Paper Guidelines and Grading Rubric
Focus: Your goal is to work on your topic until it becomes part of you—work through the mathematics yourself (almost as if you were in that time and place), understand the historical context, connect it to the mathematics, and explain both clearly in your own words.
Citations and Sources
- Every fact that is not common knowledge must have a citation with page numbers from your sources.
- Required sources: Your bibliography must include a book, a primary source (may be translated), and a peer-reviewed secondary source. All three must be cited and used meaningfully in your paper.
- Additional sources: You may use more than the three required sources, but they must be books or peer-reviewed articles and used meaningfully (not just listed in the bibliography).
Writing Your Paper
- You may break the rules on this page to make a better paper—but only if you talk to your instructor first, explain your reasons, and get explicit approval.
- Audience: Your paper should be accessible to someone who has completed a first calculus course. Avoid jargon.
- Personal voice: Use your voice, tell a story. Explain how you relate to the ideas, what you found remarkable, or what you struggled to understand. Avoid generic writing.
- If English is not your first language, focus on clear explanations rather than perfect grammar. We prioritize understanding over polish.
- AI Policy: Follow the course AI policy. Your explanations must demonstrate YOUR understanding and engagement with the sources.
Content Guidelines
- Scope: As with the presentation, you may choose to cover a part of your assigned topic—you do not need to cover everything.
- Your paper must discuss both math and history. A good rule of thumb: minimum 30% of each.
- Mathematical content: Include a nontrivial example—not just a definition or formula, but something you work through meaningfully. Pick a concept you find interesting and explore it in depth. It cannot be something you already understand well.
- Historical content: Provide context for when, where, and why this mathematics developed.
- Applications: If you discuss applications, they must connect to historical development. Brief mentions of current uses are fine.
- Images/figures: Include at least 3 relevant figures or tables, clearly labeled, credited, and cited. You're encouraged to create your own visuals.
Format Requirements
- Your submission must begin with the completed first-page template (includes title, word count, math point, and sources). Make a copy, fill it in, and include it at the beginning.
- Font: Standard readable font (e.g., Arial, Times New Roman, Calibri), 12 pt, double-spaced
- Format: Submit as PDF
- Length: Approximately 1,500 words (roughly 6 pages)
- Structure: Must include an introduction and clear section titles
- No screenshots of handwritten math or book pages unless pre-approved
Grading Rubric
Content
| Category | Points | Excellent | Good | Needs Work | Not Demonstrated |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mathematical Content | /8 | Demonstrates deep understanding; includes nontrivial example with clear steps | Adequate explanation with some gaps in depth | Superficial treatment or unclear reasoning | Trivial, wrong, or missing |
| Historical Content | /8 | Thorough, insightful; well-connected to mathematics | Accurate but lacks depth or connection | Basic coverage with little context | Inaccurate or missing |
| Accessibility & Explanation | /8 | Clear, precise, and understandable; uses personal voice | Mostly clear; some jargon but understanding evident | Heavy jargon or unclear; lacks personal engagement | Incomprehensible or no genuine understanding |
| Citations & Source Use | /8 | Every non-common knowledge fact is supported by appropriate citation | Most facts cited; generally appropriate source use | Missing citations for key facts; superficial source use | Many uncited facts; sources not used meaningfully |
Formal Aspects
| Category | Points | Good | Needs Work | Not Demonstrated |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Word Count | /4 | ~1500 words (1400-1600) | 1200-1399 or 1601-1800 | Under 1200 or over 1800 |
| Required Sources | /6 | Book, primary source, and peer-reviewed secondary all present in bibliography, meet type requirements, and all bibliography items are cited in paper | All 3 source types present but some bibliography items not cited or type requirements not met | Missing source type(s) or multiple issues |
| Citations Format | /2 | Citations throughout paper with page numbers | Most citations have page numbers; some missing | Few citations or missing page numbers throughout |
| Format | /1 | PDF, readable font 12pt, double-spaced, first-page template included | Minor format issues | Major format problems or missing template |
| Structure | /1 | Has introduction and clear section titles throughout | Has introduction OR section titles but not both | No introduction or section titles |
| Images/Figures | /1 | 3+ figures/tables, all labeled, credited, and cited | 3+ images but some missing labels/credits | Fewer than 3 or not labeled/credited |
Total: 45 points (Content: 32 points, Formal Aspects: 13 points)
Notes
- Trivial example: Simply stating a formula or definition.
- Nontrivial example: Working through a concept that shows real understanding—for example, showing how the quadratic formula connects to completing the square by solving a specific equation.
- Word count: 1,500 words in 12pt double-spaced Arial is roughly 6 pages.