| Systems
Seminar II & III SYSM 682/683 |
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Virginia
Commonwealth University Spring 2021 M 9:30-10:45, Harris Hall 4155 |
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SYLLABUS
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INSTRUCTOR:
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| Richard Hammack | Office: Harris Hall 4166 | |
| E-mail: rhammack@vcu.edu |
Office hours: MF 12:30-1:30, W
12:00-1:00
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| Web page: www.people.vcu.edu/~rhammack/ | and by appointment. | |
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| PREREQUISITES: | |
| Graduate standing in Mathematical Sciences or Systems Modeling and Analysis | |
| SYSM 682 This course covers aspects of writing about background material and published results in the mathematical sciences. The goal is to write an introduction or literature review to a dissertation or journal article, putting a topic into context and developing the necessary background. In advance of this you will write a project description, and first and second drafts. You will also give a 20-minute presentation about your project to the class You are required to have a faculty advisor for this course. This advisor will direct your dissertation or project. Although I will read and evaluate your work during the semester, you are expected to also work closely with your advisor. It is vital that you have and advisor and have identified a research topic by the first week of the semester. |
SYSM 683 This course covers aspects of writing articles for publication in the mathematical sciences. Students will write a draft of a journal article. In advance of this you will write a project description, and first and second drafts. You will also give a 20-minute presentation about your project to the class You are required to have a faculty advisor for this course. This advisor will direct your dissertation or project. Although I will read and evaluate your work during the semester, you are expected to also work closely with your advisor. It is vital that you have and advisor and have identified a research topic by the first week of the semester. |
Because Spring 2021 classes at VCU will be virtual for an undetermined period, we will meet virtually instead of on campus. I have sent you a Zoom link for our class meetings. Also, because this class is very small, there will be some weeks that we do not meet. Instead I will be in regular email contact with each of you to address specific aspects of your work and give you individual feedback.
It is expected that you have a project advisor who will be working closely with you on your project. My role is to give you extra feedback, guidance and motivation, and to keep your writing on schedule.
The assignments include: (1) A research project description;
(2) A First draft; (3) A second draft; (4) A presentation; and (5) A
final manuscript.
More detail is included in the course calendar below.
Your grade will be weighted as follows:
15%: Project description, first & second drafts
10%: Presentation
75%: Final project
| MONDAY | SYSM 682 | SYSM 683 |
| January 25 | Zoom Introductory Meeting |
Zoom Introductory Meeting |
| February 1 | Research Project Description Due Write a short (1 to 2 page) description of your research project. The description should be technically correct, yet understandable to a general audience. Also share the description with your faculty advisor and get their feedback and approval before submitting it for this class. |
Project Description Due Write a short (1 to 2 page) description of your research project. The description should be technically correct, yet understandable to a general audience. Also share the description with your faculty advisor and get their feedback and approval before submitting it for this class. |
| February 8 | VCU Librarian Julie Arendt will speak on creating a
literature review. Slides are here. |
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| February 15 | ||
| February 22 | First Draft of Introduction Due Turn in a first draft of your introduction. The length should be at least 3 pages (double spaced, 12 pt font, 1 inch margins). Included should be an outline of the major sections and notes on planned material. Librarian Julie Arendt will speak. Topic: Selecting a journal to publish in |
First Draft of Manuscript Due Turn in a first draft of your introduction. The length should be at least 3 pages (double spaced, 12 pt font, 1 inch margins). Included should be an outline of the major sections and notes on planned material. Librarian Julie Arendt will speak. Topic: Selecting a journal to publish in |
| March 1 | LaTeX and Beamer tips |
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| March 8 | Presentation Guidelines and Evaluation
Criteria |
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| March 15 | Writing day (No class, but I will be on Zoom to answer
any questions.) |
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| March 22 | Student Presentations: One 20 minute presentations with 5 minutes for questions. (Moheng) |
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| March 29 | Student Presentations: Two 20 minute presentations with 5 minutes for questions (Fatemeh, Abdul) |
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| April 5 | Second Draft of Introduction Due This draft should have material in each section. It should contain a focused literature review that properly places your work within the context of previous work. The length should be from 10 to 30 pages (double spaced, 12 pt font, 1 inch margins). |
Second Draft of Manuscript Due This manuscript draft should have material in each section (introduction, results, conclusion) and contain an abstract that succinctly states the major results of the paper. It should contain a focused literature review that properly places your work within the context of previous work. The length should be from 10 to 30 pages (double spaced, 12 pt font, 1 inch margins). |
| April 12 | Peer Review Assigned Exchange drafts with a peer classmate. (To be assigned.) You have a week to read their work and write a review of it. |
Peer Review Assigned Exchange drafts with a peer classmate. (To be assigned.) You have a week to read their work and write a review of it. |
| April 19 | Peer Review Due Provide comments on the peer's draft. Include a paragraph summarizing the subject of the introduction and a paragraph summarizing your evaluation. Provide a list of specific comments, major and minor. |
Peer Review Due Provide comments on the peer's draft. Include a paragraph summarizing the subject of the introduction and a paragraph summarizing your evaluation. Provide a list of specific comments, major and minor |
| April 26 | ||
| May 3 | Final Project Due Submit a final, finished draft of your introduction. You should have resolved all issues raised in the peer review and my comments. Submit a copy to your advisor also. |
Final Draft of Manuscript Due Submit a final, finished draft of your manuscript. You should have resolved all issues raised in the peer review and my comments. Submit a copy to your advisor also. On a separate file, provide a point-by-point response to your reviewer's comments, and indicate how (if at all) you resolved the issue in your final draft. |