instructor: me
goals: while the course topics are centered around discrete structures in math (see official catalogue description), the primary goal for this course is to provide a bridge into abstract mathematics and learn how to read and write proofs. while there are some rules one should follow, mathematical thinking is an art and proving is a social skill (admittedly, nerdier than most social skills), rather than a precise procedure to be followed. as such, these skills are best learned through back-and-forth interactions, and this course is designed to facilitate these interactions.
texts: we will use two books, and you will have regular out-of-class reading from both of them:
class participation: while there may be some lecturing, the bulk of the in-class time will be used for group work and discussions based on the readings and assignments. (see goals above.) as such, it is crucial you keep up with the readings/assignments and participate in class. participation will also be a direct component of your final grade. to increase the usefulness of discussions, keep track of questions you have from the readings.
reading exercises: to help make sure you stay on track with the out-of-class readings and track your understanding of the material, there will be reading exercises associated with most readings. these will typically be a few simple exercises from sections the reading, together with a "your questions" section, to be done out of class when you do the reading and turned in in class on the due date of the reading assignment. for the "your questions" section, write down any questions you want answered about the reading/exercises (it's okay if you don't have any some times, but if you're thinking about the reading, probably you will many times). the exercies will be graded primarily on completion/effort (as opposed to problem sets and exams), and will count towards the participation grade. in class we will work on deepening your understanding of the reading and you will have an opportunity to discuss your questions.
readings exercises will be posted on the main course page, typically at least 2 days before the due date. while you may discuss exercises with other students, you must write up solutions in your own words. late exercises are not accepted.
problem sets: there will be regular written problem sets to be graded on correctness, as opposed to the reading exercises. these assignments will usually be posted about a week in advance on homework page on the course website, and due by the start of the class period on the due date. while you may discuss the problems with other students, you must write up solutions in your own words. you may turn in up two 2 problem sets late (at the start of the next class period) without penalty. in exceptional circumstances, i may grant additional extensions--if you need one talk to me.
exams: there will be 2 in-class exams (tba and tba) as well as the final exam (tba). more info about the exams will be posted on the course website later in the semester. make-up exams are only given in exceptional circumstances at the instructor's discretion.
grades: at the end of the semester, i'm required to give you some grades. these will represent an approximation of my assessment of your understanding of the material in the course. the grades are weighted as follows:
25% class participation (mostly graded on quizzes/attendance,
but if i think you're not participating enough, i'll let you know)
25% problem sets
25% in-class exams (weighted equally)
25% final exam
to be more precise, i will assign a letter grade to each of the 4 categories (which may be "curved"), and your final letter grade will come from averaging these 4 letter grades, with borderline cases being decided on an individual basis (e.g., if your 4 letter grades are AABB or ABBB then the average is bewteen an A and a B, so I will consider other factors such as effort and your overall understanding at the end of the course to assign an A or a B. if the grades are AAAB i will round up to A). in exceptional cases (e.g., a poor start but a strong finish), i may adjust a final letter grade to be higher than what the above procedure dictates.
to get a sense of how you are doing in the class, i will give you projected letter grades around the time of the in-class exams. if you have questions about your performance or grade during the semester, please feel free to see me.
final remark: if you have a question about course policies or expectations, just ask.
oh, also there's some stuff my bosses make me say
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