![]() Part of being a reporter on this newspaper (translation: student in this class) is learning how to clearly communicate your argument to someone else. He recognizes good writing and bad writing. THE CAVEAT: Your editor is a seasoned historian, as well as someone versed in mathematics. Your editor also wants all your notes. So if you cut and pasted and typed quotations and thoughts in a word document, or handwrote a pro-con list, your editor wants you to turn that in too. But for simplicity’s sake, let’s assume it’s a science-based newspaper, so you can assume your audience has taken at least Pre-Calculus level Mathematics) You will then make your arguments in the second paragraph. (It’s a newspaper, so you don’t want to get too technical. So you ought to include a description of (a) what is calculus and (b) the dispute in the first paragraph. Your editor also wants the first paragraph to introduce the reader to the dispute. In order to publish, your editor needs cited, supporting evidence. It should focus on who should get credit for inventing calculus - Newton or Leibniz. ![]() Your newspaper wants the editorial to be about seven to ten, clear, substantive, typed paragraphs long (at least 2 - 3 pages, double spaced, 12 pt standard font). Your writeup and notes will both be turned in! You have several class periods to work alone on this online research. Listen to a BBC Broadcast on the debate over who invented Calculus (43 min).Video Discussing Newton-Leibniz Dispute (8 mins).An examination of the controversy from 1802.An article from 1717 on the dispute – reproduced in the journal Science on 30 January 1980.A timeline of the Newton-Leibniz dispute (scroll to pages xi-xii).Subramanya Sastry on the Newton-Leibniz controversy Here are some links to useful websites in this quest: On a timeline of the rise of calculus, what do you think was the most important fact?.What was the very first step in the rise of calculus? Does that make a difference in who gets the most credit?.What did you find to be the most interesting or surprising fact about the rise of calculus? Why is it interesting to you? If it is interesting to you, it might very well be interesting to your readers! You might want to start that out as your lead or hook.When did Leibniz send a letter to Newton concerning the use of differentials?.This might be useful in terms of finding supporting evidence for one position or the other. What is calculus, really? This will be useful in setting the stage.Here are some questions to think about when organizing your search - but you’re going to have dig deep to find the answers to these questions. ![]() Cite your sources for each fact you come across! I’d bookmark each webpage, so you have them somewhere in case something goes horribly, horribly wrong.But it is one based on on a lot of (credible) supporting evidence. It might help to keep your eyes peeled for the names Newton and Leibniz (obviously). You’re going to have to pour through webpages. Yes, as a serious journalist you are going to have to do some serious work. make a list of pros and cons for Newton and Leibniz, to organize your thoughts and findings.One thing I ask you to do in order to keep yourselves organized is to: Sifting and synthesizing will be the name of the game. And you’re going to have to sort through this information then piece together all the relevant bits. One, there is a lot of information out there. This WebQuest will be harder than it looks, because of two things. But you can also use anything (credible) you find on the web. ![]() To assist you in this daunting task, I have provided some links at the end of this description for you to peruse. Who came up with the “main points of discovery?” Why do you conclude that? You are going to need to produce a clear 2 - 3 page editorial on who should be given credit for inventing calculus. We don’t know! We need your help to figure it out! Or maybe the answer is slightly more complicated. Historical evidence concludes that modern calculus seems to have its origins in either Sir Isaac Newton’s or Wilhelm Gottfried Leibniz’s hands. The controversy rages today, and we need your super sleuth and analytic mind to get to truth of the matter. Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to investigate the history of calculus. ![]()
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