Information Pertaining to Homework


Note: Go to this webpage pertaining to homework assignments to find out about specific homework assignments and due dates.

Information about the HW Component of Course Grade

Shortly before or after each of the first 13 class meetings, I'll post homework problems on the homework web page. (Since I'm not sure how far through the text I'll get each week, I may sometimes wait until after the class to firm up the homework in order to make sure all of the problems are suitable given what I've covered in class.)

Each assignment will have a Part A and a Part B. Typically, your solutions to the Part A problems will be due at the very next class meeting, and the part B problem solutions will be due at the class after that one. For example, after the first lecture I'll firm up Part A and Part B or HW #1, and after the second lecture I'll firm up Part A and Part B of HW #2. HW 1A solutions will be due at the time of the 2nd lecture, and both HW 1B and HW 2A will be due at the time of the third lecture. Similarly, HW 2B and HW 3A will be due at the time of the fourth lecture, and so on.

Important: Because the GTA will typically grade the Part A solutions and I'll typically grade the Part B solutions, don't attach your Part A and Part B solutions together. Each week you should put your Part A solutions in one pile on the table at the front of the classroom and the Part B solutions in another pile.

To accomodate the fact that some students may join the class late or be late getting a copy of the text, HW 1A will not count towards your grade. HW 2A, HW 3A, ..., HW 12A, and HW 13A will be worth 1 point each and I'll count your best 10 of 12 Part A scores to obtain 10% of your overall course grade. HW 1B, HW 2B, ..., HW 12B, and HW 13B will count 1.5 points each and count your best 10 of 13 Part B scores to obtain 15% of your overall course grade. (Note: You'll only have one week to do HW 13B since I'll assign it after the 13th lecture and it will be due at the time of the 14th lecture (the last lecture before the final exam).) So, altogether homework will account for 25% of your overall course grade. (I like to base most of your overall grade on exam performance, and particularly on final exam performance since it best reflects what you know at the end of the semester.)

Late HW Policy

I plan to give out solutions to the Part A problems the same night they are due (so you will have them to learn from before you have to turn in the corresponding Part B problems the following week). Because of this, I won't accept late Part A solutions. (If I don't have your paper by the time I pass out the soilutions it'll be too late to turn it in.) But I will have a grace period for Part B solutions (which are worth more than Part A solutions). Typically, you'll have until 3:30 PM on the Friday following Thursday's due date to turn in solutions for Part B problems. (You can assume this two day grace period is in effect unless I announce otherwise.)

When dropping off late HW papers, take them to my office in Nguyen Engineering Building, putting them under my door (my office is room 1706). Whether you fax your paper, or leave it for me under my office door, send me an e-mail indicating that you turned in your paper late (with late meaning that you did not turn it in at the classroom on the nominal due date).

If you fax your paper, or drop it off, and for whatever reason I don't get it, then I won't give you any credit. So the best plan will be to always turn in your paper to me in the classroom on the Thursday that it is due (but it is usually safe for you to put your paper under my office door --- I don't know of any instances when students have done so and I didn't get the paper).

Other Comments about HW