Math Quiz Guidelines

    The following math quiz guidelines are for take-home quizzes and are designed for a student to get the maximum benefit from completing a take-home quiz.

Math Quiz Guideline 1 (First complete the homework)
    It is important that you first complete the homework. Your homework lays the groundwork and helps drive home a particular concept, formula or procedure. Students often ask me, "can we use a formula sheet on the test?". My answer to this is always the same, if you do enough homework, then you will not need a formula sheet, because by the end of the homework you should know the formulas and procedures concerning a particular topic. If, at the end of the homework, you feel that you are still not comfortable with the formulas and procedures then more homework is recommended. Keep in mind the homework is usually assigned for the average student. Depending on your background for a topic, you may need to work more exercises on a particular section.
    
Math Quiz Guideline 2 (Take the quiz by yourself)
    Usually take-home quiz problems are more challenging than standard textbook exercises because take-home quizzes are sometimes used to help make a transition from "textbook type" problems to "exam type" problems. In order to help you see if you can make this transition, you should take the quiz by yourself. When you get stuck on a problem you should go back and reread your textbook (and maybe even work some more textbook exercises). Often when you are rereading with a purpose, you will be more focused; and this might drive your attention and enthusiasm.

Math Quiz Guideline 3 (No late quizzes)
    This math quiz guideline is to help students not get behind in their work. Much like it is impossible to cram for a piano recital; it is also impossible to cram for a math exam. You must practice as much as you can to earn the best grade that you can. Unfortunately, not everyone can spend every hour of every day on their math course; so keeping up with your take-home quizzes is often a way to gauge how much more time you will spend in order to achieve what you want.

Math Quiz Guideline 4 (Write the instructions and label the solution)
    Writing the instructions helps ensure a student understands the problem. For example, if the instructions make no sense then more homework, reading, and/or reflection is recommended. Since many take-home quiz problems are designed to merge together concepts that a textbook might not have, the instructions are sometimes just as important as the problem itself. If you do understand the problem, then you should label the solution as "Solution" because this helps the grader (where to start grading) and the student (when preparing for an exam).

Math Quiz Guideline 5 (Show all work)
    The idea for this math quiz guideline is that you make a clear readable presentation of your mathematical ideas. If you leave your work messy and it looks like scratch work then points will be deducted. You should show every step in a clear fashion that makes sense; and do not assume that the reader knows your thoughts. If you know pertinent information then you should write it down it a clear presentable fashion.

Math Quiz Guideline 6 (Write legibly)
    This guideline is obvious, however I would like to point out that some students will work through a quiz slower than others. How long it takes you will depend upon your weaknesses and your strengths; if presenting your work in legible form is one of your weaknesses then you need to more time to accomplish your goals.   
    
Math Quiz Guideline 7 (Write your answer in sentence form)
    This is an important step that many students do not accomplish on their own. Your final answer should be in sentence form and should summarize the given problem. For example, if the problem is "Solve 2x+3=0." then your final answer is the sentence: The solution to the equation is You can get a good idea on how to write your solution by coming to class and taking lecture notes. If you are not sure about sentence form on a particular problem, then you should make contact.

Math Quiz Guideline 8 (Staple your pages)
    If two or more students do not staple their pages and if the instructor drops or loses order of the papers turned in, then it can be impossible for someone to tell whose papers are whose. Quizzes that are not stapled will not be accepted.

Math Quiz Guideline 9 (Write in pencil)
    It is rare for a student to make no mistakes on all quizzes. After your instructor returns your quiz to you, you can correct your work and have it ready for when you prepare for your exams. It is next to impossible for a student to hand-write a quiz without making a mistake so no pens are allowed. Also excessive eraser marks are not permitted since it can make difficult which work to grade.

Math Quiz Guideline 10 (Organize your work)
    You should keep all problems in the given order; for example etc. Each problem should be labeled so that when browsing through your work you can easily determine where a problem starts and where it finishes. A well written take-home quiz will greatly reduce the amount of time to organize your review for your exams.

Math Quiz Guidelines (List)

(1) Take-home quizzes should only be attempted after the homework is finished and checked for correctness.

(2) All quizzes are to be completed by you only. Tutors, classmates, parents, friends, are not allowed to help you. The only person who should work on your quiz is you. (Please read the academic dishonesty section in your syllabus).  

(3) No late quiz is accepted for any reason and you must turn in your assignment during class. If need be, you can turn in your quiz early, but NOT LATE. Attendance is part of your grade and recall I take attendance with your quizzes. If you are to miss class for any reason then you must turn it in early.

(4) Each given problem must be handwritten by you, including the instructions. The instructions must be followed by the solution (not on a separate sheet of paper). The solution should be labeled as “Solution”. That is to say, for each problem you should write down the problem and the solution should follow.

(5) All steps must be shown. Do not assume that I understand what you are doing. It is your responsibility to explain to me what you are doing. Do not turn in your scratch work. You are to turn in to me your final work. All steps must be shown but no scratch work.

(6) All work must be legible. If you are not sure about your handwriting then stop by and show it to me.

(7) The final answer must be in sentence form. Every sentence should begin with a capital letter and end with a period. If you are not sure about “sentence form” then stop by and see me.  

(8) The pages of your quiz must be stapled together before you turn them in.

(9) No pens allowed.

(10) Problems must be in the correct order given. For example, 1, 2, 3, etc.  

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