Tips For Maximizing Your Homework Grade

Example: 4 problems assigned. There are 5 technical points per problem. Your score is

T 18 / 20

P 15 / 20

You got 18 out of the 20 possible technical (T) points. This means that I judged you made a serious effort at a complete solution for each part of the 4 problems, but one problem was lacking in some respect. Perhaps you didn’t work one or more parts of the problem, or you wrote an answer without showing your work, or the problem required your comments and you only gave a numerical answer.

How to get all possible technical points:

· Your audience should be an imaginary technical manager who is reasonably competent in the field, but is not intimately familiar with the work you are doing. Briefly summarize the problem statement, and clearly show your work.

· Be sure to work each part of every problem

· Show and explain your work. Don’t expect the reader to fill in steps.

· Always address requests for comments. Usually you can do this by writing one or two complete sentences.

You got 15 out of the 20 possible professionalism (P) points.

How to maximize your professionalism points:

· Use engineering paper, or unlined plain white paper (not required, but usually results in better layout).

· Leave suitable margins on your pages.

· On plots, be sure to label the axes with both the quantity and units of measurement.

· Use a straightedge for long fraction bars, underlines, boxes, and lines on diagrams.

· Highlight your answers by underlining or boxing.

· Use appropriate lettering sizes - don’t write too large or too small.

· Don’t crowd lines together or leave too much empty space.

· For submission, leave your work flat, preferably stapled together (please do not fold your work in half). Number and initial each page in sequence, e.g., TAR 1/3, TAR 2/3, TAR 3/3.

· Write your name legibly on the first page as close to the top right corner as possible (this helps me when I alphabetize the papers). Near the top of the page, include the following information:

ELEC 2120, Dr. Roppel

Homework #

Date submitted

Why so much emphasis on format in a technical course? The answer is simple- your method of presentation should enhance the ideas you are trying to convey, rather than detract from them. People do rely to a certain degree on initial impressions, so it is worthwhile to establish the habit of presenting your work with care.