*Do Not* give answers for homework questions

Question

I am pretty sick of telling people that we don't just give out answers for homework questions and then have someone else reply giving them the answer.

I sure that most of the regular members here know this rule by now, so I am confused as to why this keeps happening over and over again.

Please, do not give out answers for homework!

The Rules

If you want to help, give them hints so they can find the answer on their own. If they get it wrong, we will always be here to correct them. It is better for them this way. If they are just handed answers, they will never really learn.

• ah..i dont really want the answer but no how to do it. can you help explain it to me - funkey21 Feb 13, 2012
• Oh, don't worry! Actually, Fredbong left a wonderful explaination on your thread! :) - NikkiRivera Feb 13, 2012

Answer 1

Sometimes it was the result of over enthusiasm to help someone out - I guess.

• Could be =) I know I feel like that sometimes. - NikkiRivera Feb 13, 2012

Answer 2

On a few occasion I may be guilty of this...sometimes I can't tell if it is homework or not...so I assume it isn't in those cases.

• :) - NikkiRivera Feb 13, 2012

Answer 3

I typically answer one of the questions posted as an example, there are usually a series of them.

This isn't doing their homework for them, it is giving them a practical example of how to do the work, and if they only post one question I assume it is because they have others, but just want a template for doing the rest of them.

The rules are too specific and don't allow for malleability. How can one say "don't translate" when there exist set phrases that no understanding of grammar would allow someone to make an educated guess? Making a response to tell them to try an attempt if they didn't do it in the first post is just stupid. I think you should just translate these and then remind them about the rules, and to follow them next time. (At least if it is a one sentence long translation)

I say, use your head.

In a lot of cases people aren't going to get it if you don't offer them at least one answer. And they are going to give up if you start talking about prepositions and pronouns and subject and verb agreement and all of these technical things which really are the only way to give proper answers. You have to give them a concrete answer on at least one of them, or they will give up because they'll feel it goes over their head. And sometimes they only have one question. So for me it is either answer the question, and add the complete explanation, or ignore it and watch as they leave SD and decide that they don't want to learn.

• Well, you actually give good answers and explain grammar and that... which is great... but some people just give the answer and that is it. - NikkiRivera Feb 13, 2012
• If they give up because somebody doesn't think for them then they probably should give up. - Pablo-Peligr Feb 13, 2012
• A most important point. Many of us have been adults for decades and able to make our own judgment calls. Don't try to force draconian rules on anyone! - territurtle Feb 14, 2012
• By the way, I was the first person to mention this issue and initially received quite a verbal lashing for not wanting to answer obvious exam questions texted during exams!! - territurtle Feb 14, 2012

Answer 4

I meant to include that in my "how to answer a question thread." I'm glad you posted this.

Answer 5

I hate to see the glass half empty right now, but what in the name of sweet Mama Heidi do these rules mean now?

Anyhoo, good thread, Nikki.

• :( I am still upset about that... But still people should just do whatever they please now. >. - NikkiRivera Feb 13, 2012
• and thank you... - NikkiRivera Feb 13, 2012
• I agree with you Nikki, that is one of our rules, they can try for themselves as part of the thread but not ask the quesitions. - Martha-SD Feb 13, 2012

Answer 6

I feel the same I have lost count of the times I have been writing an answer to suggest they have a go themselves then when I press Answer I discover someone has done all the work for them. They might get good marks but they won't learn much like that.

• :( It is very frustrating... - NikkiRivera Feb 13, 2012

Answer 7

I totally agree Nikki. It has happened to me on numerous occasions. I finally finished up by posting an answer "we do not do homework questions, etc", and would then close the thread. Unfortunately I cannot do that now. I just hope we now abide by the rules.

• Yes, at first I thought that threads should not be closed... but now I am starting to think differently about that.... - NikkiRivera Feb 13, 2012

Answer 8

It's happened to me, too. I'll suggest that they give it a try first... then the next post is the answer.

Ian is probably right about the person being enthusiastic about helping.

Answer 9

It seems I need to bump this up again... :(