Mathematics 317: Evaluation of written proofs
Written proofs will be evaluated for mathematical completeness and
correctness, and for the quality of the writing.
Ordinarily, I will use an eight-point scale, with four
points for the mathematics and four points for the writing.
Points for Mathematics
- [4 points] The proof is complete and correct.
- [3 points] The proof is nearly complete and correct. It has only a minor
error or omission.
- [2 points] The proof has a substantial error or omission.
- [1 point] The proof has major errors or omissions but makes some
progress.
- [0 points] The attempted proof makes no progress.
Points for Writing
Submit proofs that are edited and polished into final form. Documents
bearing erasures, deletions or other corrections are not acceptable.
- Address the proof to a reader who has taken a year course in calculus.
- Begin with a statement of what is to be proved.
- State your assumptions; tell what you will prove and indicate the
method of proof.
- Use the pronoun "we."
- If you type your proof, set variables in italic type.
- Write in complete sentences.
- Use paragraph breaks to set off major steps in the proof, such as the necessity and sufficiency parts of an "if and only if" theorem.
- About displayed equations:
- Break text to display important or long equations.
- Write the text surrounding a displayed equation so that together with the display it makes a complete sentence.
- Number a displayed equation if you refer to it elsewhere in the text.
- Tell the reader when the proof is complete.
