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\centerline{MATH 244 -- Linear Algebra}
\centerline{Problem Set Guidelines}
\centerline{Spring 2007}

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Weekly homework assignments will be posted each Friday on the 
course homepage and
collected the following Friday.  These assignments will usually consist of
10-15 problems (depending on level of difficulty, how many parts
there are to each question, and so forth). 
Here are some guidelines to follow while doing your assignments, for our
mutual benefit:

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\item{$\bullet$} Please be neat!  Write up the problems {\it in order}. 
Use only on {\it one side of the page} (don't worry about saving paper), 
and staple your assignment together. 
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\item{$\bullet$} Leave {\it lots of space} for me to write comments.
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\item{$\bullet$} Copy out the problem statement before giving the solution.  
(This should help you make sure you have answered everything in 
the question.)
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\item{$\bullet$} Show enough detail so that a confused student in the class could
follow your solution. Don't expect that the reader already knows how
to solve the problem.  Just writing an answer is almost never
sufficient.
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\item{$\bullet$} Proofs should be written in complete sentences, although your
sentences will often contain mathematical symbols and
statements. Proofread what you have said to be sure it makes sense.
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\item{$\bullet$} No ``and then a miracle occurs" moments during proofs, please! 
If you are left with a gap in the proof that you just can't bridge, 
acknowledge it. I will indicate how to fill the gap, if appropriate,
in my comments.
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\item{$\bullet$} Start the assignment early (i.e. the day it is posted).
This will allow you ample time to consult with me or your classmates
if you get stuck on some problems.  If you start the assignment on the
day before it is due, you will be very unhappy!
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\item{$\bullet$} Work on making your arguments clear and concise. 
Make good use of notation and diagrams.  As the semester progresses, I 
will grade your proofs more and more for both
accuracy and presentation.
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\item{$\bullet$} If you work with other students to solve a problem, you {\it
must} write up your final solutions independently. (Plan on taking
scrap notes when you work out the problem first, and then ``writing it
up" in a clean form {\it by yourself} afterwards.)  Add a note to 
your solution listing the other people you consulted.
\bye
