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Homework Guidelines

Sean L. Forman

I feel homework is without a doubt the best way to learn mathematics. We will have daily homework assignments throughout the semester. Homework is not busy work. It teaches you how to do the problems and will be graded for correctness and not for ink.

Each problem set will contain: previously covered material, current material, and introductory future material (definitions, writing or introductory problems). For the future material, I will expect you to read ahead in the book and determine how to do the problems based on book examples or through your own work.

I will grade four of the problems assigned in each homework set. If you did not do one of the assigned problems and I grade it, you will get a zero on that problem.

Homework may be done collaboratively. You must note on your homework anyone you worked with. Straight copying will get a zero, 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 shall 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 shall be stapled, and you shall 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 four graded problems and will be worth 15 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).

• Four 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.