Homework
Daily homework assignments are a major component (50%) of this course and will emphasize skills in logical thinking, physical intuition, numeracy, writing, calculus, and astrophysics. Students will often present their solutions during class. The following rules apply to homework assignments:
The following rules apply to homework assignments and any collaborative work with other students, tutors, etc.:
1. Electronic submissions will not be accepted.
2. Content and Quality: All submissions must exhibit excellent clarity with legible handwriting and clear, arithmetic solutions and logic. Some problems require an opinion or interpretation to be clearly stated. In these cases, a grade will be determined more by reasoning and writing performance than by the exact answer.
You must always SHOW, or explain, HOW you reached a solution by clearly writing the intermediate, logical steps in a solution and/or describing the solution logically in words. Simply listing an answer is not acceptable and will not receive any points.
3. Due date policy: All assignments are due at the start of class on the dates specified on the course Web site. You may request to submit an assignment late by emailing Dr. McCarthy in advance of the deadline, so we can agree a plan towards completion. Otherwise, a late-penalty of 20% may be assessed. Assignments will not be accepted more than one week late.
4. Teamwork policy: Students are encouraged to share intellectual views and to discuss assignments within the following boundaries. You may START an assignment in a team. However, after deciding HOW to approach a problem, you must then make all your own derivations, measurements, graphs, and tables and always use your own wording to interpret and express conclusions. Homework solutions that appear identical are a violation of the Code of Academic Integrity and will receive a grade of zero plus potential expulsion from the course and University.
5. In-class work: In-class homework problems require students to work in pairs or groups of three. Attendance is required to receive full credit for these problems; half credit will be given for in-class problems submitted as normal homework with skipped attendance.
6. "Recovery Points": If you incorrectly solve a homework problem, you may correct the problem and turn it back in for half additional credit with the next homework assignment.
7. "TBD" grades: Sometimes students misread a question, get started in the wrong direction, or make a simple mistake leading to the wrong conclusion. Such assignments will receive a "TBD" grade (i.e., "to be determined"), allowing you to get back on track if you meet with Dr. McCarthy within one week to discuss your work and arrange to improve it. Study sessions: