PHY252S - Homework Policy

Late homework policy:

Turning in your assignment even fifteen minutes late will classify it as late. Really!! (I mean it; taking lecture time to finish off your assignment will not win you anything.)
NO late homeworks will be accepted after solutions are posted. Hence, late homeworks for HW#1,3,4 must be handed in by 11:10am on the Monday in question. Note that no late HW#2 will be allowed; this is because the solutions will be handed out immediately the homeworks are turned in - so you have time to study them prior to the midterm.
The penalty for a late homework is 4% per day of lateness, up to a maximum of 20%. This lateness penalty is calculated as a percentage of the total possible grade of the homework assignment, not as a percentage of your actual grade.
The only exceptions to the lateness penalty will be given to those with genuine emergencies. Claims must be backed up by documentation. ("Oh, darn it, traffic was bad on the 401" won't cut it...). All such information must be explained to the Prof.
You are welcome to get a friend to hand in your assignment; I do not require you to turn it in yourself. However, you must ensure that assignments are handed in directly to me or the TA. NO responsibility whatsoever will be taken for assignments left outside or under our office doors.

Fairness policy:

I encourage you to discuss general course material with other students. Discussion with peers is an important part of your education, and one of the reasons to go to a top university like UofT. It's OK if you discuss generalities of homework in groups, but I ask you not to discuss the specifics.
All homework assignments should be done, in the details, individually. You will learn the course material so much better if you don't copy off a "smart" friend, and therefore you will do better in the midterm and final exams. It's therefore in your interest to do the homeworks individually: your grade will be better.
Homeworks turned in which to the TA look identical (i.e. suspected cases of copying) will result in a warning and will be referred to me. Cheating will not be tolerated.
The reason for this policy is fairness, pure and simple. Some students are unable to work in groups with others (e.g. they commute from far away, or have babies to look after). They should not be unfairly disadvantaged by the assessment procedure.

You are welcome to discuss this policy with me if you need further clarification.