MVAJ I/II is a mathematical topics course, to be held in English. One main goal is that you should improve your ability to read, write, and talk about mathematics in English. In order to do this, we will discuss some mathematical topics that will likely be new to you. A second main goal is to give you some experience with writing basic professional documents such as letters or CVs.
ANA-I + ALG-I, current enrollment in ANA-II + ALG-II; basic competency with English.
The textbook for this course will be generatingfunctionology, by Herbert Wilf (2nd or 3rd edition).
The textbook lays out the theory of generating functions, which enumerate a sequence by listing its terms as coefficients of a polynomial or power series. This topic links combinatorics with algebra and analysis.
Students will be expected to select a topic to prepare and give a short (15-30 minute) lecture on a topic in this textbook.
The first 4 weeks of the course will be mainly taught by Mojca Kompara, and will focus on professional development. The last 11 weeks of the course will be mainly taught by Russ Woodroofe, and will focus on mathematical topics.
The mathematical topics will focus on generating functions, considered from a variety of viewpoints.
The professional development topics include letter writing (letters of application, cover letters, letters of recommendation), CVs, and presentation skills, as well as a review/overview of English grammar. There will be somewhat differentiated content and assignments for 1st/2nd year students.
In-class practice is an essential part of language instruction, and your regular attendance of the course is important. If you have not attended at least 80% of lectures and tutorials, you may not take a final in the course.
Attendance recording is subject to university academic honesty rules.
Homework assignments will comprise 10% of your grade. A lecture given by you at the board will comprise another 10%. The remaining 80% of your grade will be determined by exams.
The lecture grade will be reported to you after you give the lecture, with feedback. Your lecture grade will be based mainly on the understanding that you show and your understandability to your peers. You will also turn in your (English-language) notes immediately after the lecture, and should select a homework problem related to the topic. It is permissible to select a problem from the book, and if you do so, you should briefly explain why it is useful/related.
There will be 1 midterm examination (kolokvij), to cover mathematical topic and to be held at a mutually convenient time midway through the semester.
In accordance with university policy, there will be at least 4 opportunities to take an instance of the final. (However, you may only take the final once more after you have attained a passing grade.) These are tentatively planned for: 3 Jun, 28 Jun, 29 Aug, 13 Sep.
The exam portion of your grade will be made up either of midterm and final, or else of final alone. More specifically, your overall grade will be determined by
10%(homework) + 10%(your lecture) + max( 30%(midterm) + 50%(final), 80%(final) )
The final will have both mathematical and professional development sections. These sections will be weighted proportionally to class-time spent, or in a ratio of approximately 11 to 4.
You may bring one hand-written A4-sized sheet of paper with you to each exam, but no other aids.
I expect much of your learning to take place in working out the homework problems. While you may collaborate with other students on the homework, I expect you to have thought hard about the problems on your own first. If you do collaborate substantially, then you should so indicate on your homework paper.
Your write-up should in any case represent your own solutions, written in your own words. Copying the solutions from another student or from an internet source is a form of academic dishonesty, and will not be tolerated.
Obviously, exams will be strictly your own work.
Last modified February 18, 2019