Homework Policies
There will be a homework assignment each week.
Homework preparation
The basic philosophy that should govern the preparation of a homework
paper is that you are trying to convince the grader that you
understand the problem and have the correct answer. There is a basic
problem of communication here that is not different from what you will
find in other courses, or indeed from what is required in everyday
life.
The implementation of this policy should not require longer homework
submissions. Quite the contrary, long answers usually indicate a
lack of understanding. Here are some guidelines.
- In cases when the answer is a formula, you should indicate
clearly how the answer follows from the statement of the
problem. The answer itself should be highlighted in some way,
perhaps by being included in a box.
- When an argument is required it should be stated in complete
sentences, and organized into coherent paragraphs. Most of the
time there should not be a need for more than one short
paragraph.
- Your handwriting should be legible.
- Homework sets with more than a single page must be stapled.
The graders for the course have been instructed to expect well
organized homework papers, and to mark problems incorrect if the
answer is not presented in a way to be easily accessible to them. The
instructors will not be likely to change the decisions of the graders
when presentation is the issue.
Homework average
In computing the homework grade for the course, each homework will
count the same, regardless of the number of points on the individual
assignments. The worst homework grade will be dropped before
computing the average.
Homework & the pledge
The homework is not pledged. You are encouraged to discuss the
homework and to work together on the problems. However, each student
is responsible for the final preparation of his or her own homework
papers.
Late homework
Each student will be allowed to have at most
one late homework assignment during the semester. The one late
homework will be accepted up to seven days after the due date, with or
without excuse, and without penalty. No other late homeworks will be
accepted---even with an excuse. There will be absolutely no
exceptions to these rules.
Last modified: Mon Aug 19, 2002