There are many reasons why you have to show your work in Math class:
*You could be copying answers – We are not accusing you of cheating, but it raises suspicions when you only turn in answers. If you REALLY knew how to do the problem…wouldn’t you want to show everyone how you did it?
*We don’t care if the answer is right…is the WORK right? – You can get partial credit for correct work even if your answer is WRONG. How many classes will you take in your life that can say that? Take advantage of the free points!
*Showing your work gives the teacher a clue – Your teacher will be able to help you if he/she can see the process you went through to get your wrong answer. Is your answer wrong because of a minor computational error? Did you add when you should have subtracted? Did you add when you were supposed to add…but you added wrong? Is your answer wrong because you don’t know what you are doing? Letting your teacher see the process you went through helps find the solution.
*Listing your steps helps you learn – In your brain’s attempt to transfer things you learn from your short-term memory (working memory) to your long-term memory (semantic, episodic, or procedural memory)…you need repetition! Talking through the steps (and writing them down) as you do them helps you internalize the steps!
*You could be copying answers – We are not accusing you of cheating, but it raises suspicions when you only turn in answers. If you REALLY knew how to do the problem…wouldn’t you want to show everyone how you did it?
*We don’t care if the answer is right…is the WORK right? – You can get partial credit for correct work even if your answer is WRONG. How many classes will you take in your life that can say that? Take advantage of the free points!
*Showing your work gives the teacher a clue – Your teacher will be able to help you if he/she can see the process you went through to get your wrong answer. Is your answer wrong because of a minor computational error? Did you add when you should have subtracted? Did you add when you were supposed to add…but you added wrong? Is your answer wrong because you don’t know what you are doing? Letting your teacher see the process you went through helps find the solution.
*Listing your steps helps you learn – In your brain’s attempt to transfer things you learn from your short-term memory (working memory) to your long-term memory (semantic, episodic, or procedural memory)…you need repetition! Talking through the steps (and writing them down) as you do them helps you internalize the steps!