Syllabus

🔹 Accessible Version: Math 300 (Writing for Mathematics)

Course Information

Course Title: Math 300 – Writing for Mathematics (Spring 2026)
Credits: 1 hour
Instructor: Prof. Laura Schaposnik

• Email: schapos@uic.edu
  
  

• Office Hours: Monday 11–12, Monday 9–10
  
  

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

Schedule & Modality:

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

• Monday  12:00–12:50, 

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 – 30%
  
  

• Homework – 20%
  
  

• Presentation Participation – 10%
  
  

• 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.