Oral Talk Project
Overview
My goal is for you to explore some area of mathematics
or computer science that is of interest to you.
You will give a 10-15 minute talk on a topic related to
mathematics or computer science
that you find interesting. This talk must be distinct
from a similar talk you may have given for another
course.
You should come see me to make sure your topic meets the
course requirements.
Your talk must connect to and expand on
material covered in a 300-level mathematics or computer
science course. The scope of the talk is up to
you, but I suggest some of
the following:
- Colloquium Topic
- Expand and further explore a colloqouim topic from
this semester or even a previous semester.
- Topic Review
- Identify a collection of sources on a topic and
write a summary article on the topic.
- Paper Review
- Take a peer-reviewed research journal article you
find interesting and summarize the interesting points.
- Course Topic
- Write about a topic from one of your favorite
courses, but not covered in that course. For example,
considering writing about a topic touched on in a
homework problem or in a chapter not covered.
- Historical Biography
- Write a biography of a famous mathematician or
computer scientist.
- Classical Problem
- Write about a classical mathematics or computer
science problem that had a significant impact on the
field.
- Popular Press Book Summary
- Write about a popular press mathematics or computer
science book summarizing the important points of the
book.
- Honors Thesis Prospectus
- Outline your plans for an honors thesis.
- Research Plans
- Provide detailed plans of a FURSCA or other research
project you plan to perform.
- Detailed Proof
- Provide a detailed proof of a mathematical theorem
that goes beyond the scope of material in our
undergraduate courses, but aimed at students in the
audience.
- Project Summary
- Provide a detailed account of a FURSCA project,
directed study, internship, or research project you
have conducted.
- Math/CS Contest Problem
- Start with an interesting problem from either a
mathematics contest (Putnam, MATH Challenge, LMMC,
etc) or computer science contest (ACM, Denison, etc).
Solve the problem completely and correctly. Generalize
the problem and provide a solution to the generalized
problem. Your paper will include an overview of the
problem, why it is interesting, why your
generalization is nontrvial, and your solutions to the
both the original and generalized problems.
Deliverables
A paragraph (roughly 200 words) describing the topic and
scope of your paper
must be sent via email to me by the due date.
You should include a statement of the importance of the
topic and
why it is of interest to you.
After reading
your proposal, I may suggest you broaden, narrow, or
possibly
change your topic.
Once your topic is agreed upon, you will need to consult
me
regarding any changes you might want to make later in
the term.
You will need to create slides using LaTeX (with the
beamer package).
Students opting for a chalkboard talk will need prepare
LaTeX notes.
Harcopies of slides or notes need to be delivered to me
in advance of your talk.
I strongly encourage you to prctive your talk and I am
happy to critique your talk in advance.
Yout talk!
References
- Public Speaking
- Technically
Speaking
A website that is the outcome of a project designed
to improve the oral communication skills of
undergraduate mathematics and related STEM (Science,
Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) students.
The project developed a series of video vignettes
that portrayed student-actors presenting a small
portion of a mathematical talk, roughly 30-90
seconds in length. In each set of vignettes, the
student would give two ways to present an idea: one
with shortcomings, the second correcting these
shortcomings. These are based on the following
article.
- Advice on Giving a Good PowerPoint Presentation,
Joseph Gallian, Math Horizons 13, April
2006.
- Online Databases
- ACM
Portal
The ACM portal allows searching of the ACM Digital
Library, containing full text of every article ever
published by ACM, and the Guide to Computing
Literature, containing bibliographic citations from
major publishers in computing.
- MathSciNet
MathSciNet is an electronic publication offering
access to a carefully maintained and easily
searchable database of reviews, abstracts and
bibliographic information for much of the
mathematical sciences literature.
- Journals and Other Sources for Topics
- Computer Science
- ACM
Crossroads Student Magazine
- Byte.com
- Communications
of the ACM
- Computer
- Computerworld
- PC World
- CNET News.com
- Mathematics
- MAA
Math Horizons
- MAA
Online Columns
- AMS:
What's New in Mathematics
- Plus magazine
- The
Harvard College Mathematics Review
- The
Rose Hulman Institute's Undergraduate
Mathematics Journal
- The
Furman University Electronic Journal of
Undergraduate Mathematics
- The
Morehead Electronic Journal of Applicable
Mathematics
- The
College Mathematics Journal
- Mathematics
Magazine
- American
Mathematical Monthly
- The
College Mathematics Journal
- Pi
Mu Epsilon Journal
- PRIMUS:
Problems, Resources, and Issues in Mathematics
Undergraduate Study
- The
Pentagon: The Official Journal of Kappa Mu
Epsilon
- The
Mathematical Intelligencer
- Communications
in Visual Mathematics
- The
UMAP Journal: Undergraduate Mathematics and
Its Applications
- General Science
- American
Scientist
- NewScientist
- Computers
& Math News from ScienceDaily
- Scientific
American
Talk to your professors for other ideas!
This is an opportunity for you to delve into an area
that fascinates you.
Copyright © 1996-2010, David A.
Reimann.
All rights reserved.
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