Instructions: Mathematical Autobiography Paper
Please read through these instructions before starting.
Preliminary step (completed in a Forum): Make a list of 20 mathematical experiences (yes, twenty). For example, what can you recall of learning to count?…of learning to tell time…? of learning what fractions mean?…of learning how to use money? Reach as far back into your personal history as possible. Review old report cards; talk to friends, caregivers, siblings, etc. to collect information, anecdotes and experiences. Does your recollection of grades in your mathematics courses match the actual grades on your old report cards? [You might be surprised.]
Draft step (completed in mid-February): Choose at least 5 of the listed experiences. Elaborate on each to create a rough draft of at least 850 and no more than 1250 words. You will submit the draft through iLearn as a double-spaced, typewritten document (e.g., attachment or Google Doc URL). Use the word-count utility of the word-processing program to ensure the draft is between 850 and 1250 words.
Final paper (due 07 March 2021): Referring to your rough draft and instructor feedback, write an essay of 1100 to 3000 words which relates at least five of your experiences with learning mathematics, in detail. Discuss how those experiences have influenced current attitudes, feelings, thoughts about mathematics and life goals. Include names, locations. For example: “When I was in the ninth grade at Norco High School (that’s in Riverside County in Southern California) I had an Algebra teacher named Miss Trimble who sometimes had us do math outside. One incident I recall vividly was the warm, sunny day the whole class went to the football field and we…”
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