Stat 344
Probability and Statistics
Spring 2018

[From Class][Calendar] [Test Info][Homework]

Assignments

Comments on Assignments

Homework Policy

R Markdown

When to use R Markdown

Problems that include significant use of R should be done using R Markdown. Other problems may be done using pencil-and-paper (but I encourage you to use R Markdown for these as well). If you are typesetting mathematics, be sure to take a look at Mathematics in R Markdown.

For assignments were you do both, it saves me A LOT of time and effort if I don’t have to hunt for things. Please keep things in order, and be reasonable about switching back and forth between the two.

How to use R Markdown

  1. Start from a template document so you don’t have to recreate that standard stuff each time. I’ve made one just for this class. Among other things, this loads the ggformula and fastR2 packages and makes the images a bit smaller so we don’t use so much paper.

  1. Use good coding style. (This is not optional.) Here are some examples of good coding style.

    1. Always surround operators (+, *, /, etc.) with a SPACE.
    2. Always follow a comma with a SPACE.
    3. Use SPACES or TABS to align your code nicely. (CMD-i will help with auto-indentation.)
    4. Keep your lines short (fewer than 80 characters wide); they should not spill off the page. Choose natural places for line breaks.
    5. Show both the code and the output. In particular, it is much easier for me to grade if I can see intermediate results, so show them.
    6. Try to be clear and consistent with your names for things.

  2. Put text in text chunks, R code in code chunks. Don’t write up your solution in code comments. (But feel free to use code comments to comment on your code.)

  3. Look it over before you turn it in. (Seem obvious, but I think sometimes students forget to do this.)

  4. If you don’t know how to do something in R or R Markdown, ask. (You might also check these cheat sheets from R Studio; they are very handy.

Pencil-and-paper work

Please work neatly. You can help me out if you do the following things:

  • Use 8.5 x 11 inch paper.
  • Leave some margins (top, bottom, left, and right).
  • If you use spiral bound paper please remove the “fringe” on the left side.
  • Label each paper with
    • your name,
    • the course,
    • the problem set number.
  • If you use multiple sheets, please staple them together.
    Use a staple (not a paper clip, not folded and torn corners, etc.).

You can help yourself out (and improve your grades) if you:

  • Show your reasoning clearly.
  • Use words as well as numbers.
  • Use English and mathematical language correctly.

Grading

The primary purpose of the homework is to help you reinforce concepts and practice techniques. It is to make sure you are understanding the material covered in class, to help you generate questions when you don’t, and to provide me with feedback about how you are doing (as individuals and as a class).

Problems will typically be graded out of a small number of points (like 3).
In this case, 3 indicates an essentially correct solution, 2 indicates a good attempt with some oversight or technical flaw, 1 indicates an attempt with more serious errors.
In addition, I may write comments on your papers. Be sure to read these, even if you were awarded full or nearly full marks for a problem.

Collaboration and Academic Integrity

In general, you may discuss homework problems with other students, and I encourage you to do so. But the written solutions you submit must be your own work and not simply a copy of another student’s work.

There may be special problems assigned for which no collaboration with others is allowed. In particular, no collaboration is permitted on any take-home problems associated with exams. It will be made clear if collaboration is not allowed on an assigned problem.

Of course, cheating on tests or the final exam is not allowed. Cheating includes the use of unauthorized notes or devices, copying from another student, or consciously allowing another student to copy from your work. Details of Calvin’s policy on academic integrity can be found in the College’s Student Conduct Code