ASTR 101 — How Homework Works
Two-Stage Submission Guide
The Two-Stage System
Homework in this course uses a two-stage workflow that builds your ability to evaluate your own understanding — a skill that pays off on exams.
┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ STAGE 1: SOLUTIONS │
│ Due: Monday 11:59 PM │
│ → Submit your work as ONE readable PDF on Canvas │
│ → Show all reasoning, units, labeled answers │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
↓
Tuesday morning: Solutions posted on Canvas
↓
┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ STAGE 2: GRADE MEMO │
│ Due: Wednesday 11:59 PM │
│ → Compare your work to the solutions │
│ → Score each problem (1–5) using the rubric │
│ → Reflect: What was confusing? What would help? │
│ → Disclose any collaboration or AI use │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘Why Two Stages?
| Traditional HW | Two-Stage HW |
|---|---|
| Turn in, forget about it | Engage with solutions, learn from mistakes |
| Find out weeks later what you got wrong | Same-week feedback loop |
| No practice evaluating your own work | Builds metacognition (self-awareness of learning) |
| Incentivizes copying for “right answers” | Rewards honest effort and reflection |
Research shows: Students who reflect on their mistakes learn more than those who just see a grade.
What Gets Graded?
Your homework score (0–5) combines both stages:
| Score | What It Looks Like |
|---|---|
| 5 | Thorough solutions with clear reasoning; insightful, honest self-assessment; complete disclosures |
| 4 | Solid work with minor gaps; genuine reflection |
| 3 | Acceptable but uneven; shallow or generic reflection |
| 2 | Incomplete solutions or missing memo components |
| 1 | Minimal engagement |
| 0 | Not submitted, missing disclosures, or integrity violation |
Key insight: You can earn a 4 or 5 even if you didn’t get every problem right — if your reflection shows genuine engagement with what went wrong.
Common Questions
Q: What if I don’t finish all the problems by Monday? Submit what you have. Partial work + honest reflection beats nothing.
Q: What if I got everything right? Great! Your memo should still reflect: Was anything tricky? Did you have to look anything up? What would you tell a classmate who’s stuck?
Q: Can I work with classmates? Yes — discuss strategies, check each other’s reasoning. But your submitted solutions must be your own work, and you must disclose who you worked with.
Q: What about AI tools? Course-provided tools (NotebookLM) are allowed for studying. Do not use AI to generate solutions you submit. Disclose any AI use honestly.
Q: What if I miss a deadline? Stage 1 (Monday): No late submissions — solutions are posted Tuesday. Stage 2 (Wednesday): No late submissions. Safety net: Your lowest homework score is dropped.
Quick Checklist
Monday (Solutions):
Wednesday (Grade Memo):