Expectations for Homework
ARHS Mathematics Department

When you’re stuck....

It’s common to get stuck on a homework question, but you need to take and document a couple steps to help you get unstuck. If you complete these steps, even if you are still stuck when you come to class, you will get credit for turning your homework in on time. In many cases, however, these steps will help you help yourself through the problem. If you seek help from your classroom teacher, another teacher, a tutor, a parent, a sibling or a friend, explain to them the steps you’ve completed (below) and ask the question or questions you have written down (step 2).

1. Identify exactly where you are stuck and write it out:
   1. Reread the problem, identify and write down any words, symbols or sentences you don’t understand.
   2. Summarize what the problem is asking you to do in your own words.
   3. Describe what you have done so far to solve the problem. In other words, write out your process.
   4. Go back through previous class work, homework, class notes, tests and quizzes, or a section in the textbook. (If you don’t have your previous assignments organized, you know what you need to do.) Write down the names of assignments that seem similar in some way. Is there anything there you could use in this assignment?
   5. If it is possible to make a diagram or graph of the situation, do so. Label the diagram or graph and explain how it represents the situation.

2. Turn your effort in part 1 into at least one clear question and write it down.

   Some examples of questions a student might ask:

   • What does "Solve for x" mean?
   • What is this sentence asking me to do?
   • How do you find a percent?
   • How does scientific notation work? We did it in science but I never understood it.
   • How do I make a graph of sin?
   • What is a logarithm, anyway? What does log 25 mean?

3. Bring your work and writing from parts 1 and 2 to class on your homework paper.

   Tell me you got stuck; show me what you tried and what question you wrote.

When you are not stuck....

1. Go back over your work and imagine that you will be explaining this to another student (you very well may be). Check to see if you can explain why you did what you did, not just how you did it.

2. If you cannot explain why you did what you did, write down exactly what you can’t explain as a question (For example, "I know the steps to solving this equation, but why do you do it in that order?")