COT3100/7094X Fall '99
General Homework Guidelines and Tips
Here is some advice from the teaching assistants that might help if
you are finding that more points than you would like are being
deducted on your homework assignments.
- It is always better to show more work than to leave steps out.
We have to see the progression of thought in an organized
manner. If you don't understand what you have written, more
than likely we won't either.
- Even if the question has a simple yes/no or true/false answer be
sure to explain your reasons. Just because the author hasn't
explicitly asked you to show work, any mathematical answer
should be supported through a logical flow of ideas.
- Partial credit will be given even if you have the wrong answer,
if you show us that you have understood the basic concepts (by
following 1 and 2 above).
- If you are not sure what the question is asking for, it is your
responsibility to come to us for clarifications during office
hours.
- Many of the concepts needed to solve a problem can be found or
clarified by reading and/or answering the problems directly
preceeding it.
- The more problems you do the better prepared you are, because
concepts become more concrete.
- Start the homework early, so that if you do have questions you do
not have to wait in line. Make through you go through your
solutions several times before you turn in the homework,
because sometimes better answers present themselves with more
thought.
I might add that if you do find an actual error in the grading - for
example, if the grader mis-read what you wrote, or took off an extra
point due to an accidental slip of the pen, or summed the grade wrong
- please do let us know, and we will fix it.
But, please also be aware that if the grader did read your answer
correctly and not slip up, from there on, the actual grading policy is
determined by the TAs, as outlined above. Their policy decisions as
to how many points to routinely award or deduct for various types of
answers, omissions, and/or mistakes will be considered final.