Math 499 Senior Comprehensive, Fall 2021

Syllabus

Description:

A comprehensive survey of mathematics. Students will solve problems from across the Gonzaga mathematics curriculum and present their solutions to each other. At the end of the semester students will take the Educational Testing Service's Major Field Test (MFT) in Mathematics. The course is mostly intended as a review/summary and does not aim to teach new material, though some introduction of unfamiliar topics may be provided.

Outcomes:

Students will solve problems using sound mathematical techniques, present their solutions clearly, and analyze and improve the work/presentations of others.

Math Major Learning Outcomes:

Grades:

Grades will be based on your assessment of your progress over the course of the semester. Before the midterm students will write a self-assessment and establish goals for the rest of the semester. At the end of the semester students will write another self-assessment and propose a grade based on their progress towards the goals established in the midterm self-assessment.

Students will also receive feedback on their work during the semester. Presentations will be evaluated using this rubric (link). Practice exams and the MFT will receive numerical scores (the percentile rank is the relevant number for the MFT). As a guide, final grades should roughly follow this weighting:

Presentations

Before each class you will solve problems from the GRE Subject Test in Mathematics and prepare 6 for presentation. This means making sure you really understand the problem and have a clear written solution to work from if you are asked to present. The order of presentations will be random (and the number of presentations per class will also vary). Students in the audience should ask questions and suggest improvements where possible. When possible, problems should be solved as if they aren't multiple choice. If there is a faster/better method that uses the choices, please present both methods.

Other suggestions for presentations: Make sure the problem is shown on the projector. For all but the simplest problems you should explain the problem to the class: what do you actually need to do in order to solve the problem? Next briefly explain how you will accomplish this. Then present your complete solution, being sure that each step is clearly connected to the problem and/or earlier steps. Too little and too much detail can both be bad. It may be helpful to plan stopping points when you can check to make sure that everyone is still following you. It may also be helpful to plan out how you will use the dry-erase boards.

Essays

You will write two essays: a mathematical autobiography (early in the semester) and a mathematical connections essay (near the end of the semester). These essays are partly a way for me to get to know you better and hear about your Gonzaga experience. They're also an opportunity for you to articulate who you are as a mathematician and how that connects to the rest of your life. I'll admit that these are exactly the kind of assignment that I liked least when I was a student. So why am I making you write these essays? I never liked writing/talking about myself, but I've had to do more and more of that after graduating from college. First there was a personal statement for my grad school applications, then similar things for scholarships, more versions of a personal statement in job applications and in interviews, then annual reports to my bosses in which I justified my existence, etc. The point being that these things actually turned out to be important, and this is a chance for you to practice in a low-stakes situation. I encourage you to find a way to enjoy these things as much as possible: write a pastiche of your favorite novel, write in verse, write as if you're reviewing yourself on Amazon... Details on actual requirements for the assignments are here (link). If you are applying for graduate school and need to write a personal statement, then you are welcome to submit that personal statement for one (or both) essays (depending on the details of the personal statement; talk to me to figure out the details).

Self-assessments

Near the middle of the semester students will write their first self-assessment. In some sense this might be an extension of the mathematical autobiography, but this time focused on the details of your growth as a mathematician. What parts of math (and this class) have been easy for you? What parts of math (and this class) have been hard? What is your plan to improve? I'll either accept your self-assessment or make suggestions and ask you to resubmit (by a certain time).

At the end of the semster you'll write a final self-assessment and give yourself a grade for the class. This will be a chance to revisit the mid-semester self-assessment and make sure you've made progress towards your goals. You will meet with me during finals week to discuss your final self-assessment and argue for your grade. Details on the self-assessments are here (link).

Harassment, non-discrimination, and sexual misconduct:

Consistent with its mission, Gonzaga seeks to assure that all community members learn and work in a welcoming and inclusive environment. Title VII, Title IX and Gonzaga's policy prohibit gender-based harassment, discrimination and sexual misconduct. Gonzaga encourages anyone experiencing gender-based harassment, discrimination or sexual misconduct to talk to someone from the Campus and Local Resources list found in the Harassment and Non-Discrimination Policy.

It may be helpful to talk about what happened in order to get the support needed and for Gonzaga to respond appropriately. There are options for support and resolution, namely confidential support resources, and campus reporting and support options available. Gonzaga will respond to all reports of sexual misconduct in order to stop the harassment, discrimination, or misconduct, prevent its recurrence and address its effects. Responses may vary from support service referrals to formal investigations.

