m. Monday, March 15, 2004


Grades will be determined as follows:
      Homework             30%
      Group work             20%
      Super Problems       30%
      Final                   20%

Required Readings

D’Angelo and West, Mathematical Thinking