Reduce, Reuse, Recycle: Resources and Strategies for the Use of Writing Projects in Mathematics

Abstract

As an often recommended but under-utilized pedagogical strategy, writing in mathematics has many benefits for students. However, creating and grading worthwhile writing projects can be more time-consuming than utilizing more traditional forms of assessment. This paper provides a concrete example of a writing project prompt, questions, directions, and rubric which can be utilized in any of a Calculus, Differential Equations, or Mathematical Modeling course. The authors provide strategies for reducing the writing project workload by reusing a well-formulated project prompt to address varying levels of mathematical content. Strategies and author comments about lessons learned while implementing the projects are included.

Beginning Mathematical Writing Assignments

“…We detail this approach for each assignment in the subsequent sections. Students collaborated during class but were expected to each write their own separate paper, as opposed to Latulippe and Latulippe's assignments in [14], in which 2-3-student groups turned in a single essay. This was to ensure that each student was responsible for their own writing, as we prioritized writing over problem-solving.…”