Econ 210. Micro Theory

Recommended Approach to Problem Set Assignments.

Homework assignments count for a nearly trivial portion of your final grade (10%). However, mastering the material in the problem sets is the best way to do well on exams which count for nearly all of your grade (70%). Here is a suggested procedure for getting them done in a way that prepares you for the exams and, hopefully, results in long-term retention of the economic concepts.
  1. As soon as a new homework is posted, start working on it. make an attempt, on your own, on each problem.
  2. Get together with your study partners and try to hash out complete solutions through dialogue and reconciliation of your various attempts
  3. Remaining sources of confusion should be addressed in office hours - either come in yourself or send a representative from your study group. The cycle is designed so that there are at least three sets of office hours for each problem set.
  4. If necessary, reconvene with your study group and finalize your solutions. Do not simply copy each others' answers in these study group sessions; you should be teaching each other the economic theory behind your solution. Chances are, if you can't explain your answer to your group, you don't fully understand it. It helps if you meet in a room that has a chaulk board (or white board). The library and Holecamp have some rooms specifically dedicated to group study; or just find an empty classroom.
  5. Write up your own version to turn in.
  6. Once the answer key is posted, reconcile your work with it.
You should expect the total time commitment for one problem set to be 4-8 hours depending on how easily the material comes to you. Starting at 7:30 the night before it is due is putting things off a bit too long.

Back to Econ 210 Homepage