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Clear writing reflects clear thinking, so your ability to explain your work
carefully in writing is an important indicator of your level of
understanding. Most people find that the process of organizing material
well enough to express it clearly is a tremendous help in solidifying their
own understanding of the material.
This has the following consequence for this course: you must explain your work using words. Written explanation is a crucial part of the learning process, and it is not sufficient simply to write down a series of equations and circle a number or formula at the end. It is important that you be able to give clear and well-organized indications of what you are doing and why. I will try to provide examples of this as we go.
It is important to realize that writing explanations, while it helps me to
grade your work, is mostly for your benefit. It is the best way to
make sure for yourself that you fully understand the material. If you do
understand the material, it should not be a hardship to write a brief
explanation of what you are doing. On the other hand, if you are not
entirely sure about the process, trying to write an explanation of what you
have done is one of the best ways to recognize that you are not completely
clear on the subject. Even if you are right, the organization required in
writing about what you have done will help you draw the connections
necessary for a full understanding of the material. Don't look at writing
as just another hoop to jump through; look at it as an integral part of the
learning process. It's one of the things you can do far better than a
computer.