Dr. Sarah's Writing Checklist

This list will be used to grade your assignment, and will be returned to you with comments.

Does this paper:

    Brief Summary of Life and Work

  1. clearly summarize the mathematician's life?
  2. clearly summarize the mathematician's work?

    What Kind of Mathematician is He or She?

  3. one that specifically addresses and answers this question?
  4. one that deeply explores this issue?

    Answer as many as possible (you won't be able to answer everything, but do the best that you can and be creative - you can infer the answers to certain questions by looking in unexpected places): What influences led them to becoming a mathematician? Did they have support from family and society? Why did they become a mathematician? What kind of barriers did they face while becoming a mathematician? How do they describe the process of doing mathematics and/or mathematical research? How do they get the flashes of insight that they need to do research? How do their mathematical minds work? Do they have a photograhic memory? Are they really good with numbers? Are they good at visualization? Does the mathematician often collaborate (ie write papers with other mathematicians) or instead mostly work by themselves? How are they regarded by other mathematicians? What kind of awards or honors have they received? How many mathematical papers/books has the mathematician written? How many students have they had? Other creative explorations to indicate what kind of mathematician they are?

    What are the Issues Related to Gender or Multiculturalism in this Mathematicians Experiences?

  5. one that specifically addresses and answers this question?
  6. one that deeply explores this issue?

    Mathematics

  7. reasonably focus on an aspect of the mathematics?
  8. contain an introduction that summarizes the mathematics to be discussed?
  9. discuss how the mathematics relates to the mathematician?
  10. clearly state the mathematics?
  11. present the mathematics slowly and clearly enough so that Dr. Sarah can follow?
  12. present the mathematics slowly enough so that others who haven't seen it before can follow?
  13. define all variables, terminology, and notation used?
  14. flow smoothly?
  15. give simple examples?
  16. contain correct mathematics?
  17. discuss the importance of the work in the context of mathematics, the real world, and applications?
  18. give evidence that you understand the mathematics that you are discussing? For this section of your paper on some aspect of the mathematics, do not present material that you do not understand.
  19. discuss the mathematics in your own words?
  20. explore the mathematics deeply? This is worth more than the other checklist points.
  21. explain any graphs mentioned?
  22. explain and illustrate any equations, theorems or statements mentioned with examples?

    Writing

  23. contain an introduction that introduces the major themes of the paper by summarizing the contents of the paper, and a conclusion to the paper?
  24. contain reasonably lengthed paragraphs with well defined themes?
  25. use correct spelling, grammar, and punctuation?
  26. address the appropriate audience?
  27. flow smoothly when read out loud?
  28. look professional?
  29. give acknowledgment where it is due?

    References

  30. contain a diverse collection of references from different sources?
  31. contain a list of useful web address references?
  32. contain comments of how you used each reference / what it was useful for?
  33. attempt to explain any contradictions that arose in the references?
  34. contain a printout of the first page of every web reference?