Help on Homework

Because I post a lot of information for my students on the Web, I tend to receive requests for help on homework. I will only help my own students (including Grinnell students not currently enrolled in my classes) with their homework.. There are many reasons for this policy, Here are some. I'll add others in the far future.

• Doing your own homework helps you learn the material.
• Only your instructor knows how much help is appropriate.
• Your instructor deserves to know if people are having trouble in the class (I know that I change how I teach if I find that many students are having trouble with the same assignment).
• In most cases, it is a violation of institutional policy to ask for certain kinds of help on homework assignments (and certainly to ask someone else to do your assignments).

Because of the number of requests that I receive, I now have a policy for dealing with questions from people other than Grinnell students:

• I may post your name and question publicly. [Positive: There is a chance that someone will find your question and give you help.]
• I may do my best to track down your teacher and let them know that you've been asking for help. [Positive: Your teacher learns that you need help on the problem.]

Note that my contract with Grinnell College requires that I report any potential academic dishonesty of which I'm aware.