Homework and Make-up Exam Policy

Homework Policy

Policy on Late Homework and Quizzes are given below.

PURPOSE. The homework policy described below is based on the assumptions that homework assignments are primarily a learning tool, not a grading tool, and that the purpose of homework is threefold:
  1. Homework gives you practice in explaining the concepts and using the techniques you learn in the course;
  2. Homework allows the instructor to see how you are doing and to try to correct errors you are making;
  3. Homework (after being graded) allows you to see the errors you are making and to correct them.
In particular, your attention to your homework does not end when you turn in your homework paper. It should continue when the graded paper is returned, and your attention then should be given to what errors you made and how to do the work better.

HOW TO TURN IN.
For more details, see Homework Writing Policy and Homework Format online.

POINTS. Some or all of the homework problems on each assignment will be graded, and at the end of the semester, your overall HomeWork-plus-InClassWork percentage will count as your homework grade.

The number of points available for each assignment will vary, depending on how many problems are graded, how important the problems are, and how difficult the problems are. For a particular homework problem, full credit is usually given only if the problem is both done correctly and done well. Just “getting the right answer” does not necessarily imply “full credit”; your solution should be presented efficiently and in accordance with the guidelines given in the writing and format links above. (These ideas will be discussed in class.)

Since homework may be graded very strictly, some students get discouraged because they put a lot of work into doing their homework and then don't get many points for it. The most important thing here is to keep in mind that the purpose of homework, and the purpose of doing homework, is NOT POINTS. (See the list above for the purpose of homework.)

The course policy statement for your course states how many points homework, etc., will contribute to the total possible points you can earn in the course.

LATE HOMEWORK. Regardless of the reason for homework being turned in late, ...

(A general rule is that homework which is too late to be graded with the rest of the homework will not be graded. Homework turned in before this is, as stated above, accepted and graded at the discretion of the instructor, and is subject to being lost forever.)
QUIZZES and other in-class work. Quizzes and other in-class work may be announced in advance or, more usually, unannounced. Points earned on in-class work will contribute to the numbers constituting your homework score. There is no practical way to give a make-up for a missed quiz, so there will be no make-ups for missed quizzes. This policy applies regardless of the reason for missing the quiz. As with homework, the primary purpose of quizzes is NOT to earn points, but to help you to understand, and to check your understanding of, the material.


Make-up exam policy

Make-up exams are given at the discretion of the instructor. Students who have to miss an exam for a valid reason should notify the instructor before exam time if at all possible, and, if a make-up exam is appropriate, should arrange to take a make-up exam as soon as possible after the scheduled time of the exam. Since students taking a make-up exam have the advantage of additional time to prepare, the make-up exam may be somewhat more difficult than the original exam.


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Last modified Jun 8, 2008 10:55 AM