Homework Guideline:
There will be two main types of homework for this course: reading assignments and problem sets.
Reading assignments:
You will have reading assignments each day after class, and you will need to submit your responses to Moodle by 8 pm on the evening before the next class. Please check the Moodle course page after each class meeting for updates.
There are no extensions on reading assignments, and they will be graded on completion.
Problem Sets:
The best way for you to learn the mathematics covered in this course is to practice doing math.
There will be two problem sets per week, typically assigned on Fridays and Mondays. Both of these assignments are due in hard copy by the following Friday at 5 pm in the box labelled MA274 outside of my office, Davis 206.
If you need a short extension on your homework (under 24 hours), please email me before the due date; longer extensions require a conversation and, in general, will not be allowed. The lowest homework score will be dropped at the end of the semester; if you miss a homework assignment, it will count as the dropped score.
You will learn more if you start these problems early. Please, please do not leave them to the night before they are due! You are unlikely to be able to complete them in one night. Ideally, you would read them and start thinking about them as soon as they are assigned.
This class involves a lot of work. Expect 2-3 hours of work per hour spent in class.
You may (and are encouraged to!) work on the problem sets in small groups, but you must write up your solutions on your own. Writing up your solutions on your own is a very important step in the learning process; it is often while writing that you discover a subtlety that you missed earlier, giving you the opportunity to work out the details further, ask questions, and ultimately understand the solution better. You are encouraged to exchange drafts of your solutions with your peers and critique each other’s proofs, and then improve your drafts.
Acknowledge the sources: if someone other than the TA or professor gives you the key idea for a proof, you must credit them in your write-up. This includes any help you receive from online sources and applies even if you received help from a student who received help from a TA or the professor. Acknowledging a source will not result in a penalty. (see Syllabus: Academic Integrity).
Formatting: Homework must be neat and legible. Each problem must be written out on its own page, and should consist of:
– Your name
– Problem Set number
– Problem number
– Your solution in final form, with no massive erasures, cross-outs, or giant arrows.
This will all be pretty easy once you learn to use:
LaTeX! You will be learning LaTeX, a mathematical formatting software that is especially designed to write up math in a nice way. You will be required to submit at least portions of your homework in LaTeX. I will provide information on this website to get you started with this software. The TAs and I can help you learn it, and it will be extremely rewarding for you, especially when it comes to:
Revises. Homework problems receiving less than 9/10 may be revised once for up to 9/10 credit. The revision is due Friday at 5 pm the week after the graded homework is returned. It must be resubmitted along with the original version. Problems that were not attempted at all, or which were turned in late without specific permission, are not eligible for revision. I also reserve the right to mark any particular problem ineligible for revision at the time of assignment. Any problems that are for credit/no credit are also not eligible for revision.
Please do NOT staple different problems together, since the TAs will need to separate your work for grading.
Useful resources: Professor Leo Liveshits's "Rubric for Written Work"
The most important guideline: If you are ever unsure about anything, just ask me. Email, discussion board, office hours, before class, in class, after class - just ask:-)