Homework Guidelines

Standards for math assignments:

• Use standard notebook paper. Graph paper if preferred.  Please, no spiral fringe.
• Write your name, date, period, and assignment at the top, right hand side of the paper.
• Write the problem number clearly. Problems should be in order, but if separated you should include a note to refer me to the missing part or problem(s).
• Copy the problem. On very long word problems, you need not copy the entire problem, but you should indicate by sketch or by a few words, the essence of the problem.
• Show your work! Show your work!  Show your work!  This does not mean just copying the problem from the book and the answer from the key.  Answer keys are in the back of the textbook; therefore, I do not need nor want your homework to be an “answer key”.   Show all of the steps that go between the question and the answer.  For your work to be complete, you need to explain your reasoning and make computations clear.  Your work should convince me that you know what you are doing.
• Highlight, circle, or  box  your answer. 
• Do work in pencil so you can erase mistakes cleanly. Erasable pen is not acceptable. Write clear and dark enough to read.  You may sometimes want to line through errors, but please remember if I can’t find your work easily or read your answers, it’s wrong.
• Keep your work neat. Stay within margins and do not squeeze all the problems together.  Allow enough room to add to or make notes as we go over problems.  If you are unable to do a problem, copy it, and then try to estimate enough space to complete it later.  Continue with the rest of the assignment.
• Sometimes a quick sketch is all that is required, however, use a ruler to draw straight lines for graphs and tables.
• When a problem says to explain or write in your own words, please do not copy from the text.
• Finally, please leave the magic to Harry Potter. Plus and minus signs, equal signs, radical signs, numerators and denominators, etc. should not disappear in the middle of the problem only to reappear at the end of the problem.

The intention of these guidelines is to help you develop good habits which will help you to understand the work and perform better on tests, quizzes, and in class.  I also hope that this will help you to improve your written communication skills, providing clear evidence of your understanding of the concepts we are learning.