Personal, Expository, Critical, and Creative: Using Writing in Mathematics Courses

Abstract

This article provides a framework for creating and using writing assignments based on four types of writing: personal, expository, critical, and creative. This framework includes specific areas of student growth affected by these writing styles. Illustrative sample assignments are given throughout for each type of writing and various combinations thereof. Also discussed are the assessment of mathematical writing and suggestions for beginning users of writing in mathematics courses.

Keywords:

• Mathematical writing
• learning outcomes
• assessment

Acknowledgements

Thanks to Carl Lee, Jeff Blanchard, and the anonymous reviewers for their thoughtful comments and suggestions. Thanks to Ryan Stuffelbeam and Martin Montgomery for organizing the contributed paper session at Mathfest 2011 regarding the use of writing in mathematics that inspired this work. Finally, thanks to all my students — your writing continues to inspire me.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Benjamin Braun

Benjamin Braun received his B.A. in Mathematics and English at Truman State University and his Ph.D. in Mathematics at Washington University in Saint Louis. He has been a faculty member at the University of Kentucky since 2007. His mathematical research is in algebraic and geometric combinatorics; if there is a polytope or simplicial complex involved, he’s interested. He is also interested in the development of mathematical thought, both historically at the societal level and psychologically at the individual level.