Homework - Definition and Overview

For the Daft Punk album of the same name, see Homework (album)

Homework is work assigned by a teacher, school or other educational institution, to be completed by the student at home or while not attending class. The term is generally used to refer to primary or secondary school assignments as opposed to college-level coursework.

Many students find homework to be an undue burden, while schools and teachers generally insist that it is necessary to practice new skills and to better learn material.

Plagiarism and shirking of requirements (such as by using Cliffs Notes instead of reading a book) is often practiced by some students. If they are caught, punishments can range from a warning to expulsion from the institution, depending upon the school's policies and the severity of the infraction. See school discipline.

In recent years, there has been some backlash about the amount of homework assigned. In some cases several hours of work may be assigned every day, leading to incomplete or mediocre work and overstressed students. Some schools have instituted policies lessening homework assignments, and requiring teachers to coordinate when large, long-term projects are assigned. In addition, there has been a general trend of grading all or a portion of assignments based upon effort and understanding of principles, instead of solely on correct answers.