As a faculty member, I want get you connected to the resources here on campus specially trained in and experienced in assisting in such complaints, and therefore I will report all incidents of gender-based harassment, discrimination and sexual misconduct to Title IX (in fact, I am required to report such incidents). A representative from that office will reach out to you via phone and/or email to explore options for support, safety measures and reporting. I will provide our Title IX Director with all relevant details, including names and identifying information, of the information reported. For more information about policies and resources or reporting options, please visit the following websites: Equity and Inclusion and Title IX. If you would like to directly make a report of harassment, discrimination or sexual misconduct directly, you may fill out an online Sexual Misconduct Report Form or contact the Title IX Director by phone, email, or in person:
Stephanie N. Thomas
Title IX Director
509-313-6910
whaleys@gonzaga.edu
Business Services Building 018

Notice to students with disabilities and/or medical conditions:

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is a federal anti-discrimination statute that provides comprehensive civil rights protection for persons with disabilities. Among other things, this legislation requires that all students with disabilities be guaranteed a learning environment that provides for reasonable accommodation of their disabilities. If you believe you have a disability/medical condition requiring an accommodation, please call or visit the Disability Access Office (second floor of Foley Center Library, Room 208.)

Attendance:

Gonzaga University presumes that students have sufficient maturity to recognize their responsibility for regular class engagement, and attendance is a general expectation no matter the teaching modality. However, in order to prioritize the health and safety of all community members, Gonzaga's regular in-person attendance policy may be modified (Amended Class Attendance Policy). I will record attendance solely for the purposes of contact tracing. When we do meet in person, you must follow COVID-related protocols as described in the Student Arrival & Return to Gonzaga Guides, and you will in no way be penalized for following these protocols; see Amended Class Attendance Policy. If you become sick or need to miss class for COVID-related reasons, I will work with you to help you catch up. Don't ever come to class if you are feeling sick. Please communicate directly with me regarding any absences, if possible before they occur.

A note on recorded meetings:

Our class sessions may be recorded for the benefit of students who are unable to attend in-person. Only the instructor may cause a class meeting to be recorded for those students. You shall not make audio or video recordings of class meetings without the prior written authorization of the instructor. By remaining registered in this course, you agree to your voice and image being recorded, and you agree to use any recordings of our class meetings ONLY for the educational purposes of this class (or other sections of this class taught by the same instructor). You agree to delete recordings of our class meetings no later than the end of this semester. You do not have permission to use or share recordings (video or audio) of our class meetings beyond the reach of our class for any purpose, including, but not limited to, posting to any digital application or platform, such as social media. You may not duplicate or distribute recordings of class sessions. In short, your instructor and your classmates intend to appear in these videos only for the purposes of carrying out our teaching and learning in this class. Your compliance with the terms of this syllabus regarding use of class session recordings is subject to the Student Code of Conduct; violations will be reviewed according to the provisions in the Administration of Student Code of Conduct.

FERPA and Privacy:

Under FERPA (Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act), your student records are confidential and protected. Under most circumstances your records will not be released without your written and signed consent; exception includes some directory information. Instructors are not allowed to publicly post grades by student name, social security number, GU student identification number, or any other identifiable means, without written consent from students involved. The FERPA policy does not apply to third party online applications that may be used in courses (i.e. WeBWorK and Gradescope) such that it is the student's responsibility to read the privacy documentation at each website.

Academic integrity:

All members of the Gonzaga community are expected to adhere to principles of honesty and integrity in their academic endeavors, and I will abide strictly by procedures and guidelines of the University's Academic Integrity Policy. Students and faculty are governed by this policy, and I encourage you to familiarize yourself with its scope and procedures. Ignorance of the policy will not serve as a defense against any violations.

Religious Accommodations for Students

In compliance with Washington State law (RCW 28.10.039), it is the policy of Gonzaga University to reasonably accommodate students who, due to the observance of religious holidays, expect to be absent or endure a significant hardship during certain days of their academic course or program. The Policy on Religious Accommodations for Students describes procedures for students requesting a Religious Accommodation and for faculty responding to such a request.

Course evaluation:

At Gonzaga, we take teaching seriously, and we ask our students to evaluate their courses and instructors so that we can provide the best possible learning experience. In that spirit, we ask students to give us feedback on their classroom experience near the end of the semester. I will ask you to take a few minutes then to carry out course/instructor evaluation outside class. I very much appreciate your participation in this process; it is a vital part of our efforts at Gonzaga to improve continually our teaching, our academic programs, and our entire educational effort.

Links and Resources

Office hours (in person by default, virtual by request)

Logan Axon
Department of Mathematics
MSC 2615
Gonzaga University
Spokane, WA 99258
Office: Herak 307A
Phone: 509.313.3897
Email: axon@gonzaga.edu

Last updated 8/30/2021