Math 400 Mathematical Connections (Fall 2019)
- Instructor: Gexin Yu, Jones 127, phone: 221-2040, gyu@wm.edu
- Meeting time and location: TR Morton 37
- Prerequisites: At least three Math courses numbered higher than 300, at least one of which must be Math 307, Math 311, or a Math at the 400-level (or by permission of instructor)
- Major Requirements: This course can satisfy the Writing Requirement (in place of Math 300) for the Mathematics major, but does not count as a 3-credit lecture courses toward the Mathematics major.
- Course description: This course gives a guide through the research process in mathematical sciences. Students will choose a topic on which to research throughout the semester. Students will give several presentations, give feedback on others' presentations, and will turn in a final paper.
Math 400 is taken during the senior year and satisfies the COLL 400 requirement. Mathematical maturity is needed and is typically indicated by having completed at least 3 Math courses numbered higher than 300, at least one of which must be 307, 311, or at the 400-level. Otherwise, course may require permission of the instructor to enroll.
- Course objectives: The objective of the course is to guide students through a research process in mathematical science. Through the process, the students will be trained to do the following:
- Research on connections and applications of mathematics to other topics, and explore their current and future research directions.
- Utilize resources from the library, internet, data bases available for public, etc., to find the background, connections, and current research status of topics under consideration.
- Communicate mathematical and statistical ideas via class presentations, public presentations (in the last week of class) and writing reports on their presented topics.
- Lead and stimulate discussion in their own presentation and contribute in peer presentations.
- Learn how to absorb and develop new ideas based on their training, the comments of their presentation audience, and follow-up literature search.
- Participate in discussion and provide feedback to speakers in a presentation, and connect different topics to their own knowledge.
- Course format: The course will be conducted in a seminar format.
- Week 1-2: The instructor will give some sample presentations. The goal will be to show students how to find a research topic and where to find the resources to conduct the
research.
- Week 3-5: Students will take turns in a first round of presentations (in groups if
needed) on research topics they are interested in exploring. For each presentations, other students will conduct evaluations, provide summaries and propose additional connections and applications regarding the topic of the presentation. The presentation time will be 20 minutes plus 10 minutes for feedback.
- Week 6-9: Students will take turns in a second round of presentations. This round
should display an in-depth exploration of the existing research in their presentation topics.
They should learn to compare the advantages and disadvantages of different approaches of
research.
- Week 10-11: There will be open discussion on the writing process, and possibly guest lectures on various interesting topics.
- Week 12-13: Final presentations (open to public) and continued writing on final paper.
- Assessment: The grade for the course will be determined by three main components:
- Class Presentations. There will be a total of 3 presentations made by students, and each one will be evaluated for content and style. Improvement in presentation as the course progresses will also be a factor.
- Feedback. Students will provide feedback on presentations in the form of verbal discussion, written suggestions, and written summaries of the presentations, and students will be evaluated on each.
- Final Paper.The ultimate goal of the class will be to turn in a final research paper, which will be due at final exam time (in place of a final exam).
- Grading. The letter grade is assigned using the scale:
A > 93 > A- > 90 > B+ > 87 > B > 83 > B- > 80> C+ > 77 > C > 73 > C- > 70 > D+ > 67 > D > 63 > D- > 60 > F
- Honor Code: Students will uphold William and Mary's stated honor code as it is written, any infractions will be referred to the Honor Council.