Guidelines for WeBWorK and Problem Sets
Math 101 Calculus I, Fall 2020
You will have two main types of weekly homework assignments this semester: WeBWorK and written Problem Sets. The WeBWork assignments will give you practice with the computational aspects of the course, whereas the Problem Sets will often be more conceptual in nature and with a strong emphasis placed on explaining your reasoning.
You should definitely plan to start early on the WeBWorK assignments and Problem Sets so that you can take advantage of my office hours and Remote Peer Tutoring.
I firmly believe that one of the best ways to build your understanding of mathematics is to explore the ideas with other students. Therefore, I encourage you to discuss the assignments with other students, but your solutions should represent your own work. If you do work with another student on an assignment, you should indicate that in a note on the top of your paper.
WeBWorK assignments
- WeBWorK is an open-source online homework system that gives you immediate feedback on whether or not you have answered the problem correctly. For most problems, there is no limit on the number of attempts.
- Since you are submitting your answers online, there may be less motivation to keep track of your thought process and keep your work organized. However, this doesn't serve you well later in the semester when you need to review the problems for another assignment or exam. Therefore, part of your WeBWorK grade this semester will be to maintain a WeBWorK Journal as a reference for your work.
- Your WeBWorK Journal should show your thought process for each WeBWorK problem. You will upload a pdf copy to onCourse of the work corresponding to each WeBWorK assignment.
- These solutions do not need to be as thoroughly written as the Problem Set solutions since they are intended for your own reference, but you should clearly label each problem.
- Remember, if you do work with someone else on the assignment, you should indicate that in a note on the top of your paper.
Problem Sets
- The Problem Sets will normally consist of four problems, possibly with multiple parts, that are usually more conceptual and whose solutions require further explanation.
- I have high expectations for the presentation of the Problem Sets. If you do not follow these guidelines, I reserve the right to return your Problem Set ungraded. I am not being unnecessarily annoying about this. Learning to carefully organize your thoughts and clearly communicate them is one of the most important skills you will learn in college.
- Do not turn in your first attempt at each problem. You should expect to re-write and organize your solutions.
- You must put your name and date on the first page of each assignment, clearly label each problem, and answer each problem in order.
- Your writing must be clear and legible.
- Your solutions must be well-written, using complete sentences to justify your results where necessary.
- A list of answers without explanation is not acceptable and will be graded accordingly.
- Here is a good rule of thumb to follow when writing up your problem sets:
Write your solutions so that you could hand them to a student who took Calc I last semester and she could understand your explanation.
- If you write in pen, there should be no scratch-outs.
- You will also submit your Problem Sets to onCourse as pdf files.
- Remember, if you do work with someone else on the assignment, you should indicate that in a note on the top of your paper.