Part of each assignment will be something I'll call a "Reading Report" for lack of a better name. But I don't really want a "report," that is a summary, on the reading. The primary purpose of the Reading Reports is to jump-start the dialogue between you and me about the material. Details are given below, but basically the idea is for you to send me an email giving me some idea of your thoughts and questions about the reading. Sometimes I may respond by email or in person, but always I will read your reports and consider how to continue the conversation in my lectures. (Once I threw out a complete set of lecture notes and started over after seeing what a class thought about the reading.)
The secondary purpose is to give you an extra reason for reading about topics before they are discussed in class. Of course in an ideal world, you'd do this just to help yourself learn. With all the competing demands on your time, I'm helping you prioritize this task.
Write to me after your first reading of the assigned pages. For this first reading, you probably won't do the exercises embedded in the text, you might skip part or all of any proofs, and I certainly don't expect you to have mastered the material. (Note that you should think through the exercises, even if not assigned to hand in, as part of a more thorough reading.)
Your report should address, more or less, the following questions.
Reading reports are due by Sunday at noon on dates listed in the Homework Schedule. All the reports for the quarter will count the same as one written homework assignment. You may skip one report without penalty. After that, 10% will be deducted for each missing report. A report that is significantly late without good reason, or repeatedly late reports, will cost 5%.
Problem sets will be due on Wednesdays (at least until holidays disrupt our schedules). There are two categories of problems. The "W" (for "work") problems you should think through, at least sketch a proof, but don't have to write up to turn in. All exercises embedded in reading are automatically "W" problems, even if I forget to say so explicitly.
Write up and hand in "HI" (for "hand in") problems either in class or to my mailbox by 4 PM on due date. If you will not be able to turn in an assignment on the due date, contact me as soon as possible about an extension.
You may talk with other students about homework. In fact, I encourage you to do so, because discussion is one of the best ways to learn the material. But at the end, write your own solutions in your own words.
You may use results from earlier in the text, and from earlier assigned problems; this includes "W" problems, and thus all exercises. (The appendix counts as "earlier" than all the chapters.) To use the result of a problem not assigned, you must provide a solution to that problem. You may use any results from [ITM] and [ISM] (the texts for 544/5/6), but please cite the book and page or chapter. If using a result from anywhere else, state the result completely and cite it well enough to make it easy for me to look it up.
Remember that you are trying to convince me you know what details need to be checked, and that you can show they hold true. If some fact is "obvious" but needed to apply another result, you should at least mention the fact so I know you realize it is needed. Better, say briefly why it's true (unless it is truly elementary, or immediate from the given conditions). If you have to look something up to be sure of it, give the reference.
Homework may be handwritten or typed. If you are considering typing, see Jack Lee's advice and recommended resources for typesetting homework. Handwritten work is fine, but please consider the age of my eyes: don't write too small, please use ink or a dark pencil, and if your writing shows through the paper please use one side only. Also please, please leave one-inch margins on all sides of the page.
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Most recently updated on September 26, 2011.