Have you ever found that you have read the wrong pages of your textbook or completed only half the problems you were set? Understanding the assignment is critical to successful completion of your homework.

• When you receive a piece of homework, be sure that you know exactly what is expected of you. Which pages need to be read? Which problems should be completed?

• If you're not sure what's required, ask your teacher what you need to do to complete your work successfully.

• If appropriate, ask to see examples of properly completed work.

• Finally, ask yourself, "Can I explain this homework to someone else in my own words? What questions do I need to answer in my research? What are the goals of this homework?"