Math 300 
Spring 2009

Students / Syllabus

Ron Buckmire: 
Contact / Home / Schedule

Course Schedule

Requirements / Comps Preparation

Math 300: Dynamic Course Schedule
Jan 20 Welcome. Go through the syllabus and rationale for Junior Colloquium (Prepare for Comps Part 1, fulfill Junior Writing Requirement, "math major finishing school").
Read this cool article from the Wall Street Journal about how being a Mathematician is the best job in the U.S.!

DUE JAN 27

  1. Hand in a list of topics that are covered in calculus 1 and calculus 2
Jan 27 Welcome. Come up with a common list of topics in Calculus. Produce concept maps for Calculus in groups.  Distribute 2006 and 2007 Comps Part 1 Exam.

DUE FEB 3

  1. Select students bring in written up solutions to selected Comps problems from 2006..
  2. Begin thinking about what questions you'd like to answer in your Automathography
Feb 3 Come up with Joint Prompt for the Automathography. Assign groups to produce lists of concepts in Linear,
Multivariable and Discrete. Go over Calculus problems in 2007 Comps Exam.  Comps Part 1 Exam date is Tuesday March 31, 2008.

The following people are Compiling a List of  Top 10 concepts in Math 210 (everyone except Constantino), Math 212 (Everyone except Rodriguez, Mojarro & Sparks) and Math 214 (Everyone except Jebbia and Zhou) and writing up neat solutions to the corresponding sections in the 2006 and 2007 Comps Part 1 Exam.

NAME MATH 210: Discrete Math  MATH 212: Multivariable Calculus MATH 214: Linear Algebra
Rodriguez X   X
Mojarro X   X
Constantino   X X
McCalla X X X
Jebbia X X  
Sparks X   X
Sfregola X X X
Zhou X X  

Here are the list of questions your Automathoraphy should address:

1. What is your favorite mathematical topic and why? class and why?
2. What are your best and worst experiences with math?
3. Why do you like math? more than other subjects?
4. Why did you become a math major?
5. Has anyone influenced you to become a math major?
6. How do you plan to use math in the future?
7. How has math benefitted you?
8. What was your first memorable experience with mathematics?
9. Why do you think math is important to the world?

 

DUE FEB 10

  1. Hand in a 3-page draft of your Automathography and email a copy to "ron at oxy.edu"
  2. Complete concepts maps (done in pairs: Scott & Athena, James & Zhengi, Rocio & Elizabeth, Stephanie & Jason) of the ideas in Calculus 1 and 2.
  3. Fill out the "Math Major Declaration Form" and bring to class signed by your advisor after a 30-minute meeting.
Feb 10 Compile a list of the 10 most important concepts for each of the courses you are assigned (done by group). Think about applying for summer research! Take the Calculus Concept Inventory exam. Peer review of Automathography drafts.

Compile a list of the 10 most important concepts in DISCRETE MATHEMATICS by February 17th (and write up the 2006 and 2007 solutions).

DUE FEB 24

  1. With your group members, begin to write up solutions to all of the Comps Part 1 exam questions (from 2006 and 2007) for the fundamental courses that you are assigned
  2. A revised final draft of your automathography (hardcopy only, with printout of draft with comments attached).
Feb 17  (Buckmire out of town). Top 10 list on Math 210: Discrete Mathematics should be completed. Go over concepts in Discrete Mathematics with substitute teacher.

DUE FEB 24

  1. Compile a list of the 10 most important concepts in MULTIVARIABLE CALCULUS.
  2. A revised final draft of your automathography (3-5 pages).
Feb 24 Discuss concepts in Multivariable calculus.

DUE MAR 3

  1. Compile a list of the 10 most important concepts in LINEAR ALGEBRA.

 
Mar 3 Discuss concepts in Linear Algebra.

DUE MAR 3

  1. Compile a list of the 10 most important concepts for each of the courses you are assigned (done by group)

 
Mar 10 SPRING BREAK!
Mar 17 Mock Comps Part 1 Exam (2008).

 
Mar 24 Review the 2008 Comps Part 1 Exam. Buckmire's solutions available here.

DUE MAR 24

  1. A final draft of the automathography.
Mar 31 The 2009 Comprehensive Mathematics Exam!! Between 12-6pm you have three hours in which to take the Comps Part 1Exam on the Five Fundamental Courses.

DUE APR 3

Email the answers to the following questions by Friday April 3rd at 5pm.

1) What are your short term goals (1-3 years) immediately after you graduate (next May)?

 

2) What are your long term goals (3-10 years) after graduation?

 

3) What areas of mathematics do you find the most interesting or are comfortable enough with that you would want to build your career around these topics?

 

4) What plans or strategies do you have for finding a job or career when you graduate?

 
Apr 7 Job Employment Prospects for Math Majors and Beginning to Select a Topic to begin researching for Senior Comps. Using your responses to the Junior Graduation Plans survey we will spend the class time at the Career Resources Center and Valerie Savior.

DUE APR 14

Write-ups of the description of Senior Comps Presentations.
Apr 14 An introduction to TeX and Math Word processing. We will also discuss the features of an effective oral presentation in mathematics.

DUE APR 21

Formal Prompt for Writing Assignment #3. Write up (in a word processor) a solution to ONE of the problems from the 5 sections of the 2008 Comps Exam. Your solution should be around three pages long. The idea is to show that you can write mathematical explanations in a formal (i.e. type-written) problem in a clear and understandable manner.
Apr 21 Meeting with the library to look at Math-related databases.

DUE APR 28

Each student will find 3-5 papers which could be of interest to a potential Comps Part 2 topic.
Include a 100 word abstract with annotated bibliography of 3-5 sources of a potential Comps Part 2 topic. Please note that the Final Draft of your Comps Part 2 paper will be due at the end of Fall 2009. Spring 2010 will only be about the presentation, the grade for your final draft of your Comps Paper can not be changed, although revisions willl still be accepted through April 2010.
Apr 28 Evaluating Math 300. Did we meet our goals? How could Junior Colloquium be improved?

PARTY!!