by Brant Clark, Mathematics

MATH 3200—Introduction to Higher Mathematics. It is at this point that a young mathematician in training enters the realm of “real” math; all else prior is adding numbers together more or less. We learn how to prove, without a doubt, if a statement is true or not. This is a critical class; the tools gained in this course will be used frequently throughout the remainder of the undergraduate math degree and beyond. In addition to the techniques of proof, we learn how to communicate that our proof is correct. If mathematicians can’t explain their ideas to their peers, they might as well have done nothing. This is perhaps a more important aspect of the art of proof, where writing becomes so crucial. With that said, after my experience as a WIP TA for this class, I am skeptical if this is the right class to be considered writing-intensive and come equipped with a WIP TA.

To explain, I will, of course, draw an analogy to running. A limiting factor when it comes to being able to run fast is lactate threshold. At a certain intensity, your body cannot deliver oxygen to muscles fast enough. At this point, your body begins to use glucose as an energy source; a by-product of this is the buildup of lactic acid in the blood. The buildup of lactic acid is what makes legs feel weak and heavy when sustaining a hard effort. Lactate threshold is the intensity where this buildup cannot be flushed out of the body quickly enough, leading to fatigue and thus slowing down. This threshold can be improved by running just before the threshold is reached. To be precise, some runners will draw blood on the spot to test their blood to see if they are at their lactate threshold during a workout. My point in all of this is that a new runner should pay no mind to lactate threshold and should focus on just getting out the door and putting some miles under their legs. Perhaps students in MATH 3200 are in a similar position, and an emphasis on writing this early in learning the art of proof is like telling new runners that they need to focus on improving their lactate threshold instead of to not overstride and to keep their cadence high! I think more benefits would be reaped if a later math course were also considered writing-intensive and had a WIP TA. At that stage, students would have experience and have the basic conventions of mathematical writing down, allowing me to leave more instructive comments.