Mat 3500
Abstract Algebra
Fall 2009
Instructor: Dr.
Alice Deanin
Office: SAC 371
Office Phone:
x9-4817
Office Hours:
TuTh;
appointment recommended
Course Description: This course is required for math majors and
strongly recommended for math minor and math ed majors. That makes it sound very important. While the concepts and constructs are basic
enough to enjoy wide application, the importance of this course is the
methodology and perspective that it will introduce (the cycle of experimentation,
observation, definition, conjecture, counterexample, proof). Algebra is a subject that generally arouses
strong feelings (from delight to disgust, with little in between). The novelty of this presentation will
hopefully keep all students, if not enchanted, entertained and certainly busy.
This
course is writing enriched (High in saturated writing).
Text: Contemporary
Abstract Algebra, 6th or 7thed., Joseph A. Gallian, 2006/9 Houghton Mifflin Company.
Classroom:
The class meetings will start with everyone together for a review of the
preceding meeting and questions raised, and description of the general program
for the present meeting. . Students will
then have class time to collaborate on examples, worksheets, and
exercises. The class will reconvene
briefly at the end of class for a recap and completion of a meeting summary and
question form.
Comp.:
There is a computational skill set that is expected as a result of
completion of an algebra course.
Acquisition of these skills will be assessed with some drill
computational exercises and short answer questions in a test format. These
computational competency (aka
comp.comp.= comp.) tests will be administered on
Thursday, 8 October, the
class before midterm, and on Thursday, 10 December, the last class of the
semester.
Exercise Archives:
The text has a nice collection of traditional computational
exercises. The class will collectively
produce an archive of solutions for assigned exercises. (Note the text has answers for the odd
numbered exercises.) These archives are
great for studying for comptests. The archive solutions will be
posted on WebCT. All original papers
will be returned.
Moderated BB Exercises: Some of the text exercises will be assigned
for discussion on a WebCT discussion blog.
All students are expected to participate in these by making postings to
the blog during the assignment period. In addition, a student will be assigned
to each exercise as its moderator. A
good level of participation would be for each student to post to two problems
per week, in addition to any they are assigned to moderate. Moderators will close the blog with a summary
solution at the end of the assignment period.
Written Homeworks: In addition to the archive exercises
and exercise blogs, there will be exercises in writing solutions to
mathematical problems. They will be graded for correctness in mathematical
usage, logic, and writing. These written
exercises may be revised until all three components are satisfactory. The goal is to develop or advance individual
technical writing style. Each student
must write these exercises up individually, even if worked as part of a study
group.
Written Class Recap: These are to be completed by each
student in attendance at the end of each class on the form provided.
Projects: The
text provides opportunities for visual and computational exercises. Each student is expected to submit something
for the visual exercise on symmetry groups, and a lab report for at least one
of these computer exercises during the semester. In addition, each student will complete a
term project, including an investigation, outside reading, Algebra Fair
participation, and a brief written report. Term projects may be assigned to
student pairs.
Fair:
The Algebra Fair this year will be run as a poster session, with
optional short presentations. It will be
held during our scheduled final exam period, Wednesday, 16 December,
Grading: Grading in this course will be
|
Comp.Comp
(two) |
20% |
|
Contributions
to solutions archives |
10% |
|
Participation
in class and BB exercises |
10% |
|
Moderating
homework exercises |
10% |
|
Written
homework exercises |
20% |
|
Short
projects |
20% |
|
Term
project |
10% |
Remark: This is a long description because the class
operates in an unusual manner. The
workload is fairly even throughout the semester; it is not intended to be
crushed into cramming spikes. Attendance
is very important; what you have to contribute is valuable. There are different
ways to be successful in this class, and it is my hope that you will experience
many of them.