Instructor: Bruce Piper, Amos Eaton 309, piperb@rpi.edu, 276-6892
The course web page will be at http://www.rpi.edu/~ piperb/topology/ Check this often therough thte semester for updates, office hours, etc.
This course will require abstract thinking which requires mathematical maturity and familiarity with proof techniques, logic, and basic set theory. Very little time will be spent reviewing these background skills and concepts. Foundations of Analysis or other course with abstraction and proofs is recommended before attempting this course.
On most class days, there will be both lecture and group discussions. You will need to read the books to complete your understanding and to prepare for the class discussions. Class participation and preparation will form part of your grade along with homework, a midterm and a final.
In addition to the homework, problems will be given throughout to form a study guide for the midterm and final. It is strongly recommended that students attempt all these problems as they occur throughout the course.
Grades this semester will be based on the following:
Class preparation and participation worth 20%
9 homework assignments worth 45%
1 in-class midterm worth 15%
1 comprehensive Final Exam worth 20%
The items above will be combined to form a number score for the course. Letter grades will be achieved as follows: 90% + is an A; 88%-90% is an A-; 85%-88% is a B+; 80%-85% is a B; 78%-80% is a B-; 75%-78% is a C+; 70%-75% is a C; 65%-70% is a C-; 60%-65% is a D+; 50%-60% is a D; 0%-49% is a F.
Do not copy or cheat during exams. Before working together on the homework, you must think over the problems on your own. After you have found relevant definitions and theorems and considered several possible approaches to solving a problem, you may work with others. Before you write up your solutions you must separate and rethink and rewrite your assignments alone. You are not allowed to just copy from a shared set of notes. In no case, may you copy from someone else's homework or notes.
All the rules and policies in the Rensselaer handbook should be followed.
Due to the nature of proofs, you will need to make sense logically AND advance the towards the conclusion to get any substantial partial credit. I will grant appeals if I have actually overlooked something. The appeal must be made within one week of the date the item is returned in class. It is important that you KEEP all the returned material for the entire semester as they will be needed for studying for the final exam, and they will be your only method for correcting any recording errors that may accidentally occur on my part.
Late homework is usually not accepted without a legitimate excuse. Missing an exam or a quiz without a legitimate excuse results in a grade of zero and cannot be made up. If you have an excuse, you should contact me as soon as possible and I may ask for verification.