APPM 2450 Calculus III Computer Lab

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APPM 2450Calculus III Computer Lab

• Writing Workshop I

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Why Write?

• You will need writing every single day of your
  career
• Technical reports
• Documentation
• Office memos
• E-mail
• Software comments even!

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Fact The better a writer you are, the more
valuable you will be to any organization
It is often the case that your ability to
communicate your ideas persuasively is more
important than the ideas themselves
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Writing Goals of Calculus III Labs

• Learn basic technical writing skills
• Improve organization in writing
• Improve clarity and logic in writing
• Improve grammar and mechanics
• Improve writing style

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Organization

• Title Page
• Title of report
• Students names
• Date
• TAs name
• Recitation number

Equinox and Solstice
Fall 2005
Student 1s NameTA Name and Rec.
Student 2s NameTA Name and Rec.
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Organization

• Introduction
• States the purpose of the document
• Sets up the structure of the document
• Concise one or two paragraphs
• Relatively non-technical
• No complicated equations or problem background
• Can have a sentence summarizing results of lab

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Organization

• Body
• Main part or the report
• All required qualitative and quantitative results
• Contains prose, equations, and graphics
• Divided into sections with headings
• Look for logical places to make divisions
• Use descriptive heading titles!

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Organization

• Conclusion
• Restate the primary conclusions
• Brief but comprehensive
• Need not be too technical
• A place for general comments and reflections

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Organization

• Appendix
• A place to put extra material too lengthy for the
  body
• Examples Extra graphs, lengthy calculations
• All data in appendix should be referred to in
  main body
• No major conclusions in appendix! Appendix
  should be able to be torn out and the paper still
  makes sense
• REFERENCE the appendix when you use it

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Logic

• Read the lab
• Read the text of the lab carefully
• Understand the background
• Understand what is being asked of you

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Logic

• Compute
• Do the math first
• Understand the technical difficulties
• Seek help with questions

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Mechanics and Format

• Neatness
• Labs must be typed (word processed)
• Print on 8.5 x 11 paper
• Long calculations can be hand written if need be,
  but only on 8.5 x 11 printer paper
• Dont use loose-leaf paper

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Mechanics and Format

• Page format
• Use 1.5 line spacing
• Reasonable font - 12 points
• Margins no more than 1.25 inches

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Mechanics and Format

• Graphics, equations, and tables
• Must be included in body of lab
• Must be LABELED!
• Graphs must have titles and labeled axes

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Mechanics and Format

• Software
• Mathematica to solve math problems
• Word processor for editing
• Can cut images from Mathematica and paste into
  Word (copy as Metafile, or Bitmap)
• Use of other math software possible, but not
  supported by instructors or TAs
• Be consistent with your font usage