MA213-6 Second Year Essay
Introductory description
You can choose your own topic in consultation with your tutor (who must approve it) or base an essay on one of the Maths at Work topics after attending the talks.
Students may, and are strongly advised to, submit a draft of their essay to their tutor by the end of the first week of Term 2. You are expected to have consulted the web pages in the additional resources page on essay writing prior to submission of the draft. The tutor will provide written comments and discuss the draft, normally by Week 4 of Term 2.
Students have to give a 15-minute oral presentation of the essay to their tutor and a small group of other second year students, normally in week 9 of Term 2. This presentation is a compulsory requirement and 20% of the essay mark is allocated to the quality of the presentation. Students should seek advice, e.g. from their tutor, on how to convey the content of their essay within such a short period of time; they must not get bogged down in technicalities but they should not be vague.
Module aims
To provide an opportunity for students to learn some mathematics directly from books and other sources.
To develop written and oral exposition skills.
Outline syllabus
This is an indicative module outline only to give an indication of the sort of topics that may be covered. Actual sessions held may differ.
Students can choose their own topic in consultation with their tutor (who must approve it) or base an essay on one of the Maths at Work topics after attending the talks.
Learning outcomes
By the end of the module, students should be able to:
- To learn how to write mathematics well.
- To practice presenting mathematics orally to a group.
- To develop research skills, including planning, use of library and the internet.
Research element
The students will research their own topics, and look through many sources to come up with their own story but they will not be doing any original research.
Subject specific skills
Students have the opportunity to choose their own topic, and then to learn some in-depth mathematics directly from books and other sources. They will develop written and oral exposition skills and learn how to write mathematics well. They will develop research skills, including planning, use of library and the internet.
Transferable skills
- independent study
- research skills
- formal writing & typesetting
- experience of working under a supervisor
- oral presentation skills
Study time
| Type | Required | Optional |
|---|---|---|
| Lectures | (0%) | 3 sessions of 1 hour |
| Seminars | (0%) | 2 sessions of 1 hour |
| Tutorials | (0%) | 5 sessions of 1 hour |
| Private study | 60 hours (100%) | |
| Total | 60 hours |
Private study description
60 hours independent study with guidance from Personal Tutor.
Costs
No further costs have been identified for this module.
You do not need to pass all assessment components to pass the module.
Assessment group A1
| Weighting | Study time | Eligible for self-certification | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Essay | 80% | 52 hours | No |
|
Word limit: 12 pages |
|||
| Oral presentation | 20% | 8 hours | No |
Assessment group R
| Weighting | Study time | Eligible for self-certification | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Essay | 100% | No | |
|
Word limit: 12 pages |
|||
Feedback on assessment
Formative feedback available form personal tutor throughout year, including feedback on topic, plan, draft, oral presentation.
Courses
This module is Core for:
- Year 2 of UMAA-G106 Undergraduate Mathematics (MMath) with Study in Europe
This module is Core option list C for:
- Year 2 of UMAA-GV19 Undergraduate Mathematics and Philosophy with Specialism in Logic and Foundations