MAT 300-02L

Spring 2006

Paper #2

Due March 7.

650-750 words.  The paper should be double-spaced.

Write a review or critique of the article "Problem Solving from the History of Mathematics”, by Frank J. Swetz, excerpted from Using History to Teach Mathematics: An International Perspective, edited by Victor Katz, and published by the Mathematical Association of America.   The article was passed out in class; see Dr. Gingrich if you do not have a copy.  Address the paper either to another student in the class or to another student at your own level of   mathematical sophistication. 

Include answers to the following questions:

·        What was the central theme or focus of the article?

·        What did you find most interesting about the article?

Other things you might consider include, but are not limited to, the following:

·        Do you feel that the article was appropriate for this course?

·        Do you feel that the article was accessible for a student at your level of mathematical sophistication?

·        What parts of the article, if any, were you unable to understand?

·        Does the article take a position (or positions) that you agree or disagree with?

·        Can you make any connections between the article and your own mathematical experiences?

·        If you enjoyed the article, how would you convince a friend to read the article?

·        If you did not like the article, critique it from a mathematical point of view or explain why you disagree with the arguments or conclusion of the article.  Do not just say that it was "hard" or "uninteresting".

Be sure that your paper has a flow to it.  It should not just be a set of paragraphs that individually answer the questions above but that do not connect with each other.