An Example of how homework should be formatted and turned in.

The following was contained in your syllabus, but it is reprinted for your convenience below before an example homework problem is presented.

Homework will be assigned periodically. It will be collected and graded. It will be due at 5:00 PM the day of the date announced. All homework problems are to have the problem written out in full (including any diagrams) at the top of the page. You may not leave out words or abbreviate any words from the book. The ONLY exception is you may leave out figure references since you will sketch as well as you can the figures for each problem (or you can paste in a photocopy of the figure). For example instead of writing “figure P. 7.4-8 is…” you may write “The figure shown …” or “The figure below…” Otherwise all other words must be written out. Failure to do this will result in a loss of points.

You are to use only one side of a sheet of paper while solving the problem. Start each problem on a NEW sheet of paper. All homework is to be done on standard size paper. Homework should be assembled with care to ensure that all pages are in correct order. Problems should proceed in an increasing numerical order with any Extra problems assigned from outside the text book being placed after the assigned textbook problems.

In the case of thick packets of paper, a large paperclip may be preferable to a staple. Please do not fasten homework in a manner which makes it difficult for the solutions to be read. Homework, as well as exams and labs, should be free of debris: coffee stains, food particles, eraser pieces, ragged edges, etc. Please make the pages as neat as possible.

Papers which the professor cannot read for any reason (legibility, size of your writing, contrast between writing and paper, etc.) are just wrong, and all points will be lost. Additionally, pages out of order, upside down, backwards, etc. may also result in a loss of points. A wise student would do a final check to ensure that all problems are present, complete, legible and in proper order before turning them in. Homework is YOUR opportunity to show the professor that you understand the material and can produce a proper solution. The numerical answer is not the final criteria. All problems which require numerical answers must be have a value not an equation. Moreover, all numerical answers (unless they are pure numbers), must have an appropriate set of units. No units when needed, No Credit for the problem!!!

Please be aware the professor knows many of the problems in the textbook provide an answer. You may not just write down the answer even if you claim you can do the problem by inspection. You are to provide some reasonable and correct justification for all problem solutions. Solutions are just that, solutions. They require occasional words to explain why the equations being used are the right ones, etc. Do not just provide a string of equations and algebra and produce a final answer. Show a thought process! Finally, occasionally the book provided answer is not the answer the professor believes is correct. The professor’s answer is the correct one by definition.

These are not suggestions! They are requirements. Homework not done by these specifications is subject to loss of points including all points at the professor’s discretion. Failure to use these specifications on subsequent homework assignments will see an increase in points deducted.

You are encouraged to work with others in the class on the homework. However, write-ups of the problem solutions should not be “Xerox” copies of other students’ solutions. You are encouraged to see the professor for help as well. Recall the “15 minute” rule. The professor is willing to discuss homework answers prior to homework submission; though he is not willing to verify answers for exams prior to submission.

MATLAB RULE: All homework problems and exam problems which ask for sketches or plots are to be done in MATLAB only. NO HAND DRAWN PLOTS EVER!!! No use of Excel! All such MATLAB plots are to have your name, date, proper axis labels, especially including appropriate units, and the scales should be such that as much as possible a single page is filled by the plot. All MATLAB work must include the m-file which created the plot or solved the problem. The m-file should have cleaned up text from the command window showing the answers in a comment section at the end of the m-file. By cleaned up it is meant that extra spaces, duplicate results, error messages, etc. should have been removed. Your professor will explain this to you.

In addition to providing printed MATLAB work, for each assignment (homework and exam), you are required to send an email to the professor either identifying that you did not use MATLAB or you attached a zip file containing all MATLAB files produced to solve the assignment. This email is also due at 5 PM. Failure to send the email on time may result in loss of points. MATLAB work must be separated so that each MATLAB file is used to solve one problem in the assignment. Do not create one large MATLAB file that solves everything! Each use of MATLAB must have code to associate with it. Failure to provide the printed MATLAB code with the problem it belongs to may result in loss of points.

You may use an integral table, but you may not use MAPLE, MATLAB or any other Symbolic Manipulator Program to do the integrals for you. Please show the Standard Integral form in your work.

For Example:

Proper axis labels would include either {Force, F, (N)} or {Ln(Force), ln(F), (ln(N))}

Proper titles would include a description for the plot, and your name and the date on a second line. For example: Plot of Power Dissipated vs. Load Resistance

D. W. Donovan – Jan 7, 2011

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This page last updated on January 8, 2016