Final Project


Due 12/13/03

Choose a topic in geometry relevant to this course and write a 10-15 page paper of explanation or proof.

Most students are expected to expand their midterm project to complete this requirement. Students who are interested in choosing a new topic might try researching the mathematics of M.C. Escher's artwork (see Visions of Symmetry by Doris Schattschneider) or how symmetric patterns are used by different cultures (see the works of Washburn and Crowe).


Grading: The final paper will be graded on a scale of 0 to 25 based on the following criteria. A score of 21 is an A, a score of 18 is a B.

Grade Content
15 Paper presents original research by the student.
13 Paper adequately explains a significant mathematical topic.
9 The topic chosen is relatively trivial (e.g. a single pattern in Pascal's Triangle) or the results presented aren't fully explained by the paper.
5 There are significant mathematical errors in the paper or the mathematics presented in the paper is vague or unclear (for instance, confusing probability and odds).
0 The paper contains no math.

Grade Presentation
10 Paper is engrossing and well written.
8 Paper is well written using complete sentences, well formed paragraphs and flows smoothly from introduction through discussion to conclusion.
5 The paper contains 3 or more run-on paragraphs or other grammatical errors or 1 or 2 sentence fragments, misspelled words or illegible words.
3 The paper contains 3 or more sentence fragments, misspelled words or illegible words.
0 Errors in grammar and spelling make it difficult to determine the topic of the paper.


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