Professor: Jeff Johannes
Section 1 MF 2:30-3:45p Sturges
103
Office: South
326A
Telephone: 245-5403
Office Hours: Monday 4-5p, Tuesday 8-9p,
Wednesday 12N-1p, Thursday 10-11a, 2:30 - 3:30p and by appointment or
visit
Email Address: Johannes@Geneseo.edu
IM: JohannesOhrs
Web-page: http://www.geneseo.edu/~johannes
Textbooks
Introduction to Topology, Bert
Mendelson
Additional notes provided on-line and in handouts.
Course Goals
- Discuss the fundamentals of general topology (topological
spaces, separability, continuous functions, connectedness, and compactness)
- Apply them to the fascinating topics of geometric topology
(classification of surfaces and manifolds, knots and links)
- Hint toward topics in algebraic topology (particularly
fundamental group)
Grading
Your grade in this course will be based on
six problem sets and one research project. The problem sets will
each be worth 1/9 of your grade. The research project will be
worth 1/3 of your grade.
Problem Sets
Problem sets will consist of 5-10 questions related
to material presented in the previous two weeks. Your problems
will depend on your background level. They will be due
two weeks after assigned. Before these papers are handed
in, I strongly suggest discussing them with me and others outside
of
class. These problems will be graded on a ten point decile
scale
based on completeness, accuracy, and writing.
These problems will be evaluated as follows.
0 missing
3 question copied, nothing written
6 something written that appears that it was
only written to take up space
7 substantially incomplete. Something written,
but does not really answer the main questions. Major errors. Very
poor writing
8 mostly complete. maybe a few minor errors
9 complete, no errors, some personal insight, well-written
10 wonderful
We will discuss these problem sets in detail
on the day they are due. Therefore no late problem sets will
be accepted.
Final Project
The final paper will be a substantial research
paper on a topic not covered in class. Selecting the topic
by the deadline will be worth 5%, the summary of research will be worth
15%, the draft will be worth 20%, the presentation will be worth 20%,
and the final paper will be worth 40%.
Feedback
Occasionally you will be given
anonymous feedback forms. Please use them to share any thoughts
or concerns for how the course is running. Remember, the sooner
you tell me your concerns, the more I can do about them. I have
also created a web-site
which accepts anonymous comments.
If we have not yet discussed this in class, please encourage me to
create a class code. This site may also be accessed via our course
page on a link entitled anonymous
feedback. Of
course, you are always welcome to approach me outside of class to
discuss these issues as well.
Religious Holidays
It is my policy to give students who miss
class because of observance of religious holidays the opportunity to
make up missed work. You are responsible for notifying me no later
than September 10 of plans to observe the holiday.
Tentative Schedule subject to change (details will be added
as the semester unfolds - check back)
Date
Topic
Assigned
Due
August 30 introduction
September 3 fun with knots
10 fun with knots
Chapter 1 set review
13 3.1-2
PS 1
some from 3.3
15 3.4
20
3.5
Project Topic
3.6
24
3.7
27
Discuss problem set
PS 2 PS
1
3.8
October 1 fun with bundles & orientability
4
fun with bundles & orientability
8 4.2
15
Discuss problem set
PS
3 PS 2
4.3, 4.4
18 4.5, 4.6
22 fundamental
group
Project Research Summary
25
Discuss problem set
PS4 PS 3
29 fundamental group
November 1 fundamental group
5
8
Discuss problem set
PS
5 PS 4
12 5.2
15
5.3
Project Draft
5.4
19 manifolds
22
discuss problem set
PS 6
PS 5
29 5.7
December 3 fun with surfaces
6 fun with surfaces
10
discuss problem set
PS 6
13
Project Presentation
Project Paper
Friday, Decvember 17 3:30-6:30p Project
Presentations