More practice is better, and so you do not have to limit yourself to the assigned homework problems. Feel free to attempt additional problems from the assigned text and from elsewhere. I shall gladly discuss and help you with any practice problems pertaining to this course that you may trouble with. I will not collect or grade homework. However, it is extremely important that, at a minimum, you practice solving all the assigned homework problems independently.
Inadequate practice tends to be associated with poor performance in the course.
Our schedule is very ambitious. I realize that you have other responsibilities beside this course, but it is a demanding course, and I have an obligation to have high expectations of you, so that you may benefit as much as possible from the course. However, if our progress is slower than necessary to keep up with the schedule, we may have to trim the coverage of material in order to get back on schedule. I will announce any changes in class, as needed. I shall assign you into groups of upto three members.