Course Syllabus
See SF2719 and SF2725 for the official course syllabi.
The preliminary plan on the Course Content page shows lecture by lecture what we will cover in class.
Examination
Examination of the course is by a final exam and continuous examination during the course.
The final exam consists of three parts:
- Part A contains six questions about mathematicians and their contributions, historical periods, and developments of mathematical ideas. This knowledge is acquired through lectures and reading of literature.
- Part B consists of an analysis of a historical mathematical text with respect to one or more questions and has the form of an essay. This knowledge is acquired through lectures, writing of essays and peer review during the course as well as group work with mathematical texts.
- Part C consists of several discussion questions, of which the student has to choose one to write an essay on. The questions are about a claim that should be argued for or against, based on historical knowledge, or the sketching of a mathematical development. This knowledge is acquired through the writing of essays, feedback during the course, discussions, and role play.
Every part gives up to 12 points. To pass the course, one needs at least 4 point on every part. Moreover, the minimum points for each grade are:
- E: at least 18 points
- D: at least 21 points
- C: at least 24 points
- B: at least 27 points, of which at least 8 on part B and at least 8 on part C
- A: at least 30 points, of which at least 10 on part B and at least 10 on part C.
Students achieving at least 4 points on every part, but only 16 or 17 points in total, obtain the grade Fx with the possibility of completion to grade E.
During the course, bonus points to the exam can be obtained:
- Four short written in-class quizzes on historical knowledge can replace 4 of the 6 questions of part A and give up to 8 bonus points.
- Two essays (number 1 and 3) can give up to 6 bonus points to part B on the exam. These are added to the points achieved on part B of the exam.
- Two essays (number 2 and 4) can give up to 12 points. These essays can replace part C of the exam, but are not added to the points achieved on part C.
For details on who the bonus points of the essays are awarded and what the essays are about, check the Assigments section.
It is possible to replace the exam completely by bonus points, but for the higher grades (A and B) it is necessary to write at least part B of the exam.
For the course SF2725, you also need to submit an extended essay (PRO1, 1.5 hp) which requires more substantial, independent, and original work than the course essays. Your final grade will be the weighted average of 25% extended essay, 75% course work/exam (TEN2, 6 hp).
Plagiarism
When writing the essays, copying sources without proper referencing is considered as plagiarism and is not permitted. Please see the page Cheating and plagiarism at the KTH web site for more information on plagiarism and how to avoid it.
Previous exams
Note that during the covid pandemic years 2020/21, no written exams were given.
In-class quizzes
Here are the four in-class quizzes. Answers are not given, but you should have no trouble looking them up in the lecture notes or even by googling.
Grading criteria
In the course SF2719:
For grade E, a student must be able to:
- in broad strokes, sketch the development through history of some mathematical ideas, mathematical subjects, and frameworks in which mathematics was done;
- in broad strokes, sketch important contributions, biographies and the social context of some prominent historical mathematicians;
- read and understand some aspects of a historical mathematical text and write a coherent analysis of such a text, addressing questions about its content or context.
For grade C, a student must be able to:
- with some precision, sketch the development through history of several mathematical ideas, mathematical subjects, and frameworks in which mathematics was done;
- with some precision, sketch important contributions, biographies and the social context of several prominent historical mathematicians;
- read and understand the main points of a historical mathematical text and write a well-structured analysis of such a text, addressing questions about its content or context
- come up with relevant historical questions based on the reading of a text
- discuss in written form controversial claims, arguing based on historical knowledge.
For grade A, a student must be able to:
- with authority and precision, sketch the development through history of several mathematical ideas, mathematical subjects, and frameworks in which mathematics was done;
- with authority and precision, sketch important contributions, biographies and the social context of several prominent historical mathematicians;
- read and understand a historical mathematical text in its entirety and write a well-structured analysis of such a text, addressing questions about its content or context;
- come up with relevant and creative historical and societal questions based on the reading of a text
- discuss in written form controversial claims, arguing with precision based on historical knowledge, with good structure and a logical and easy to follow train of thought.
Grades D and B are awarded when the requirements of grades C resp. A are fulfilled to a certain degree, but not fully.
In the course SF2725:
In addition to the above, a student must be able to write a longer historical text which requires literature search and a combination of the abilities mentioned above.
Course analysis
Course analyses of previous years are available from the course and program directory.
For students with disabilities
Course Summary:
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