Professor:   Dr. Eric Klassen, 114 Love Building, 644-2202, klassen@math.fsu.edu

Course Website:   http://www.math.fsu.edu/~klassen/UndergradTopology/index.html

Office Hours: MW: 4-5; F: 10-11. (Email me for appointment, or speak to me after class.)

Prerequisite: You must have completed MAC2313 (Calc III) with a grade of C- or better. MGF3301 (Intro to Advanced Math) is strongly recommended. Advanced Calculus is also very helpful. You should not take this course as your first proof-based mathematics course!

Text: There is no required textbook, except for the problem list provided by the instructor.

Course Objectives:  (1) To learn the basic concepts of elementary topology; this includes topological spaces, bases, connectedness, compactness, continuity, homeomorphisms, convergence. (2) To learn an important body of mathematics by developing the proofs yourself!

Moore Method:  This course will be taught using a variant of the Moore method. This method is named after R.L. Moore, a famous topologist who taught at the University of Texas from 1920-1969. The course is structured around a list of problems, which is posted on my website. This list was developed by several faculty members in this department, primarily Phil Bowers and John Bryant. The class periods will consist of a series of presentations of the solutions to these problems in numerical order. The instructor will present the even numbered problems, while the students will present the odd-numbered ones. The students will cycle through these problems in alphabetical order by their last names. Most of these problems are statements to be proved. You may seek help from your colleagues, from the instructor, or from outside sources. If you get help from another source, you should acknowledge this during your presentation. It will not detract from the credit you receive. You really need to understand what you are presenting, because the other students and I will ask you questions! I encourage you to explore the proofs not just of the problems you present, but also the problems other students present. If you want to be a mathematician, you need to know this material like the back of your hand!

Grading:  Your final grade will be based on the quality of your presentations. You will be judged on your logic as well as the clarity of your explanations. Some of you have more experience than others when it comes to presenting rigorous mathematics to an audience. Therefore, solving the problem is really only half your job; the other half is preparing a careful presentation of your solution, and practicing it before your turn in class.

Attendance/Makeup Policy: Attendance is required. Each unexcused absence will lower your grade by 0.2 grade points. (Thus, 5 unexcused absences will lower your grade by one full letter grade.) For an absence to be excused, you must either discuss it with me in advance or, in case of illness, bring me a note from a clinician specifically stating that you were too sick to be there. (A note stating simply that you were seen that day by a doctor will not suffice.) Also, it is doubly important that you not miss class on a day when it is your turn to present! If you absolutely have to miss such a day, it is crucial that you notify me in advance, since often the solution of your problem will be required for the next person's presentation.

Honor Code:  The FSU Student Handbook includes a section on the Honor Code and the official procedures for dealing with students who violate it.  Please read this material carefully.  The application to this course is as follows: If you get significant help from another student or some other resource (a book or website), you should acknowledge that help in your presentation.

Students With Disabilities:  Students with disabilities needing academic accommodations should register with and provide documentation to the Student Disability Resource Center (SDRC) and then bring a letter to the instructor from SDRC indicating that you need academic accommodations.  This should be done within the first week of class.