Guide to Writing for the Mathematics Major

Mathematics majors must learn to do a wide variety of writing ranging from definitions and explanations of concepts up to proofs and research papers. Each type of writing has its own set of rules and guidelines. However, they all require good grammar and mechanics. If you need help with these, follow the links in the left margin and/or go to the Academic Skills Center or Pearce Center.

Since higher-level courses require higher-level writing skills, the department has designed the writing assignments in the major courses to build incrementally. For example, MATH 150 has a 2-page formal paper, MATH 350 and 360 five-page papers, and MATH 480 has a 10-page paper.