Homework Instructions

Assignments

Find the homework assignments and the corresponding drop box to turn in for each week in the Canvas Modules section. Each homework assignment consist of two parts: Short Answer and Python. The short answer questions are in MS Word document and the Python questions are in a Juypter Notebook. That way you can open the appropriate document and either hit return after a question in Microsoft Word or add a cell in the Juypter Notebook for providing an answer to the corresponding question.

If you choose the Final instead of a Project, the homework assignments are the criterion by which you are evaluated because the test questions are literal copies of selected Short Answer homework questions. These assignments are the study guide for the Final. No surprises. Also no memorization of Python syntax or running Python programs on the Final. You will need to understand general procedures but code memorization is not part of this course.

If you cannot make the due date for any assignment, please contact me in advance so we can discuss how to address the situation. No assignments are accepted after Tuesday, 12 pm after the Sunday due date.

The homework assignments are primarily assessed for completeness. Generally, the only wrong homework answer is an incomplete answer. That is also why you can work together in groups on the homework, whatever helps you learn the material. That is the only point of the homework, to help you learn. The only point of the Final or Project is to assess what you have learned.

Python Homework

Jupyter notebooks are text files with filetype .ipynb for Interactive PYthon NoteBook. From the corresponding weekly postings in Canvas Modules, download the Python template for that week. Open the template in Jupyter Lab with Anaconda or Google Colab.

Some advice based on over 50 years of experience doing software development and data science.

As you work on the Python homework, realize that when writing software always go step-by-baby-step. Never take big jumps forward without first verifying that the code you just wrote actually works. Each week you begin with a working template of Python code. You need to modify the code cells of the template to do the worked problems. Best to follow this procedure:

  1. From the given pdf of a Jupyter notebook, develop your own notebook cell-by-cell. Do not proceed to the second cell until the first code cell is working.
  2. The assignments are designed to require minimal change to adapt the given template to a new analysis. The basic changes are the data file and variable names. However, each template incorporates my knowledge and approach to a given analysis, so by following the given template you are more-or-less following the general strategy of how I would conduct that particular analysis: For the homework and on the job.
  3. You do not need to copy all of my documentation, but do include some markup cells to document for yourself in more or less your own words the procedures you are implementing in the notebook.
This advice applies to each week’s Python homework assignments. When developing software, the tortoise always wins over the hare.

What to Turn In

After you do the short-answer part of the homework, you will have a completed document in the word processor of your choice. After you do the Python part of the homework, you will have a Jupyter notebook. Print both of these documents to pdf's.

Best to print a pdf from a Jupyter notebook using its File --> Print Preview or File --> Printmenu choice and then print or export the preview as a pdf. On Safari on my Mac, for example, I just do the print preview and then export as PDF.

Then merge the two pdf's into a single homework document. Easy to do with online software such as available at ilovepdf.com. Takes about 30 seconds to go to the website, select the merge option, upload the pdf's, and then download the merged file.

Turn in one pdf document that includes both parts of each weekly homework assignment.