Math 285 Project Specs as of 31 October

The Deadlines

Nov 3 Proposal is due.
This consists of one sheet of paper, typed, with your name and date at the upper right. It has on it a (tentative) title, a 1-2 paragraph description of what you propose to deliver on the due date, and a list of sources on which it is based.
Nov 10 Progress Report is due.
This consists of the final title, an abstract, a description of your progress, and a bibliography. Note that this may be a draft of the entire project, which will be returned to you with corrections and suggestions.
Nov 22 Project is due.
This consists of your name, and date on the upper right corner of the first page, followed by the Title, and the abstract. You may continue on that page, or go to the next. The narrative describes your project. This is followed by the body of the project. The references and bibliography ends the paper.

The Topic

Your project relates topics in Math 285 to your career. Typical (but not exhaustive) ideas include these:

Working out one or several related examples in the text which were not covered in class or homework.
One or several related examples from another source, for example a text in your field, e.g. how chemists convert reaction diagrams into systems of differential equations, or how electrical engineers convert wiring diagrams into system of DEs.
A computer program pertaining to the subjects covered in the class. For example, a graphic like those in the book (e.g. a line field with solution curves), a text based problem assistance program (e.g. a Gaussian eliminator), the computer based projects described in the book.
A report on a topic in differential equations not covered in class including solved problems and, perhaps a comparison of the treatment in two sources.

The Criteria

Your project need not be very long, 4 pages typed is a good size to aim for. Do not attempt to do something which is too difficult for you, which requires extensive consultation, which you are not prepared to complete on time. This piece of work should be

Autonomous
You have the opportunity to choose an activity you are willing and capable of putting a reasonable amount of effort into. You should not need to be told what to do. The conscientious completion of an accepted proposal suffices for a good grade. The only feedback you need is the approval of the proposal, suggestions and corrections made on the progress report, and additional technical information you may need.
Professional
You may specify who the intended reader of your project is. But then you must use appropriate syntax to write a visually attractive report. Pay attention to details. Make sure all the parts are there. Avoid redundancy, undigested quotations, and statements that anyone might make who has not even studied differential equations.
Correct
This is a projects in a mathematics course. There does not have to be much mathematics in it, but what there is must be correct. You do not need to type formulas, leave space, write them in ink. A computer program must actually work.

The Sources

You may use any sources (except ghost-writers). But you must report all sources you looked at in your bibliography. Your references are those sources you actually used. For Web sources you give their complete url and if possible say something about the authority of the author or website. For textual sources, give the full title, author(s), publisher and year. In the reference section quote the title of the section/chapter/example and pages you used. (In other words, don't just say Newton, Sir Isaac, ``Principia", London, 1672, but quote chapter and verse of what you used for your report.) For oral assistance, write ``Private Communication", give the name and title, e.g. Prof., Lab Instructor, Roomate, etc.

Grading Criteria

Your project will be graded for

Content
However, once your proposal is approved, the content portion receives full credit provided it is delivered as proposed.
Style
If you submit a draft as your progress report and follow the stylistic suggestions then the final draft will not be as likely to lose points on style. If your progress report is not a complete draft then the above applies to those parts you submit.
Format
If your project and its documentation conforms to the above specs then it is unlikely to lose format points.
Punctuality
With a large class as ours it is necessary to reward timeliness. Obviously, there are situations that merit extensions of deadlines without penalty. But these have to be negotiated before the deadline and should be substantial. On the other hand, I am disinclined to take off very much merely for being late, so 5-10 points per instance.

And More

There will be a webpage with additional information as students ask and I answer specific questions.