Topic Guide
Undergraduate Mathematics Seminar
Non-Duplicative
- For students enrolled in the seminar class, their topic must
not be covered in an Ohio University undergraduate Mathematics
course.
- For guest presenters, topics not covered in an Ohio University undergraduate Mathematics
course are preferred, but topics covered in a 4xxx course are allowed.
Appropriate Level for the Audience
The target audience for the presentations is Junior and Senior
Mathematics majors.
- Assume all of the audience has taken Calculus (2301, 2302,
3300) and Linear Algebra (3200 or 3210) and that many in the
audience have taken Probability (3500), Differential Equations
(3400), and Discrete Mathematics (3050 or CS 3000).
- If the topic is accessible without mathematical
sophistication equivalent to a Junior Mathematics major, then
the level is too low.
- If the majority of time in the presentation would be spent
filling in background material so that a Junior Mathematics
major could comprehend the topic itself, then the topic is too
advanced.
Appropriate Size
The seminar is targeted at 45 minutes.
- An introduction to a new area can be rather broad. However,
if the presentation would mainly be listing many things then
the topic is too broad. For example, 'Calculus' is too
broad.
- A more focused topic can go into details and give
proofs. However, (well) less than half the presentation should
be about details.
- A topic can include a balance, with a broad view of an area
or problem and the details about a few parts of it.
Appropriate Level for the Presenter
- Student presenters are not expected to conduct original
mathematical research on the topic. (If they are conducting
research for another purpose then they may present it.)
- Student presenters are expected to do background research
on the topic and to synthesize material from two or more
sources. Topics that do not require such research or that are
taken directly from a single source are too simple.
Other Considerations
- The topic should be very interesting to the presenter and
also interesting to the audience.
Martin J. Mohlenkamp
Last modified: Tue Aug 7 20:54:36 UTC 2018