Guidelines for Writing

  • Think about your audience before you start. Assume that your audience is educated, but does not know the mathematics we are using in this course. For example, think of yourself as a worker trying to explain his/her specialized work to an executive who is interested, educated, but clueless about what you do.
  • When writing about how you solved a problem, carefully summarize what you did and state the solution. Put complicated manipulations in an appendix, and tell the reader to look in the appendix for details of the solution.
  • Long computer printouts, such as output from software packages, can be put in an appendix, but be sure to summarize the results in the main body of the report. Be specific! The reader shouldn't have to look in an appendix for actual answers.
  • Whenever possible, summarize data in a graph, chart or picture. Incorporate the graphic into the main report right after the first time you mention it. Don't include any graphics that aren't referenced by or explained in the text. If you didn't need to mention it, then it doesn't need to be included in the report.
  • Content is very important! Did you discuss all of the required points clearly and concisely? Did you introduce the problem and list your conclusions?
  • Make the language readable and (if possible) concise.
  • Break reports more than two pages long into sections, and begin each section by telling the reader what you will be presenting.
  • Check your report carefully for spelling and grammer errors (especially punctuation). Have someone else read it to you.
  • Make your report attractive to look at; use a clear readable font, size 10 or larger. Pay attention to specific formatting directions given with a particular assignment.

    • The Grades will be based on the writing checklist and the following criteria:
  • Correct mathematical formulation and solution of the given problem.
  • Clear and careful explanation of the problem and its solution.
  • Evidence of creative and deep exploration of the problem.
  • Inclusion of computer generated graphs, diagrams and charts, where applicable (see above for instructions!)
  • Presentation in type written, grammatically correct form.