The College Mathematics Journal

Information for Authors

CMJ seeks lively, well-motivated articles that will enrich undergraduate instruction and enhance classroom learning, as well as expository papers that stimulate the thinking and broaden the perspectives of those who teach undergraduate-level mathematics. Articles involving all aspects of mathematics are welcome, including history, philosophy, problem solving, pedagogy, applications, computation, and so on.

In addition to articles, CMJ publishes short pieces containing material suitable for immediate classroom use, problems, solutions to published problems, student research projects, media reviews, and all sorts of mathematical ephemera: proofs without words, arresting examples of fallacious proofs, mistakes and other mathematical anomalies, quotations, poetry, humor, doodles and cartoons. Letters to the Editor on any topic are also welcome, and all kinds of comments, criticisms, and suggestions for making CMJ more lively, entertaining and informative.

In this light, prospective CMJ authors are asked to observe the following guidelines:

1. Write in an inviting, captivating style. If you fail to capture the reader's attention in the first paragraph, it is unlikely that you will do so later on. Any of the following are desirable as an opening paragraph: a surprising conclusion, an especially exciting example, an easily understood enticing challenge, a simple figure that poses an interesting question, a relevant anecdote, or a shocking fact. Your first paragraph should motivate what you intend to do in your article.
2. Avoid a 'theorem-proof' organization. Proofs in the CMJ should be presented as well-illustrated stories in which the plot stands out clearly.
3. Avoid long, detailed calculations. Provide enough details and, when necessary, descriptive dialogue so that readers can follow your results. But omit easily verified, tedious calculations or those that can be found in readily available sources.
4. Try to avoid specialized jargon and complicated notation. When technical terms are needed, define and illustrate those likely to be familiar only to specialists.
5. Provide a generous list of references (in the same style as those in a current issue of the CMJ). If appropriate, inclusion of a few exercises is encouraged. In general, articles should stimulate readers to learn more about a topic.
6. Illustrations that capture the essence of a mathematical idea, as well as the reader's attention, are especially encouraged.

In practice, almost every paper requires careful revision by the author in response to referee suggestions, followed by still further editing. To shorten this process be sure to read and re-read your own work carefully, possibly after putting it away for a cooling-off period.

Submitting an article

Manuscripts should submitted electronically. Please send a pdf file attached to an email to: cmj@oberlin.edu. The author's name(s) must not appear in this file, but should be listed in the accompanying email, along with the postal address of a designated corresponding author. In lieu of a pdf, an author may submit a single paper copy of the manuscript, printed on only one side of the paper.

Main articles should be sent to Michael Henle at cmj@oberlin.edu.

A Classroom Capsule is a short (1-3 page) article that contains a new insight on a topic taught in the earlier years of undergraduate mathematics, preferably something that can be directly introduced into a college classroom as an effective teaching strategy or tool. Classroom Capsules should be sent to Ricardo Alfaro at ralfaro@umflint.edu.

Student Research Projects are articles that describe how to give students the experience of independent, research-style work in a specific mathematical setting. For example, a Student Research Project might present a subject in the form of a series of open-ended questions. Student Research Projects should be sent to Brigitte Servatius at bservat@math.wpi.edu.

Problems and Solutions aim to challenge students and/or teachers of collegiate mathematics. They can address any part of the undergraduate curriculum. Whenever possible, a proposed problem should be accompanied by a solution, appropriate references, and any other material that would be helpful to the editors. Problems and/or Solutions should be sent to Shing So at so@ucmo.edu.

Media Highlights are short, approximately half-page, reviews intended to help CMJ readers monitor a broad spectrum of publications, web materials, professional activities, and instructional resources. Readers are encouraged to submit items that will be of interest to colleagues in the mathematical community. Media Highlights should be sent to Warren Page at wxpny@aol.com.