ASSIGNMENTS
MTH 338 - Spring 2006

Assignments given by number refer to either Roads to Geometry (RG) or Taxicab Geometry (TG).

Term paper deadlines:
5/12/06: Choose a topic
5/19/06: Project proposal due
5/26/06: Draft of introduction due
  6/2/06: Rough draft due
6/12/06: Final version due
Reading assignments:
Week 1: Skim RG §1.1-§1.2; read RG §1.3-§1.4
Week 2: Read TG §1-§3
Week 3: Read TG §4-§5
Week 4: Review RG §2.6; skim RG §3.2-§3.6; read RG §6.2-§6.3
Week 5: Read RG §6.6; skim RG §6.7
Week 6: Read RG §6.8
Week 7: Skim RG §6.4-§6.5
Week 8: Read RG §7.1-7.2; skim RG §7.3-§7.5
Due 6/12/06
Complete your essay.
Turn in hard copy to me in my office by noon. Include the corrected copy of your rough draft.
Late submissions will only be accepted under extreme circumstances, cleared with me in advance. (A Monday morning final may qualify; see me if this is relevant.)
Due 6/9/06
Post comments on at least two of the essays in your group.
Words of encouragement are appreciated, but not sufficient. Indicate the passages you don't understand. Point out spelling and grammar errors. Comment on readability. Offer the constructive criticism you'd like for your own essay. This can be done anytime during the week; don't wait until the last minute.
Due 6/2/06
Write a rough draft of your entire essay.
Turn in hard copy to me. Include the corrected hard copy of your introduction.
Also attach a copy to a posting on your group discussion board. (Alternatively, put a copy in the file exchange area and post a message on the discussion board saying you have done so.)
Ideally, you should submit a complete draft at this time. At a minimum, you should submit a complete introduction and conclusion, and an abbreviated version of the remaining sections.
It is acceptable for now to say, "I will show that taxicab circles are squares," but leave out most of the details. However, it is no longer acceptable to say merely, "I will investigate taxicab circles."
Complete Lab 4, which will be handed out in class on Wednesday, 5/31.
You do not need to turn anything in.
Due 5/26/06
Write (a draft of) the introduction for your essay.
Tell the reader what you are going to do. An appropriate length for this assignment is most of a page.
Post an early draft of your introduction on your group discussion board, the sooner the better -- and comment on the drafts posted by others. Also submit hard copy to me on Friday.
You may wish to use the "File Exchange" feature on your group page to post a formatted document rather than plain text.
Complete Lab 3, which will be handed out in class on Monday, 5/22.
If you missed class, you will not have access to a Lénárt Sphere, and should instead use the Spherical Easel applet, which you can find here. You do not need to turn anything in.
Due 5/19/06
Write a project proposal, consisting of a title and a short description of what you intend to do.
You can present this as an abstract, summarizing the main conclusions, or as an outline, giving a table of contents. An appropriate length for this assignment is roughly half a page.
You are strongly encouraged to post your proposal to your new group's discussion board, but you should submit hard copy to me on Friday, together with your previously submitted topic choice.
Due 5/15/06
Complete Lab 2, which will be handed out in class Wednesday 5/10. (You will also need this handout.)
You do not need to write a paragraph describing your work; just turn in the figures.
Due 5/12/06
Choose a topic for your essay. Write a few sentences explaining your topic.
I encourage you to post your explanation on your group discussion board for comment, but this is not required. A printed copy should be turned in to me in class.
Due 5/5/06
Complete Lab 1, which will be handed out in class Monday 5/1.
If you don't finish the necessary constructions during class, or if you miss class, you will need to complete the assignment on your own in the MLC computer lab in Kidder 108.
Due 4/28/06
Revise your definition of non-Euclidean geometry again.
This assignment is optional, but provides a good opportunity to get additional feedback from me on your writing. You should feel free to use your group discussion board to solicit feedback from your group (and me), but please turn in your final revision to me in class, along with the version which was handed back today (so I can compare them).
Due 4/24/06
TG §3: 7, 15
TG §4: 4, 13ad
Explain your answers. Use complete sentences. Turn this in at the beginning of class Monday.
Due 4/21/06
Revise your definition of non-Euclidean geometry based on feedback from your group.
All feedback should take place on your group discussion board, so you should post draft versions there. Everyone should comment on all of the other definitions in the group. You will need to begin this assignment early in the week in order to allow time for online discussion. Turn in your final version at the beginning of class Friday. Your final version should be correct both grammatically and mathematically.
Due 4/17/06
TG §2: 2, 4, 5
Explain your answers. Use complete sentences. Turn this in at the beginning of class Monday.
Due 4/14/06
Define non-Euclidean geometry.
Post your definition on your group discussion board.
Due 4/10/06
Post at least one comment on your group discussion board about the paragraphs written by the other students in your group.
The first person to post a comment will need to create a thread for the discussion. I suggest something like "Homework 1" for this assignment, with all comments going into a single thread. For later assignments, especially the final paper, it's probably better to create a separate thread to discuss each person's work.
Due 4/7/06
Write one paragraph describing your interest in mathematics.
Email it to your group (or post it on the group website).
See these instructions on how to submit your work.