Unit information: Literature Review in 2012/13

Unit name	Literature Review
Unit code	MATHM6300
Credit points	30
Level of study	M/7
Teaching block(s)	Teaching Block 2 (weeks 13 - 24)
Unit director	Professor. Dettmann
Open unit status	Not open
Pre-requisites	Refer to Unit Director
Co-requisites	Refer to Unit Director.
School/department	School of Mathematics
Faculty	Faculty of Science

Description including Unit Aims

This unit will give students an opportunity for independent study of a topic, either chosen from the current list of topics available each year or agreed in advance with their supervisor. At the end of the unit they will be required to write up a literature review of the research field.

Aims:

To give students an opportunity to study a topic of their choice, working independently, and to develop experience of report-writing. To provide preparation for the major project and any later research (for example a PhD) planned by the student.

Intended Learning Outcomes

The projects offered may vary each year, and no general statement of the mathematical or learning objectives is possible.

In terms of general skill, by the end of the unit the student will have:

• developed his or her capacity for independence in tackling and solving problems,

• developed experience and skills in report-writing,

• mastered an area of mathematics at a level approaching the current research literature

Teaching Information

Guidance from supervisor, leading to independent study with further discussion with supervisor as necessary.

Assessment Information

The student produces a written report of about 10000 words.

The assessment criteria for the literature review will be based on a suitably modified version of the current Mathematics Department Project Assessment form. The dissertation will be marked by the supervisor and by an independent second marker.

Reading and References

References as appropriate for each project

For technical writing:

• N J Higham, Handbook of writing for the mathematical sciences, SIAM, 1998.

• R Barrass, Scientists must write : a guide to better writing for scientists, engineers and students, Routledge, 2002.