Every day at the beginning of class there will be a query; two questions directly from the previous lecture, directed at you the students. The participants will be selected at random from the query pool (which will initially contain the name of every student enrolled in the course). Every student starts the semester with 20 points as their query total.

The first person selected will be asked the first question of the day. The questions are designed to see if you have looked at your notes and have a basic grasp of the previous lecture's material. They are not designed to be difficult, tricky, or embarrassing. A quick scan of your notes before class will often be enough preparation for the query.

Let's say that Jane is the first to face the query.There are three possibilities for what happens next:

1) Jane answers correctly and no points are deducted from her query total. Jane is removed from the query pool until it is empty, at which time everyone is returned to the pool.

2) Jane gives a good effort, but is incorrect. In this case, 2 points are deducted from Jane's query total and she re-enters the pool at the end of the day's query.

3) Jane gives no answer at all (e.g., if she is absent). In this case, 5 points are deducted from Jane's query total and she re-enters the pool at the end of the day's query. The next person is randomly selected and faces the same question.

Once we have dispatched the first question, we start all over with a new person to face question two. This may sound complicated, but I hope each day's query will take no more than five minutes.

I have some comments concerning the query. First, you are being handed your 20 query points at the outset. This is good because those 20 query points represent four percent of the total possible points in the class (see grading for details). In this sense you are off to a great start and need only "defend" that four percent.

Second, you can really hurt your query total by not answering at all (case 3) above). Because the questions themselves are not meant to be hard, the most common reason for giving no answer at all will be that the person whose name has been drawn is simply not there. This makes regular attendance and punctuality the proper course.

Lastly, the query is not designed to cause you any discomfort, though it may at first. Part of succeeding at mathematics is being able to calmly, accurately and succinctly discuss the ideas at hand. By answering questions in the classroom you will build confidence in your ability and should also feel more comfortable asking and answering questions at other times, both inside and outside of class. Because many of us dread speaking in front of others, it is critical that we be supportive of the person facing the query. We will all have to do it at one time or another, so please be courteous and respectful.