Math Seminar Homepage

Course Information

Course: Mathematics Senior Seminar, Math 485, Central College, fall 2006.
Professor: Tom Linton, office: 129 VSC, phone: (641) 628-5264 email: lintont@central.edu
Office Hours: Mon 12-12:50 PM, Tues 9-9:50 AM, Wed 3-3:50 PM, Fri 1-1:50 PM, or by appointment.
Class Meets: 12:00 to 12:50 AM Wed in VSC 269 or VSC 166.
Class Overview This is the capstone course for the mathematics major and this class should complete your departmental communication skills requirement. You will give an oral presentation and write a paper on an advanced topic of your choice.
Goals and Objectives By the end of this class you will be able to:

listen to and critique technical presentations in mathematics and computer science;
write technical papers using the language of mathematics;
give technical oral presentations using proper terminology for mathematics;
know where and how to find research materials for mathematics.

American Disabilities Act Central College abides by interpretations of the Americans with Disabilities Act and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 that stipulates no student shall be denied the benefits of an education “solely by reason of a handicap.” Disabilities covered by law include, but are not limited to, learning disabilities, hearing, sight or mobility impairments, and other health related impairments. If you have a documented disability that may have some impact on your work in this class and for which you may require accommodations, please see me and Nancy Kroese, Director of Student Support Services and Disability Services Coordinator, (x5247) in the first two weeks of this semester, so that such accommodations may be arranged.

Grades

Grades, based on the letter, or A, A-, B+, B, B-, . . . system, will be based on a curve of the total points in the class. The curve used will be the traditional 100-93 A, 92-90 A-, 89-88 B+, etc. You are required to attend class every week (even when juniors are presenting their talks). Each unexecused absence will result in a significant reduction of your class grade. The breakdown of the points in the class is given below.

Weekly assignments and participation	30%
Paper	35%
Practice talk	10%
Final talk	25%

Schedule

The tentative schedule for the class:

Week	Dates	Assignment
1	8-23	Introduction, look for topics, write summary of 2 or 3 topics-articles.
2	8-30	Topic articles (5 points) due Fri 8-25 Summary paragraphs (5 points) due Wed 8-30 Select one topic for talk and paper.
3	9-6	Abstract of paper (5 points) and 1-2 page outline (10 points) of topic due. Short (2-4 minute) overview of talk given orally (5 points). Discuss paper introduction.
4	9-13	1-2 page introduction of paper due (5 points) 5 minute presentations for early speakers (10 points)
5	9-20	5 minute presentations for remaining speakers
6	9-27	first senior speakers give talks
7	10-4	second senior speakers give talks
8	10-11	First senior talks (2) Paper first draft due (10 points)
9	10-18	second senior talks
10	10-25	no presentations
11	11-1	3rd senior talks Paper second draft due (20 points)
12	11-8	no presentation
13	11-15	4th senior talks (2)
14	11-22	junior speakers Paper Final Draft Due
15	11-29	junior speakers
16	12-6	junior speakers

Paper Description and Advice

In general there is NO required length for the paper and it is to be based on a topic (as opposed to an article or web-site). Your paper should go beyong the content of the talk and be long enough to provide sufficient coverage of your topic. Most papers end up in the 10 page range.
The paper should be typed, double spaced with 1 inch margins on both sides. It should include proper English, punctuation, grammar, as well as correct technical language.
You should include a bibliography at the end (not necessarily on a separate page) that lists all sources used for the paper.
The paper grade will reflect the organization, clariety, correctness, and flow of your writing, as well as the sophistication level of your topic.
You will submit three drafts of the paper as detailed above. A first draft (2-23), second draft (3-23) and final draft (4-6).

Talk Description and Advice

The talk should be 20 minutes in length and presented at a level where most of the audience can understand most of the talk.
Your talk will be based on some part of your paper topic. Normally, the talk can cover only a portion of the paper topic.
One goal should be to describe orally a rather technical aspect of your topic in a clear manner using proper technical language.
There is no requirement on presentation. Using PowerPoint, white boards, handouts, etc. are all fine, but none are required.
You are responsible for following the timeline below in preparation for your talk:

Meet with your advisor (me or some other professor) at least 2 weeks prior to your presentation to discuss both content and organization of your talk.
Plan on giving at least three practice talks to your advisor (and several on your own or with friends).
A graded (and perhaps filmed) practice talk must occur no later than the Friday before you present.
Several students have found that giving a near-final version of the talk to a different professor can be extremly beneficial.