Math 144: Model Theory (Fall 2013)

Monday, Wednesday, Friday 11 am - 12 pm

Science Center 101b

Texts

It is assumed you all have a copy of

	Title:	Model Theory: An Introduction
	Authors:	David Marker
	Year:	2002

Other texts which might be useful:

• Model Theory by Wilfrid Hodges (1993)
• Model Theory, Third Edition (Studies in Logic and the Foundations of Mathematics) by C.C. Chang and H.J. Keisler (2012)
• Saturated Model Theory by Gerald E. Sacks (2009)

Online Resources:

• Lecture notes by Anand Pillay
• Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy

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Grades

Grades will be broken up as follows

	Homework:	80%
	Final Project:	20%

 

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Homework

Homework will be posted at the course website on Wednesday. Homework will be due at the beginning of class one week after they are assigned. If for any reason you are unable to attend class you are responsible for finding me or your CA and giving him your homework before he/she goes home. Late homework will not be accepted without prior permission.

Discussion of the homework before it is due is strongly encouraged. However, each person must write up their solutions themselves. Also, each person must write on the front of their homework the names of any people they worked with as well as any sources outside of the main textbook (i.e. Model Theory: An Introduction by Marker) which they used.

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Final Project

Your final project is to write a paper on a topic related to model theory as well as give a brief 10 minute presentation to the class on the topic. The presentations will take place on either December 2 or December 4.

The exact length is not as important as the content. However as a rough guide you should aim for between 5-10 typed pages (for example in \LaTeX) and it should not be more than 20 unless you get special permission from me.

A list of approved topics can be found at the course website, along with references to help you get a sense of what the topic is about. You may also choose a topic of your own, but it must be approved first. You should choose a topic which you do not already know much about. Each person will be assigned a different topic and so everyone should e-mail me the list of their top three topics by October 15. I will then e-mail everyone their assigned topics.

When writing the paper you want to imagine your audience consists of people who have taken Math 144 and who have hard of your topic, but who don't know any of the specifics and would like to know more.

Your paper should have significant mathematical content. In particular you should understand some of the main theorems and, if at all possible, provide one or more proofs in your own words. However if you happen to have chosen a topic where all the results are too far above your current knowledge you can also focus on the significance of the main theorems and how they relate to each other.

Your paper should also explain the context surrounding your area. For example some questions you might consider are:

• What are the main results in this area?
• What were the motivating ideas/results behind the start of this area?
• How does this area fit in with other areas of model theory or other areas of mathematics?
• What are the main open problems in this area?

While you do not need to have read the entirely of every book/paper you use as a source, it is important that ideas come from more than one place. Also, do not forget to cite all sources you use!

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Accommodations

Students needing academic adjustments or accommodations because of a documented disability must present their Faculty Letter from the Accessible Education Office (AEO) and speak with the professor by September 20, 2013. Failure to do so may result in the Course Head's inability to respond in a timely manner. All discussions will remain confidential, although Faculty are invited to contact AEO to discuss appropriate implementation.

Students who, for religious reasons, will need an extension on any homework or who have conflicts on the presentations days should let the professor know by September 20, 2013.