MATH 111 HW/Quiz Policy
Instructor: Reyes
Spring 2009
Homework/Quiz Policy: Homework is an essential part of this course: you learn mathematics by doing it. The
homework in this course is intended to provide you with hands-on experience with course material as well as feedback
on how well you’re grasping this material. Make sure you understand how to do ALL homework problems as well as
relate those problems back to the key ideas we’re studying. You should always go back and revisit those problems you
didn’t understand immediately after you’ve handed-in an assignment while it is still fresh in your mind. Don’t wait until
it’s time to study for your exam to get your questions answered. All learning starts with having the ability to know that
you don’t understand something and resolving to understand it. As a consequence, you should NOT treat homework as
some mere chore that you have to get out of the way or as some token exchange for a higher grade. Doing homework is
only the starting point on the path to understanding not the end.
Homework will be assigned and collected regularly. Paper-and-pencil assignments may include: textbook problems,
quizzes, and any other devilish problems that can be concocted by your instructor. A listing of all homework
assignments will be posted on the class webpage.
I will be grading your pencil-and-paper homework assignments to see if you understand course material. While this
might not be something your previous math instructors did, it is really my only chance to give you feedback as to the
kinds of things I will be expecting on your exams.
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Paper-and-pencil homework assignments are to be handed in AT THE BEGINNING OF CLASS on the day it is due;
otherwise it is considered late and will NOT be graded for credit. NO EXCEPTIONS. If you’re unable to turn-in a
completed homework assignment, please make arrangements ahead of time to have a reliable friend in your class
hand-in your homework for you on the day it is due.
At the end of the semester several of your lowest/missing homework assignments will be dropped. This should take
care of any illnesses, athletic events, religious observances, family events, oversleeping, “forgot my homework” or
computer issues. Because of this, late homework will NOT be accepted. NO EXCEPTIONS.
Homework that is handed-in is to be done in the textbook. You’ll tear out the appropriate pages from your textbook
for each assignment. If you find there is inadequate space to write up the solution to a homework problem in your
textbook, you may write up your solution on regular (white) 8½ ” x 11” notebook paper and staple it to the
appropriate textbook pages. The problem number must be clearly marked when you do this. NO FRINGES OR LOOSE
SPIRAL BINDING. Multiple pages MUST be STAPLED together. Crazy corner origami is NOT a staple. I will NOT be
bringing a stapler to class. The following information should appear in the top right corner of each homework:
name, due date, Math 111-sec#, and assignment number.
Each problem should be neatly written, with all intermediate steps included and the problem number clearly
marked. Answers should be clearly indicated (boxed, circled, highlighted, etc.). Written explanations should be
included whenever appropriate. If necessary, answers should include units. Graphs should be neat and have units
clearly labeled. If you use a calculator to obtain a graph, you MUST include the viewing window that was used to
obtain it. An answer obtained by guessing and checking on your calculator will NOT receive full credit. Here are
some tips for being successful with paper-and-pencil homework:
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Use an easy to read format: Organize your work in a logical way. Do NOT crowd your work; leave some
room for corrections and comments.
Write as if the reader does not already know what you want to say: Assume that the reader is a classmate
who does not understand the problem or how to solve it. This will encourage you to strive for completeness
and clarity in your answers. Remember the reader can only see what you wrote, not what you meant to say.
Copy the problem and write complete sentences.
Focus on process rather than product: In this class, the process by which you solve problems is just as
important as the final product (getting the answers). You will be asked not only to "solve problems" (plug
and chug style), but also to give explanations of your reasoning and interpretations of your solutions.
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Use proper mathematical notation: Mathematics is a language. Understanding that language starts with
understanding the notation we use to communicate ideas. The mathematical notation we use represent the
agreed-upon conventions by which we communicate in writing. Avoid the misuse of symbols, especially the
equal sign. The equal sign in mathematics states that the expressions on both sides of the equation
represent the same thing. The equal sign does NOT mean “becomes”, “is assigned to”, or “ the next step is”.
Most homework questions are to be handled during office hours, email and/or the tutoring room. When time
allows, I will DISCUSS solutions to one or two homework problems or similar types of problems one class period
before an assignment is due. I typically will NOT discuss HW problems during class on the day an assignment is due.
Discussing problems does NOT mean I will do problems for you. Typically, I will talk you through what you’ll need to
do in a problem so you’ll at least be working in the right direction. Class time does not equate to homework time.
Class time is devoted to the explanation of the current topic we’re discussing and the solution of problems involved
with this topic. This course has a very fixed time frame meeting only two times per week and we only have so much
time to cover all the topics this course requires. Please budget your time accordingly.
Each paper-and-pencil homework assignment will be worth 15 points: 3 points will be allotted for proper
formatting of the assignment (fringes removed, pages stapled, name, section number, assignment # appears at the
top, problems and their answers neatly spaced and written, etc). The remaining 12 points will be used to grade
selected problems from the assignment, usually 3-5 problems. These problems will be graded for correctly showing
and explaining all work involved and arriving at the correct answer. Correct answers not supported by work will
NOT receive credit. Just because a problem is not graded does not mean it isn’t important to your learning the
material. Unfortunately, I cannot grade all the problems in an assignment. There’s only one of me and so many of
you.
You may also be given quizzes in-class. Such quizzes will be counted as part of your hw/quiz score and may be
announced or unannounced and may cover any current or prior material in the course. There will be no make-ups
for missed quizzes. NO EXCEPTIONS.
Your total homework/quiz score will be calculated according to the formula below:
% Score
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  60
your hw/quiz score  
 Paper - Pencil HW 
Questions regarding the grading of any assignment must be addressed no later than one week after being returned.
In addition, I reserve the right to re-grade any and all parts of an assignment in dispute.