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Brief Business Calculus

Homework Guidelines

Sean L. Forman

Spring 2004

I feel homework is without a doubt the best way to learn mathematics. We will have daily homework assignments throughout the semester. While these assignments will not be mandatory, I strongly encourage you to do them. All of them.

Each problem set will contain: previously covered material, current material, and introductory future material (definitions, writing or introductory problems).

To do the problems from future material, you will need to read the sections carefully. Due to the large number of students in my three sections of Business Math, I will grade three of the problems assigned in each homework set.

Homework may be done collaboratively. You must note on your homework anyone you worked with. Straight copying will get a zero and a zero on two other assignments, so the work on the page must be your own. If I were to ask you to perform the problem on the board, you should be able to explain any solution you hand in with only some reference to your homework.

I will deduct points for homework that isn't done neatly. You wouldn't hand in a rough draft of a paper (at least you shouldn't), so please do not hand in rough drafts of your homework. Problems must appear in the order they were assigned, there should be whitespace between each problem, and you should state the problem before writing your solution. Multiple pages should be stapled, and you should have your name and the date the assignment is due on each page (which should be numbered).

Homework is due at the beginning of class. Please place it on my desk prior to the start of class. I will accept homework until I return the rest of the class's work; however, I will deduct a point for homework not done at the start of class.

Each problem set will have three graded problems and will be worth 12 points based on the following criteria:

• When turned in:
  • Turned in at the start of class (1 point),
  • Turned in before homework is returned (0 points), or
  • otherwise not accepted.

• Neatness:
  • Well-done with no issues (2 points),

  • A problem or two like no staple, no name, not labeled with date, illegible, no whitespace, problems out of order, excessive crossing outs or erasures (1 point), or

  • Many problems listed above or otherwise illegible (0 points).

• Three graded problems (3 points each):
  • (3 points) Steps clearly shown if needed, clear and correct exposition (if a writing assignment), perhaps a very small computational error allowed, but it shows a good grasp of the topic. I would say these answers are at least 90% correct.

  • (2 points) Only small errors, such as incorrect or no units with problem. Some steps are unclear or incorrect, but student appears to have the general idea of how to solve the problem. I would say these answers are between 50% and 90% correct.

  • (1 point) An honest, concerted effort was made to answer the question. An informative diagram may have been drawn. Information was organized and written down for story problems. Some significant error was made (wrong method used to solve the problem, significant arithmetic errors, incorrect statement made in exposition). I would say these answers are between 25% and 50% correct.

  • (0 points) Steps used and numbers written down appear almost random. Student appears to have spent very little time working on the problem and doesn't appear to understand many, if any, of the concepts. Very little effort to state known aspects of problem is made.