Writing assignments

Assignment 1: a math cover letter/personal statement/autobiography. Due 9/27.

I want to get to know you as a person and as a student of mathematics. Employers and graduate schools want the same thing. Write a short (aim for 2-4 pages) introduction to yourself as a mathematician. Specific points you might address are below. You don't have to cover all of these, but try to say something about most of them.

• What drew you to math originally?
• What keeps you interested in math (even when it's frustrating)?
• What do you think are your strengths as a mathematician?
• How does your math knowledge help you even outside of mathematics? Are there things (other than math) that you think you've gotten good at because you're a math major?

I'd also like you to include a brief discussion of your weaknesses (or "growth areas") as a mathematician (we all have them) and make a plan to improve and/or discuss your strategies for working around them. Your plan should include specific things you can do in this class. If appropriate, you can incorporate this into the main document. If you're writing something you might actually use for an application, then I think it would be best to keep this as a separate component you can cut out easily.

As always, spelling, grammar, and style matter (not just to me, but to the world at large; writing well is important). Save your assignment as a PDF before submitting.

If you're looking for inspiration here are some examples of reflections from mathematicians:

• Thought Problems.
• Outreach and Variety.
• Math, with Attitude.
• A Mathematician at NIST Today.
• Mathematics and Thinking Mathematically.

Assignment 2: final assessment/reflections. Due 12/12.

In the first essay, you told your story as a mathematician and focussed on the strengths you have because of your math skills. In this assignment, I'd like you to do two things:

1. Discuss your plans and where you think you're going mathematically. What role will math play in your life in the future? Even if you don't plan to do much math, do you see the skills you learned affecting your approaches to other things?
2. Reflect on the discussion of your math weaknesses from the first assignment. Did you make any progress on improvement? Do you have new growth areas or new strategies?

As always, spelling, grammar, and style matter (not just to me, but to the world at large; writing well is important). Aim for 1.5-3 pages. Save your assignment as a PDF before submitting.

Links and Resources

• 2021 edition of the class
• 2017 edition of the class
• 2014 edition of the class
• Presentation rubric (.tex)
• Schedule
• Syllabus

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

• Monday 10-11
• Tuesday 12-1 in the Math Learning Center
• Wednesday 10-11
• Thursday 2-3
• Or by appointment

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 8/27/2024