Homework Expectations

The purposes of homework are to give you practice doing problems and to provide you with feedback on your work. In order for the homework grader to evaluate your work it is essential that you write your homework neatly and in an organized manner. Homework which is sloppy or difficult to read will not be graded. Try to minimize your use of arrows showing the flow of your solution. Use complete English sentences to convey your thoughts. Below are two examples of solutions to the problem of solving the inequality x2 + 4x > 5. One is not acceptable while the other is fine. Which would you prefer to grade?
A few points to note:
  1. Don't scratch out or erase large areas. Do the problem first on scratch paper and then write it neatly on your paper to turn in.
  2. When you use an equal sign it should mean that the two numbers immediately to the left and immediately to the right are equal. If a line starts with an equal sign, then the convention is that the last expression on the line above is considered immediately to the left.
  3. In the solution on the right, does the student mean that for x to be a solution it must be greater than 1 and less than -5, or does the student mean that for x to be a solution it must either be greater than 1 or less than -5?
  4. Remember that the reader cannot read your mind. If you have a reason for doing something, tell the reader.