Your final assignment (aside from continued reading for class discussion) is to write an issue or position document in which you analyze a topic with respect to the NCTMís Principles and Standards for School Mathematics (PSSM) and the Mathematics Achieve Partnershipís Foundations for Success (FfS). You will prepare a written abstract and an oral report to accompany your document. This assignmentís purpose is to afford you the experience and knowledge you will gain from researching and writing a lengthy, scholarly paper about an issue on the "cutting edge" in mathematics education.

As you have done for previous assignments, you will define an issue in mathematics education, an issue that has implications to the expectations of PSSM and FfS. If you elect to prepare a major position document, you should also describe major arguments on different sides of your topic, providing greater depth and explanation of the foundations on which you are staking your own position. Your document should be written according to APA publication guidelines. Most importantly for this assignment, you will analyze your topic with respect to PSSM and the FfS draft document, emphasizing comparisons and contrasts between the two. Sample topic ideas will be discussed in class. Your topic must be discussed with me and approved.

Your abstract should be a one-page, approximately 500-word summary of your written report, highlighting the significant findings or positions of your work. Bring 15 copies (one for each class member) for circulation during our session on December 17 at 4:15 p.m. At that time you will also submit your document on paper to me. The body of your main document should be between five and ten thousand words. Your oral report to the class can last no longer than ten minutes.

In addition the paper document you submit, you will also submit your final document to me electronically as an HTML document. Guidelines for your HTML file and instruction on creating such a file will be addressed in class.