Math 450 - 01
Dr. Fenton
Readings in Mathematics
Spring 2013
This course meets Tuesdays and Thursdays, 8:00 - 9:15 a.m. in Pasteur 106
Web page at http://www.bellarmine.edu/faculty/fenton/
A. INTRODUCTION
This course will be unlike other mathematics courses you have taken at Bellarmine. It is almost
an independent study course, for much of the work will be done through one-to-one discussions
with the instructor. The general purpose of the course is for you to reflect upon your
mathematical education and to explore some topics in greater depth. Thus the principal role of
the instructor is to guide you as you explore.
For portions of the semester, we will not meet as a class. (See the course calendar.)
However, you will be required to meet regularly with me to review your progress on the writing
assignments.
B. OFFICE INFORMATION
My office is Alumni Hall 202, phone 272-8059. My office hours are 9:30-10:30 on Tuesdays and
Thursdays (though I occasionally will have conflicts). Other times are possible by appointment.
You can contact me electronically either on the campus network or at
wfenton@bellarmine.edu. Messages may be left in my mailbox in Alumni Hall. Feel free to
phone me at home at 454-7855 (but not after 9:00 p.m. please).
C. COURSE DESCRIPTION (from the catalog)
"A capstone course for majors in mathematics and actuarial science. Professional readings will
be assigned. Satisfactory completion of a major writing project and oral presentations are
required."
D. PREREQUISITE Senior standing or permission of the instructor.
E. TEXTBOOK
None. However, you will be expected to make use of the library.
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F. LEARNING OBJECTIVES
This course focuses on communication and self-study. You will be exposed to new topics within
mathematics and will gain experience at teaching yourself new mathematics.
Learning Objective
Students will improve their ability to read and
learn mathematics independently.
Students will demonstrate their ability to write
clearly and correctly about mathematical
topics.
(Departmental Goal 2, Gen. Ed. goal 10)
Students will demonstrate their ability to give
oral presentations on mathematical topics.
(Departmental Goal 2, Gen. Ed. goal 10)
Students will experience the intellectual rigor
of depth in an advanced subject area.
(Departmental Goal 5, Gen. Ed. goal 9)
Students will demonstrate an awareness of a
broad variety of applications, both in and out
of mathematics.
(Departmental Goal 4)
Students will demonstrate reasonable
proficiency with major topics from important
subfields of mathematics.
(Departmental Goal 5,Gen. Ed. goal 8)
How proficiency will be demonstrated
This will be demonstrated through papers,
presentations, and the poster.
This will be demonstrated through papers.
This will be demonstrated through
presentations.
This will be demonstrated through papers,
presentations, and the poster.
This will be demonstrated through papers and
presentations, as well as the comprehensive
exam.
This will be demonstrated through papers,
presentations, and the comprehensive exam.
In addition, I hope that you develop a greater appreciation of how the skills and ways of thinking
you have learned as a mathematics major can contribute to your life beyond academia.
G. COURSE REQUIREMENTS
Here are the assignments for this course. More detailed instructions will be available on the
website and we will discuss them in class.
 Paper #1: Write a summary of an article from a mathematics journal. Make a short
presentation on this to the class.
 Paper #2: Write a short history of a topic in mathematics. Make a short presentation on this to
the class.
 Class Participation: You will be assessed based on your attendance at all class meetings and
at individual appointments outside of class. You are expected to be prepared for these class
meetings and for the individual appointments.
 Major Project: By February 21 you are expected to choose the topic for your final paper and
submit a one page proposal describing your project. You will be required to meet
individually with me and with a faculty mentor while you work on this paper. I will ask for a
resource list and a first draft as the project develops. The final draft is due April 16.
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


Comprehensive Exam: You are required to pass the departmental exit exam. This exam
covers material from across your mathematics major and we will spend many class periods
reviewing. If you do not pass on the first attempt, a re-take will be scheduled. This exam will
be given on Sunday March 17, 2:00-5:00. While the exam does not affect your grade,
failure to pass by the end of the semester will result in a grade of Incomplete for the course.
Poster presentation: Your major project will be part of the Undergraduate Scholarship Poster
Session on April 15. This includes submitting a project abstract, preparing a poster, and
attending the poster session to present your work.
Final Presentation: On Tuesday May 2, you will make a presentation to the class from your
research paper. This is not to be a reading of the paper, but a summary of its major ideas. The
presentation will be discussed in class on April 16, and further details will be posted on the
web page.
H. GRADING
Grades will be assigned as follows:
A+
Impress me!
A
[93%, 100%]
A[90%, 93%)
B+
[87%, 90%)
B
[83%, 87%)
B[80%, 83%)
C+
[77%, 80%)
C
[73%, 77%)
C[70%, 73%)
D+
[67%, 70%)
D
[63%, 67%)
D[60%, 63%)
F
[0%, 60%)
First paper
75 points
First presentation
25 points
Second paper
75 points
Second presentation 25 points
Class participation
50 points
Comprehensive Exam
Poster
100 points
Major project
200 points
Final presentation
50 points
Your course grade will be your point total as a percentage of the 600 possible points.
I. UNIVERSITY POLICIES
Academic Honesty
“I strongly endorse and will follow the academic honesty policy as published in the Bellarmine
University Course Catalog, available on the university website.. Students and faculty must be fully
aware of what constitutes academic dishonesty; claims of ignorance cannot be used to justify or
rationalize dishonest acts. Academic dishonesty can take a number of forms, including but not
limited to cheating, plagiarism, fabrication, aiding and abetting, multiple submissions, obtaining
unfair advantage, and unauthorized access to academic or administrative systems. Definitions of
each of these forms of academic dishonesty are provided in the academic honesty section of the
Course Catalog. All confirmed incidents of academic dishonesty will be reported to the Assistant
Vice President for Academic Affairs, and sanctions will be imposed as dictated by the policy. The
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instructor’s choice of penalty ranges from a minimum penalty of failing the assignment or test to
failing the course itself. If the student has a record of one prior offense, he or she will be suspended
for the semester subsequent to the one in which the second offense took place. This sanction is in
addition to the penalty imposed by the faculty member. If the student has a record of two prior
offenses, he or she will be immediately dismissed from the university upon the third offense. ”
Disability Policy (from the Student Handbook)
“Students with disabilities who require accommodations (academic adjustments and/or auxiliary aids or
services) for this course must contact the Disability Services Coordinator. Please do not request
accommodations directly from the professor. The Disability Services Coordinator is located in the
Counseling Center, phone 272-8480.”
Severe Weather
Refer to the current student handbook for details regarding changes in schedule due to bad weather.
Faculty will arrange class schedules to meet learning outcomes in the event classes will be cancelled.
Travel Policy
“The University requires students who will be absent from class while representing the University to
inform their instructors in two steps. During the first week of the course, students must meet with each
instructor to discuss the attendance policy and arrangements for absences related to Universitysponsored events. Second, students must provide the instructor with a signed Student Absentee
Notification Form, available via the student portal on the University intranet, at the earliest possible
opportunity, but not later than the week prior to the anticipated absence. The Student Absentee
Notification Form does not serve as an excused absence from class. Your instructor has the final say
about excused and unexcused absences and it is the student’s responsibility to know and abide by the
instructor’s policy.”
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