Intermediate steps should be logical consequences of previous steps. If you are going to divide by two and/or move a term from on side of the equation to the other it is sufficient to write the new expression on the line below the previous expression without comment. Nontrivial steps require an explanation. If two adjacent expressions are equal, they should be connected by an equal sign (=). If two adjacent expressions are NOT equal DO NOT connect them with an equal sign.

Equations cannot materialize out of thin air. If you use an equation from the text, your notes, another reference you must document it. For example, Eq. (27) Ch. 1 Atkins; Integral 967, CRC Math Tables, Copyright 1984; or class notes 9/27/98. This is just like using references in a paper or lab report. In addition to documenting where an integral came from you need to show any steps necessary to get the integral in your homework to look like the integral in the math table.

Solve equations algebraically for the desired result.  DO NOT insert numbers until the algebra is finished.
Avoid calculating intermediate numerical results that are not needed.

All numbers should have units! Keep track of your units and show your conversion factors.
Answers without units are meaningless.  Keep track of significant figures in your numerical results.

If at anytime I cannot follow your work I quit grading that problem. Once I get to the second problem on a set that I can’t follow, I quit grading your entire set and you get a zero on any ungraded problems.

Finish each problem with a concluding sentence. What is the final result? Does it make sense?  (If the result is absurb, find out the cause of the error.)  How does it relates to the original question asked? What things did you learn from this problem, an application of a theory, a sense of the magnitude of a quantity, a math "trick", etc.? Make sure you mention at least one "big" picture thing that you learned. You may also mention useful problem-solving details which were illustrated. Use this statement to bring yourself to a new level of understanding about physical chemistry and/or the problem. Think about the implication of the answer to the science. What does that tell you about the size or direction of the effect being illustrated by the problem, etc.? This reflection is important—The time when you can learn the most from a problem is after you have the solution in hand!

In many problems you are communicating with a reader using the languages of mathematics and physics to explain chemistry. It is your job to use the language in a clear and precise manner to demonstrate your mastery of a problem. Remember the "reader" may be you reviewing for an exam!

You probably need to become familiar with this system before you are comfortable with it. For the first three homework assignments you will turn in your problems, I will grade them and return them to you promptly, at which time you can rewrite the homework to improve on the written part of the problems. I will then regrade your homework. After the third homework set you will not have a chance to improve your grade by rewriting.