Math 53
Autumn 2024

Logistics for handing in homework

The homework is due on Wednesdays at 9:00 a.m. PST. NO LATE HOMEWORK IS ACCEPTED. Homework submissions will be handled electronically via the Gradescope platform. Students registered for the course at the end of the first weekend should receive an email to sign up for Gradescope.

Gradescope accepts only electronic submissions, so you will need to scan your homework before uploading it. Details on how to use Gradescope can be found below.

Assignments will be posted one week before they are due. Any change (e.g., to fix a typo) to a posted assignment will be announced in class and via email.

Untagged problem policy: Untagged homework problems will not be graded by the graders. Once your submit a regrade request due to a problem tagged incorrectly, there will be a 50% penalty for that problem. This policy is in effect starting with HW 2.

The lowest two homework grades will be dropped in final average calculations.

Homework regrades

If there is a problem where you believe you deserve more credit based on the visible work in your original submission and the grader's rubric, submit a regrade request through Gradescope explaining why you should earn more credit. All requests for homework regrades must be submitted within two weeks of the original due date (each HW will be graded within one week of the due date) or two days after the final exam date, whichever comes first.

Please note that if a problem was missing from your submission (whether you accidentally skipped it, did the incorrect problem, or forgot to upload the relevant scan), you will not receive any credit for that problem.

Gradescope overview

Gradescope is an online platform for grading exams and homework. For each problem, you will be able to see clearly which rubric items your solution satisfied and any additional comments the grader has for you.

Two important notes:

• Homework assignments will still be graded by members of the Math 53 instructional team. You are not being graded by an electronic system.
• In-person exams would be given on paper and the instructional team would upload them to Gradescope. However, students are still responsible for scanning and uploading their homework each week.

How do I get an account?

Students registered for the course at the end of the first weekend should receive an email to sign up for Gradescope. Otherwise, please contact the instructor starting the morning of October 3.

How do I actually upload my homework?

For each homework assignment, you must

• Produce a legible PDF of your complete solutions to each problem. Make sure your problems are clearly labeled!
• Upload the PDF to Gradescope by the deadline (9 AM on Wednesday mornings)
• Select the page(s) that contain the solution to each of the assigned problems. Note: Failure to do this finalizing step will mean that some or all of your problems will not be graded! Once you submit a regrade request due to a problem tagged incorrectly, there will be a 50% penalty for that problem. This policy is in effect starting with Homework #2.

An example of the PDF submission process is depicted in this video.

Note: It is also possible to choose to take a picture of each question and upload each question individually, though this is less recommended.

Gradescope has its own mobile app for submitting homework (though the website still the only way to view feedback and submit online/timed assignments).

How do I produce a PDF of my homework?

This does not mean you have to do your homework on a computer. It just means you have to scan your handwritten work and create a PDF. The first thing to be aware of is that the scan will come out much better if you write in a darker pencil or pen.

To actually scan your homework, there are a number of mobile/tablet apps for various platforms recommended by Gradescope that will allow you to turn photos into multi-page PDFs. Note: GeniusScan is also available for iPhone and some may find it preferrable to Scannable.

Alternatively, there are traditional scanners in many (theoretically all) computer clusters in campus residences and many (theoretically all) campus libraries. Contact the Residential Computing help desk for details.

MOST IMPORTANT POINT: Make sure to preview your scan before you upload it to Gradescope! You want to make sure that every bit of work is visible and readable so that the graders can provide accurate feedback on your solutions.

What if I notice an error in my solution or forgot a page of my homework when I submitted it?

If the deadline has not passed, you can resubmit your homework. Simply go to Gradescope and click on the relevant assignment to view your submission. In the bottom right hand corner of your browser, you should see a "resubmit" button. This will allow you to update your submission to correct the error you noticed. Only your final submission will be graded.

Important note: Choosing to resubmit your assignment will completely erase your current submission, meaning you will have to reupload your entire solution again. Gradescope does not currently allow you to just update a single question.

How do I see how I did on the homework assignment?

Once the submission deadline has past, your homework will be graded. This usually takes about a week. Therefore, around the following Tuesday, you will receive an email saying that your graded work is available for viewing. Your score as well as grader feedback on your homework will be available in Gradescope.