Santa Ana College

Math 105
Fall 2008 – Instructor: Hao-Nhien Q. Vu

PROJECT 1

Project 1 is due at the beginning of class on OCTOBER 1, 2008.

All papers are to be typedon regular 8 1/2 by 11 paper, with 1" margins around. Lines are
double-spaced, no skipping lines between paragraphs. Use either Courier (i.e.
typerwriter) font size 12, or Times Roman size 14. Page length: Minimum 3 pages,
maximum 6 pages.

Cite your sources in text, using any common style such as MLA or APA. Include a
bibliography of sources used.

Choose 1 of the following 4 topics:

Option 1:

Research the efforts to introduce the metric system into life in the U.S. Draw a
conclusion as to what extent it has succeeded or failed. Give some examples of success
and some examples of failure.

Option 2:

Research and present some examples of the use of set theory in elementary school
mathematics curriculum. Pick some aspect of it and give your opinion (with some
support) whether it was a good thing or a bad thing.

Option 3:

Research and write a paper on this theme: "If the Greeks didn't have a positional
numeration system, how did they do all that fancy math?" Include lots of examples.

Option 4:

Research and explore instances in history where scientific "principles" derived from
observation and inductive reasoning later turned out to be wrong, or at least inapplicable
to certain circumstances. Draw a conclusion.
 Santa Ana College
Math 105
Fall 2008 – Instructor: Hao-Nhien Q. Vu

PROJECT 1

GRADING RUBRIC:

Maximum = 50 points

Turned in paper on time: 20 points.

Each day late: Deduct 2 points.

To be considered on-time, hard copy must be turned in during class period on day due.

Late papers may be submitted by email; and vice-versa, any paper submitted by email is
considered late. You are responsible if your paper somehow does not arrive in my email
inbox. After emailing, print a hard copy, place in an envelope, put my name on it and turn
in to the office of the Science, Mathematics and Health Sciences division, R-103.

Points for structure:

Introduction: 2 points
Few or no spelling errors: 2 points
Good grammar: 3 points
In-text citation of sources: 3 points
Bibliography: 5 points

Points for contents:

Research is deep using a

variety of sources: 5 points
Examples are specific: 5 points
Presentation flows naturally: 5 points
Conclusion consistent with examples: 5 points