Warsaw University
February - June 2025

Writing Mathematical Texts in English: Course Information

Motivation and Exemptions

This course exists for the formal reason, that the abilities to

• write a mathematical text in English,
• give a mathematical seminar in English,
• follow a mathematical seminar series given in English

are a necessary part of the requirements for obtaining a Master’s degree. Several methods for ensuring that students had this were discussed and rejected; introducing the course ‘Writing Mathematical Texts in English’ seemed the only way to do it.

I understand that time is precious and that the Master’s programme is rather heavy and therefore any student who has either written their Bachelor’s dissertation in English, or else has taken mathematics courses for the Master’s programme given in English, please make yourselves known to me. If your experience of mathematics in English is sufficient (and covers the three points listed above), I’ll give you a grade for the course based on this.

Introduction
Firstly, the option of writing the Master’s dissertation in Polish has to be maintained for historical reasons (we do not want the art of writing mathematical texts in Polish to die out). Secondly, it was not possible to designate ensure that all students would be able to find a course, relevant to their mathematical direction of studies in the Master’s programme that was taken by every student, hence it was not possible to find one obligatory course to be given in English, which would have solved the problem There are two aspects to the course:

• Weekly workshops The class sessions are devoted to presenting seminars in English. In each class, we'll have either two 45 minute seminars or one 90 minute seminar. These are given by the students, in English. Each student gives either two 45 minute seminars or one 90 minute seminar.
  
  You may talk about your Master’s dissertation or you may choose a mathematical article (written in English) on the subject your Master's Dissertation (or both). The presentation should be clear. Also, try to make it interesting for a non-specialist. The aim is to convince the audience that we should be working on your subject rather than our own.



• Summary of Master's Dissertation By the end of the semester, you should submit a paper, written in English, 5 pages in length, summarising the Master's dissertation (if completed), or describing the planned Master’s dissertation.

Timetable

Location The classes are held on Mondays, room P116, Teaching, Learning and Research Facility, 7 Pasteura (Note: this is not the maths building)

Time: Group 1 12:15 - 13:45; Group 2 14:15 - 15:45.

Dates The dates of the classes are:
February: 24th
March: 3rd, 10th, 17th, 24th, 31st
April: 7th, 14th, 28th
May: 5th, 12th, 19th, 26th
June: 2nd, 9th



Grading Policy
Assessment will be based on

• Participation in the classes (quality of presentation, ability to answer questions)
• Quality of the 5 page essay on the subject of the Master's dissertation

Course Literature
Click here for J. Trzeciak, Writing mathematical papers in English: a practical guide, European Mathematical Society, second revised edition, 1995.