Math 341: Differential Equations (Fall 2008)
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Course Project

A printable version of the Course Project handout is available.

The groups so far for the course project are (please make your choices and email me by October 1 with your "dyad" choice.

Group

 Members
1 Malee Alexander, Richard Kerr and Gabriela Rodriguez
2 Jonathan Miler and Ariel Krasik-Geiger
3 Greg Pinkel and Brad Ross
4 Christopher Olm and Johnathan Wensman
5 Larry Wong and James Sfregola
6 Emma Crow-Willard and Erik Ackermann

 

Time Slot

 Topic (powerpoint) Group
MON DEC 1 #1 Modeling Road Traffic Greg Pinkel and Brad Ross
MON DEC 1 #2 An Introduction to the Lorenz Equations Emma Crow-Willard and Erik Ackermann
MON DEC 1 #3 Tumor Immune ODE Systems Larry Wong and James Sfregola
WED DEC 3 #1 Numerical and Analytical Solutions to Volterra's Population Model Malee Alexander, Richard Kerr and Gabriela Rodriguez
WED DEC 3 #2  An n-Dimensional Extension of the Volterra-Lotka Model Jonathan Miller and Ariel Krasik-Geiger
WED DEC 3 #3  The Laplace Equation Christopher Olm and Johnathan Wensman

Here is checklist for how to evaluate your Course Project

Does this paper:

¨      have an Introduction, Conclusion and Thesis Statement (which I would prefer that you write in bold)?

¨      provide a paragraph (abstract) at the top which summarizes the salient details of the project?

¨      include ALL and appropriate references and citations (in a consistent style) to sources used to complete the project?

¨      give a precise and well-organized explanation of both the problem and its answer?

¨      clearly label diagrams, tables, graphs, or other visual representations of the math?

¨      define all variables, terminology, and notation used?

¨      use correct spelling, grammar, and punctuation?

¨      contain correct mathematics?

¨      is spell-checked, free of grammar-errors and of a reasonable duration?

¨     contain a cover page with the signatures of all the members of the group?

 

 

Differential Equations Course Project

In this course, you are being asked to complete a course project. This handout details the
information you need to complete the project successfully. The goals of this project are to have
you extend your knowledge of differential equations according to your own personal interest and to
practice your new ODE skills and enhance both your technical writing and communication skills.
The project is worth 20% of your final course grade. Please treat it accordingly.

Project Description: You have two basic options in your project. Option 1: You can find
a research paper where the mathematics is ODE based and you can present that work. If
you choose this option, you should plan to really understand the mathematical work of the
paper and how it connects to what we have done in class. Option 2: “Do” your own ODE
project-develop a model or work on a theory, etc. If you are considering this option, you can
consult your text for ideas. It has lab sections at the end of each chapter. Although it is
not anticipated that any single lab problem would satisfy the project requirement, you could
choose a sequence of exercises and put them together, or just use them as ideas to jump start
your own problem. The project may be done as an individual effort or in pairs or, in one
case, as a trio but in all cases groups get a single grade assigned to them, with members and
myself having input into how the credit should be allotted.

Project Timeline: Your project will have several deadlines associated with it. Although
the majority of your project grade will be based on the final paper and presentation, failure
to fully complete a step by the deadline will result in a 5 point deduction off your final grade.
The project is worth a total of 200 points

1. Project Proposal: Wednesday, October 15th. [25 points] On this day you will turn in
a project proposal that is no less than one page typed and double spaced. It should explain
whether you are choosing option 1 or option 2, your project topic and how the topic is connected
to differential equations. It should include any references you already have that you plan to
be using. If you are choosing option 1, please attach one copy of your primary paper (you can
consult many papers, but only attach the “main” one) as well as an idea of references you may
still need to find. It should also include a detailed plan to complete your project and what you
want your punchline to be that is, you should have an understanding of why your project is cool
and important. If you are proposing a group project, you should also detail how each member
plans to contribute. You only need to include one copy of the proposal, signed by all members.

2. Rough Draft: Friday, November 14th Monday November 17th: [25 points] One component of your final project will
include a formal write up of your work. You should turn in a rough draft of your project paper
by Friday, November 14th at 5 p.m. It is fine to turn in your rough draft early. Drafts should
be submitted by hard copy and not electronically. The length of the paper will vary between
projects, but it is anticipated that no project will be adequately described in less than 5 pages.
You should also include an outline of the paper with your rough draft. This is a technical paper
and should include an abstract, an introduction, a paper body, a conclusion, and appendices.
Figures and relevant data should be included and properly labeled. You should also make sure
to cite any references you have used. EXTRA CREDIT OPPORTUNITY: Rough Draft Handed in by Thursday November 113th at 5pm.

3. Final Paper: Monday, November 24th December 1st: [50 points] Everyone will turn in their final paper
on Monday December 1st by 5 p.m. Notice that this date is before your oral presentations and
before Thanksgiving Break.

4. Oral Presentations: Monday, December 1st and Wednesday, December 3rd. [100 points]
Oral presentations will be done in class. Each project group should plan on speaking
for 15 minutes if the group consists of two people or 10 minutes if solo and 20 minutes if the
group is the trio. This is not a long time to explain the amount of work you have been doing,
so your presentations will have to be well prepared and practiced. Your presentation should be
done with the use of a computer projector in a medium such as power point. A properly timed
presentation will be within a minute of the allotted time. Speaking for a shorter length of time
or a longer length of time will affect your project grade by at least 5 points.