Begin with an Organized Workspace

This opening lesson focuses on preparation. Jonathan demonstrates a reusable document format and a folder system for organizing a complete course, individual chapters, and individual sections. Solving the first equation comes in the next lesson.

1. Create Your College Algebra Folder

1. Create a main folder for The STEM Major’s Guide to the University, or your own collection of course materials.
2. Inside it, create a College Algebra folder.
3. Keep your primary manuscript, chapter documents, section documents, and textbook references organized within that course folder.
4. Use consistent names and numerical prefixes so your files sort in course order.

Jonathan also prepares to reuse the same structure for trigonometry and later courses.

2. Set Up Word’s Equation Editor

The recording demonstrates Microsoft Word on a Mac.

1. Open Tools → Customize Keyboard.
2. Select the Insert category.
3. Find the equation insertion command, such as EquationInsert.
4. Assign a convenient shortcut. Jonathan uses Command + E as his custom shortcut.
5. Test the shortcut to confirm that it inserts an equation.
6. Select UnicodeMath or LaTeX input in the equation controls.

Jonathan prefers UnicodeMath for his everyday workflow. Word’s LaTeX input is another option for supported equation syntax. He also mentions TeXShop as an alternative environment for preparing LaTeX documents.

Shortcut note: Command + E is a custom assignment in this demonstration. Check for an existing assignment before replacing a keyboard shortcut.

3. Modify the Normal Style First

1. Open Home → Styles.
2. Find Normal and select Modify.
3. Set the font to Cambria Math.
4. Set the font size to 13 points.
5. Choose justified alignment.
6. Remove unwanted automatic paragraph spacing and adjust indentation so you control the layout.
7. Save the style changes.

In this lesson, Jonathan uses Cambria Math for the document’s default text and heading styles. Set Normal first so the rest of the document begins with a consistent foundation.

4. Add Page Numbers

1. Open Insert → Page Number.
2. Choose the bottom of the page.
3. Select outside alignment for the physical-book layout demonstrated.
4. Review the placement on facing pages.

Jonathan is preparing a document that can become a printed book. Use your instructor’s required format when submitting coursework.

5. Format the Title and Heading Styles

Modify the styles once, then apply them consistently as you add material.

Jonathan also adjusts spacing and indentation within the heading styles. The spoken transcript does not specify a final font size for Heading 2.

6. Build the Document Structure

1. Create the title page.
2. Insert a page break and reserve a page for copyright or document information.
3. Insert another page break and reserve a page for the table of contents.
4. Insert another page break to begin the course material.
5. Add sample headings for a chapter, section, and problem.
6. Apply Heading 1 to the chapter, Heading 2 to the section, and Heading 3 to the problem heading.

For a personal course document, adapt the opening pages to your needs. The chapter–section–problem hierarchy gives the mathematical work a consistent organization.

7. Insert an Automatic Table of Contents

1. Place your cursor on the reserved table-of-contents page.
2. Open References → Table of Contents.
3. Insert an automatic table of contents based on your heading styles.
4. Check that the chapter, section, and problem headings appear at the intended levels.
5. Update the table as the document grows.

This is why the lesson sets up heading styles before adding the course material: Word can use those headings to organize the document automatically.

8. Add Identifying Headers and Footers

1. Add your name and the course or subject.
2. Include the year and semester for future reference.
3. Add other identifying information relevant to your document.
4. Use a smaller font and gray text to keep this information visually secondary.
5. Review the headers, footers, and page numbers together.

Jonathan uses author and publishing information for his own manuscript. For coursework, use information that identifies your class and your work.

9. Save a Reusable Default Document

1. Save the completed setup as your default document.
2. Keep a clean copy that you can duplicate for future courses.
3. Duplicate it into the College Algebra folder.
4. Name the course-wide copy 0.0 — Primary — College Algebra, or use a similar consistent name.
5. Sort files by name and kind to keep the folder orderly.

The primary document is intended to hold the full course. Separate documents will hold individual chapters and sections.

10. Select a College Algebra Textbook

1. Begin with the textbook assigned by your course, if you have one.
2. For independent study, choose a suitable college algebra text and use it consistently.
3. Obtain a purchased, library, or explicitly authorized digital copy.
4. Save its reference information with your course materials.
5. Avoid confusing advertisements with genuine download controls.

Jonathan searches for Sullivan and Stewart texts during the recording, then decides to work primarily from one book. His emphasis is on following a consistent textbook rather than continually switching sources.

11. Create a Textbook Reference List

1. Create a separate document for textbook references.
2. Record the title, authors, edition, publisher, and publication year.
3. If you use AI to help format a citation, compare the result with the book’s publication information.
4. Keep the reference list organized as you add sources.

In the demonstration, Jonathan uses ChatGPT to speed up citation formatting and other organizational tasks.

12. Build a Course Outline from the Contents

1. Open the textbook’s table of contents.
2. Copy the relevant chapter and section titles, or provide clear screenshots for transcription.
3. Request the outline in plain text, without page numbers or decorative formatting.
4. Paste the outline into your primary Word document.
5. Apply Normal to remove unwanted imported formatting.
6. Apply your chapter and section heading styles where appropriate.

Jonathan leaves the review chapter out of his lesson outline and expects students to complete that review independently.

13. Create Chapter and Section Documents

The first chapter and section shown are Equations and Inequalities and Linear Equations and Applications.

1. Duplicate your formatted document for the chapter collection.
2. Create another copy for the individual section.
3. Update the titles and headings in each copy.
4. Use the same naming convention for later chapters and sections.

14. Prepare for the First Problem-Solving Lesson

1. Open Section 1.1 in the textbook.
2. Read the instructions for the exercise set.
3. Select a representative equation to study.
4. Prepare its section and problem headings in Word.
5. Continue to the next lesson for the worked solution.

Jonathan’s planned library rotates through algebra, trigonometry, precalculus, calculus, linear algebra, differential equations, and physics. The objective is to demonstrate textbook-based work from important sections of each course.

Before Moving On

• Your equation shortcut works.
• Your body text and heading styles are consistent.
• Your page numbers, headers, and footers are in place.
• Your automatic table of contents recognizes your headings.
• Your primary, chapter, and section files are organized.
• Your textbook reference and course outline are saved.

Continue with Math Monthly

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