Messmer High School

Mathematics Department

To: Students in Math Classes at Messmer High School

From: Math Faculty

Date: September, 2003

RE: Writing assignment for your English Class portfolio

To assist you in creating your portfolio you are given the following five paragraph writing assignment. This assignment will be turned in, for a grade in your mathematics class, to your Mathematics teacher at the date he or she sets. This paper will be graded by your Math teacher, and if satisfactory, may qualify for inclusion in your portfolio.

The topic for your paper will be "Mathematics as a Tool for Excellence in Sports."

The first paragraph should introduce your topic to the reader, mention the sports you will be covering, and describe some general ways that math is used in sports, both for score keeping and for helping coaches and players make decisions about training and strategy.

The second paragraph should present detailed information about a particular sport. Include a detailed description of the method in which mathematics is used to determine the winner. Describe specific mathematical tools used by coaches and players to make decisions about playing strategies and ways to improve individual performance.

The third paragraph should present the same sort of information about a second sport.

The fourth paragraph should present the same sort of information about a third area of sport.

Finally, in a fifth paragraph present your conclusions about the importance of mathematics to the traditions of modern sports competition.