Students: This is Why You Have to Show Your Work

Dear Students,

As you know, Chemistry, Math, and Physics professors routinely demand that you show all your steps to a problem on an exam or homework.  We do this to grade how you analyzed and attacked the problem, which is more important than the final result. Above all, we want you to understand the concepts and techniques of science, as opposed to just substituting numbers into an equation whose meaning escapes you. All this is so you do not turn out like the “expert” in this video.  Warning: this painful to watch, but stick with it.

3 Responses to Students: This is Why You Have to Show Your Work

  1. OUCH!

  2. As I watched that video, I was embarrassed for that man. As one of your former students, Dr. Dunning, I can say that showing physics work was not fun. However, I never want to be put into the position where I can’t complete a simple math problem due to reliance on formula sheets. So, thanks for being a great professor!

  3. Kelly, thank you so much for the kind words. It’s an honor to teach at Longwood!

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