Syllabus

🔹 Accessible Version: Math 300 (Writing for Mathematics)

Course Information

Course Title: Math 300 – Writing for Mathematics (Fall 2025)
Credits: 1 hour
Instructor: Prof. Laura Schaposnik

• Email: schapos@uic.edu
  
  

• Office Hours: Monday 11–12, Wednesday 1–2
  
  

• Zoom Office: Zoom link (Passcode: laura2025)
  Teaching Assistant: Lexie Wheeler (awheel23@uic.edu)
  
  

Schedule & Modality:

• Monday 10:00–10:50, Stevenson Hall 103
  
  

• Monday 14:00–14:50, Stevenson Hall 100
  
  

• Wednesday 14:00–14:50, Stevenson Hall 100
  
  

Course Description

This course fulfills the Writing-in-the-Discipline requirement. Students will learn to:

• Analyze and critically reason about mathematical ideas.
  
  

• Gather and evaluate evidence.
  
  

• Use LaTeX effectively.
  
  

• Write high-quality scientific content.
  
  

Textbook: Writing for Mathematics by Laura Schaposnik (2021). ISBN 978-1-7370584-4-1.
Supplementary Material: Course website.

Grading Policy

• Essay – 20%
  
  

• Homework – 20%
  
  

• Presentation Participation – 20%
  
  

• Final Presentation – 40%
  
  

Late Work: Homework deadlines are strict unless medical or other legitimate reasons apply. One homework may be dropped.

Attendance and Participation

Attendance is strongly encouraged. Participation in presentation weeks counts for 10% of the final grade.

Weekly Schedule

• Week 1: What to expect from the class.
  
  

• Week 2: Introduction to writing homework, essay, quizzes.
  
  

• Week 3: Introduction to using AI for scientific writing.
  
  

• Week 4: Pros and cons of AI for popularizing mathematics.
  
  

• Week 5: Avoiding fallacies.
  
  

• Week 6: Writing a scientific bio sketch.
  
  

• Week 7: Defining an evaluation system.
  
  

• Week 8: Self-evaluation.
  
  

• Week 9: Terry Tao’s vision on AI and mathematics.
  
  

• Week 10: Using AI for presentations.
  
  

• Week 11: How to prepare a presentation.
  
  

• Week 12: How to plan a presentation.
  
  

• Weeks 13–15: Final Presentations.
  
  

Accommodations

If you face disability-related barriers, contact the Disability Resource Center (drc@uic.edu, 312-413-2183).
For religious accommodations, please submit the Religious Accommodation Request Form within the first 10 days of the semester.

Course Description
Math 300: Writing for Mathematics is an undergraduate course designed to develop students’ ability to communicate mathematics clearly and effectively in both professional and public contexts. The course fulfills the Writing-in-the-Discipline requirement and is intended for majors in the Department of Mathematics, Statistics, and Computer Science.

Over the semester, students will:

• Practice clarity, precision, and coherence in mathematical writing.

• Learn to use LaTeX as a professional writing tool.

• Explore the role of AI tools in scientific communication, with emphasis on their strengths and limitations.

• Write essays and shorter assignments analyzing mathematical ideas, arguments, and applications.

• Prepare and deliver presentations, both in-person and online, to practice communicating mathematics to diverse audiences.
  
  

Course Structure

• Weekly lectures and workshops introduce topics such as accessibility in mathematics, avoiding fallacies, writing scientific bios, using images and quotes, and strategies for evaluation and self-assessment

• Students will complete homework assignments, progressively draft an essay, and participate in presentations.

• The semester culminates in final presentations where students showcase their ability to present mathematical ideas in a polished, engaging format.
  
  

Learning Goals
By the end of the course, students will:

• Critically analyze and evaluate mathematical arguments.

• Write high-quality scientific and expository mathematical content.

• Gain fluency in LaTeX and experience with AI-assisted writing tools.

• Develop professional presentation and communication skills tailored to mathematics.
  
  

Grading Breakdown

• Essay: 20%

• Homework: 20%

• Presentation participation: 20%

• Final Presentation: 40%