teaching with writing
mathematics assignments
Informal
writing assignments in mathematics courses often ask students
to apply currently studied concepts to concrete "real
life" situations. Alternately, students might be asked
to annotate numerical problems with descriptions of their reasoning
as they solve them. Formal assignments, on the other hand,
might ask students to compose an explanation for complex mathematical
ideas and to base their explanations on precedent studies.
Historical assignments might ask studentss to research the
history of a mathematical concept, e.g., Plato's ideal forms.
A good description of an assignment will be very clear about
the designated audience and the ways in which language and
numbers can be integrated.
- Mathematical Modeling Presentations:
two 13-minute group presentations for an upper-division course
requiring students to evaluate a mathematical problem using
existing models, update the model if necessary, and effectively
communicate the results. The syllabus sets
these assignments in context.
- Sequences, Series, and Foundations: a sample of guidelines
and assignments for an upper-division writing-intensive course.
The syllabus sets
these assignments in context.
- Guidelines:
an overview of considerations for writing in mathematics.
- Assignment
1: an assignment requiring students to write the
solution and explanation of a calculus exercise as
if they were writing for a calculus textbook.
- Assignment
8: an assignment requiring students to explain
ways in which the Alternating-Series Test can be used
to estimate the value of an infinite series.
- Experiencing
Mathematics Through Writing: a sample of
writing assignments from an introductory writing seminar.
See the syllabus for
more information.
- Formal
Paper #1: a 2-3 page essay asking students to compare
and contrast nonmathematical proof versus mathematical
proof.
- Final Formal
Writing Assignment: a 5-7 page paper asking students
to explore a mathematical topic of their choice, from
the mathematical contributions of a person to a discussion
of a particular equation.
- Portfolio
Project in Mathematics: a project for which students
who are studying to become math instructors reflect on
their own writing and relate their experiences to current
research. The portfolio includes a cover letter, reflections,
and a short paper.
- Mathematics
Autobiography: a short writing assignment given to
students at the beginning of the course, and returned at
the end, asking them to describe their previous experiences
and future expectations in mathematics.
- Solving
Mathematical Problems Using Composition: problems from
a writing-intensive Euclidean Geometry course. The syllabus states
the requirement for students to demonstrate their understanding
of mathematical concepts, translate theorems and proofs
into "everyday language," and compose original
proofs.
mathematics assignment resources
-
Mathematica Sample
Lab Solutions from Lab Reports: model lab report from
a multivariable calculus course that show examples of writing
explanations and the integration of graphs:
-
Writing
for a Math Class: a guide for instructors on integrating
writing assignments into a mathematics course that offers
instructions on assignment structure, suggested format,
and assessment.
- The
Language of Mathematics: an overview of The Language
of Mathematics, which concentrates on the practice of
writing in mathematics, including special attention to teaching
mathematics as a world language with its own expressions
of patterns, repeated concepts, and logical vocabulary to
articulate those patterns.
- Math
Archives - Calculus Resources On-line: a collection of
resources for instructors and students that includes links
to projects and programs, articles, software, and publishers.
- College,
University, and Community College Mathematics and Math Related
Departments: a compilation of links to Mathematics Departments
worldwide.
- Issues
in Mathematics Education: a collection of links to Web
sites and articles devoted to the education of Mathematics,
from articles about education bills to the National Center
for Education Statistics' site.
- Teaching
Communication Skills: an article about incorporating
writing into mathematics courses to improve students' communication
skills and recent examples of successful writing-intensive
courses.
- A
Catalog of Mathematics Resources on the WWW and the Internet:
an extensive collection of links to various mathematics resources,
including university departments, historical and bibliographical
information, specific discipline-related sites, teaching,
reference, software, and publications.
- The
Workshop Method of Teaching: An Example from the Discipline
of Mathematics Education: an overview of the learner-centered
workshop teaching method, including an example workshop,
to guide its integration into mathematics education.
- Writing
in Mathematics: a guide for incorporating writing in
mathematics courses with suggestions for creating assignments
including example assignme nts for Calculus I, II, and III.
- CourseLib:
a service provided by University of Minnesota librarians that
enables instructors to build and post customized, course-specific
research pages.
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