Mr. Linden's Math Portal

The essence of mathematics is not to make simple things complicated, but to make complicated things simple. ~S. Gudder

Homework Guidelines

The following are the departmental guidelines used for all mathematics classes at North Olmsted High School. All student assignments are expected to follow these guidelines. Homework assignments that do not follow these guidelines will not receive credit for the work. Guidelines in bold italics are additional guidelines specifically for Mr. Linden's classes.

North Olmsted High School

5755 Burns Rd
North Olmsted, OH 44070
Phone: 440-779-8820

N.O. District Site:
www.northolmstedschools.org
NOHS Teacher Pages:
www.nohsteachers.info

Download the Guidelines here!

  1. LABEL - Write your name, date and assignment clearly at the top of the first page. If you use additional pages, put your name or initials at the top of every page.
  2. PAPER - Use standard-sized loose-leaf (no fringe) paper (8.5” x 11”) with lines or standard-sized graph paper. Your paper should be neat, not torn or crumpled. Work must be done in pencil, corrections may be made using blue or black pen.
  3. WORKSHEETS - All work must be completed on a separate sheet of paper.
  4. NEATNESS - Write legibly (large and suitably dark); if the grader can’t read your answer – it will be counted as wrong. If you use additional pages, they should be attached together with a staple or a paper clip (do not dog ear or fold the papers).
  5. SETUP - Write out the original problem that you are working on, including all diagrams, tables and figures. Word problems that are too long to write out, need to be setup according to the problem solving plan and should include a base equation or formula.
  6. ALIGNMENT - Problems need to be worked out vertically, with all work continuing down the paper. The next problem should be written directly below the previous problem.
  7. SPACE - Do not squeeze the problems together, with one problem running into the next. Provide sufficient space for each problem, with at least one blank line between one problem and the next. Leave appropriate space for corrections and/or omitted problems.
  8. DIAGRAMS - For tables and graphs, use a ruler to draw the straight lines. Graphs and tables should have proper labels for the points of interest, including scale, axes, and column and row headers. Use an appropriate and consistent scale on the axes.
  9. WORK - Show your work. This does not mean just copying the problem from the book and the answer from the back. Show all the steps that go between the question and the answer. Show how you arrived at your answer. Your work is much easier to grade when you have made your work and reasoning clear. In addition, difficulties that you may have experienced in completing the assignment can be better explained to you if you have made your reasoning clear.
  10. EXPLAIN - If the problem asks you to write in your own words, then copying the answer from the back of the book, or the definition from the chapter, is unacceptable. You must write the answer in your own words, not copied from the text.
  11. ANSWER - Put your final answer at the end of your work, and mark it clearly by circling, boxing, or underlining the answer.  Label your answer appropriately, using appropriate units.

You should use your instructor as a study aid, in addition to your textbook, study guides, notes, and tutors. The intention of these guidelines is to provide you with a framework of communication between yourself and your teacher. If you develop good habits while working on homework, you will generally perform better on tests.