Math 114 discussion description for section 301/302.

Discussion web page: http://www.math.wisc.edu/~ejohnson/114/

Instructor Information.

• TA: E. Alec Johnson (ejohnson@math.wisc.edu)
• Instructor: Dr. Adriana Nenciu (nenciu(at)math(dot)wisc(dot)edu)

Review Format.

• This is a problem-solving and drill session, not a regurgitation of lecture.
• I'll assign you to work groups of three or two.
• Discussion will generally consist of three parts:
  1. answering questions in work groups,
  2. large-group discussion, and
  3. quiz or drill/problem-solving.
• When you arrive:
  1. Group up,
  2. discuss the HW problems you didn't get,
  3. write on the board the problems none of you got,
  4. look for a problem on the board that you did get, and
  5. write up your solution to that problem.
• Come to class prepared. This means that you (1) have studied the lecture and identified points you didn't understand, and (2) have worked on the problems that were assigned until you finished them or got stuck. So you should be prepared either to ask questions or to answer the questions of other students.
• We'll start class by answering your questions. First try to answer your own questions in your group. If your group doesn't have the answer, ask me. I'll address the whole class regarding questions that many people have.
• Come early. If you have more questions, arrive a bit earlier. I generally come to class early to answer questions.
• I will regularly quiz you on the material covered by the homework. I reserve the right to give pop quizzes. These are more likely to happen if I see that people are coming to class unprepared.

• You're welcome to bring your breakfast to class.
• I will change the groups regularly. I want you to get to know your classmates.
• Talk to me if you are having problems with the format.

• Mathematics is simply a shorthand for the English language. Just like in English composition, everything you write should be a complete sentence, and each sentence should follow logically from the previous. This means that there should be no naked expressions without equals signs. Every expression should be part of an equation. Each equation should follow from the previous equations or should be identified as given information. Every variable you use should be defined.

• Homework will be collected and spot-corrected. The purpose of turning in homework is to give you more feedback. Homework will probably not be assigned a grade (unless I tell you otherwise). In any case, I'm looking for quality of work rather than correctness of answers.
• I view homework as a paper form of office hours. Put question marks by problems you didn't understand and write questions on your homework. The more effort you put into formulating your questions, the more effort you can expect me to put into writing a response. Structure your work neatly and copy the information in the problem. Your reader should be able to follow your work without consulting the problem in the textbook.

• I will give regular quizzes. I will throw out your lowest two quiz scores. I'm not doing make-up quizzes. If you miss a quiz (even if you were sick), it will count as one of the quizzes you drop.

• Your discussion score will contribute 50 of the 280 total points for the course. (The rest comes from your examinations.)
• I will give regular (probably weekly) quizzes on the homework. These quizzes (as well as the worksheets) should help prepare you for the exams.

• Office hours: Talk to me after lecture or discussion section if you have questions. If your questions are more involved, we can wander up to my office together (or arrange to meet in my office at 9:55am if you are in my 7:45-8:35am discussion section).
• Math Lab: Open Monday-Thursday, 3:30-8:30pm in B227 Van Vleck. Graduate students are available to answer questions. Math Lab opens beginning September 17th.