How do you communicate secret information secretly?  In this course, we will explore various methods for making and breaking secret codes, the mathematics that makes the codes possible, and the ethical issues involved with secrecy and privacy.

Webpage:  The  best source of information about this course is www.gac.edu/~kaiser/fts.  There you will find a complete syllabus, course description, current writing assignments, and so on.

Course Objectives:

• Learn both classical and modern ways of encoding and decoding messages
• Develop mathematical curiosity
• Improve problem-solving skills
• Learn to write sound, logical, mathematical explanations
  
• Develop your skills in writing, both as a way of exploring ideas and a means for explaining these ideas
• Think critically
• Become intellectually curious, learning how to ask good questions and to search for their answers
  
• Understand and appreciate the opportunities for personal growth that exist within the college and the community
• Learn to plan for intellectual, social, and spiritual growth, including consideration of values and service

• In Code, A Mathematical Journey, Sarah Flannery with David Flannery
• Invitation to Cryptology, Thomas Barr
  
• The Everyday Writer, Andrea A. Lunsford
• Research and Documentation in the Electronic Age, Diana Hacker (optional)
  

Classes:    Classes will be used for lectures, problem solving, discussions, and other fun activities.   You should prepare for classes by doing the reading beforehand (reading assignments are posted on the Web),  thinking about the problems in the text, and formulating questions of your own.  You should also participate as much as possible in class.

Attendance, both physical and mental, is required.

Should you need to miss a class for any reason, you are still responsible for the material covered in that class. This means that you will need to make sure that you understand the reading for that day, that you should ask a friend to help you make sure that you understand what was discovered and discussed that day. If there is an assignment due that day, you should be sure to have a friend hand it in or put it in my departmental mailbox (in Olin 324). You do not need to tell me why you missed a class unless there is a compelling reason for me to know.

 Assignments: We will have a variety of  written assignments,  which will be listed in the reading and class schedule on the web.  Note that this page is updated weekly. Roughly half of these assignments will be problems from Barr's text.     These should be typed or neatly handwritten; guidelines for this kind of  assignment can be found at the homework guidelines webpage.

I strongly encourage you to  work with other students on the homework.  In order to ensure that all of you learn from each other,  you should follow these guidelines:

1. Each person should write up the answers independently.
2. Each person should be able to work each one of the problems independently.
3. Each person gives credit to the others who helped.

Homework of this kind  must be turned in on the day it's due. However, occasionally students have problems turning in assignments on time because of poor planning, sickness, or personal emergencies.  Students may turn in up to two late assignments with no penalty.  After that, late assignments will be heavily penalized.  No late assignments will be accepted once graded ones have been handed back.

We will also have several formal and informal writing assignments to help you develop your writing skills.  Informal writing assignments will usually be short, with an emphasis on expressing yourself clearly.  The goal of informal writing assignments is to help you clarify your thinking by writing about  various  ideas and questions.  Formal writing assignments will vary in size from just a few paragraphs to several pages .  Formal assignments will have at least one draft/revise/edit cycle.

Research Paper:  At the end of the semester, you will choose a topic to research, write about, and present to the class.

Honor: In this course, you are expected to to adhere to the highest standards of academic honesty, to uphold the Gustavus Honor Code and to abide by the Academic Honesty Policy. Copies of the honor code and academic honesty policy can be found in Academic Bulletin and in the Gustie Guide.

On homework,  you should make a real effort to solve each problem by yourself, although  you can  and should discuss problems and their solutions with your classmates after you've made this effort.  You should give credit to any people or texts that helped you find solutions. On tests,  you are expected to work completely by yourself.

You will be expected to sign the honor pledge on every graded paper and test.  

Course grade:
 

Homework	40%
Writing Assignments	35%
Research Paper	15%
Class participation	10%

Accessibility: Please contact me during the first week of class if you have specific physical, psychiatric, or learning disabilities and require accommodations. I will do my best to facilitate the  necessary arrangements.  All discussions will remain confidential. You can provide documentation of your disability to the Advising Center (204 Johnson Student Union) or call Laurie Bickett (x7027).