Mathematics 317: Evaluation of Homework
Evaluation of Written Proofs
Written proofs will be evaluated for mathematical completeness and
correctness, and for the quality of the writing.
I will use a 12-point scale, with 8 points for the mathematics and 4
points for the writing.
Points as Letter Grades
- [A: 10-12 points] The proof is complete and correct.
- [B: 7-9 points] The proof is nearly complete and correct. It has only a
minor error or omission.
- [C: 4-6 points] The proof has a substantial error or omission.
- [D: 1-3 points] The proof has major errors or omissions but makes some
progress.
- [F: 0 points] The attempted proof makes no progress.
Guide for Writing Proofs
Submit proofs after editing your notes into final form.
Documents containing material crossed out or erased are not
acceptable.
- Address the proof to a reader who has taken a year course in calculus.
- Begin with a statement of what is to be proved.
- State your assumptions; tell what you will prove and indicate the
method of proof.
- Use the pronoun "we."
- If you type your proof, set variables in italic type.
- Write in complete sentences.
- Use paragraph breaks to set off major steps in the proof,
such as the necessity and sufficiency parts of a biconditional.
- About displayed equations:
- Break text to display important or long equations.
- Write the text surrounding a displayed equation so that together
with the display it makes a complete sentence.
- Number a displayed equation if you refer to it elsewhere in the text.
- Tell the reader when the proof is complete.
Evaluation of Computations
Solutions of computational problems will be graded on an 8-point scale, with 4
points for correctness and 4 points for clarity.
- [A: 7-8 points] The solution is complete and correct.
- [B: 5-6 points] The solution is nearly complete and correct. It has only a
minor error or omission.
- [C: 3-4 points] The solution has a substantial error or omission.
- [D: 1-2 points] The solution has major errors or omissions but makes some
progress.
- [F: 0 points] The attempted solution makes no progress.