What is this course about?
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Tips for success What does it take to do well in this class? It's actually very simple. The advice provided below may seem rather obvious, but every semester I find that a substantial number of students get into trouble because they don't take good notes, they don't keep up with assignments, or they don't ask questions when they are confused or uncertain about what is going on. Do these three things consistently and your odds for a good grade will improve tremendously. Take notes! Note-taking is an art that you may not yet have mastered, but you have to take it seriously. Past experience indicates that many students who have trouble in this class are not taking adequate notes. To do this takes practice and concentration, and it often has a critical effect on your final grade, so please take my advice: if your notes contain only what I have written on the board, you have missed most of the content of the lecture. Every semester I talk with students who have gotten a D or an F on the first exam who clearly have not been taking adequate notes. I use the board to illustrate and to punctuate the ideas I am trying to get across, but much of the explanation is in my spoken words. If all you do is to copy what I write on the board, you are going to have a difficult time making sense out of it three weeks later when you have forgotten what actually transpired in class. You should write down everything that might be helpful in interpreting the subject matter later on. It is also helpful to go over your notes the night after the lecture and fill in any details you may have missed; you may find it helpful to copy them over and fill in any gaps or correct any points that seem inconsistent. Keep up with assigned readings! It is important to read the assigned chapters in the textbook during the same week that the topic is covered in class. It is preferable to read the chapter before we start discussing the subject matter in class. That way you are better prepared to identify topics that need to be clarified and to ask questions about something you find confusing or contradictory. You will also be better prepared to contribute to the class, which helps to make the entire class more interesting for everyone. Finally, if you wait until just before the exam to do the assigned reading, you will find it almost impossible to absorb all of the detailed information with enough understanding to be able to answer the questions on the exam. Although the bulk of your reading assignments will be from the textbook, the online syllabus provides direct access to many other sources of information. Before we start talking about a topic in class, skim the outline provided in the notes for that week and then use the list of links for that topic to cruise the World Wide Web. If you spend an hour or two each week doing this it will really enhance your understanding and make the whole class a lot more fun. Ask questions! If something I say in class doesn't make sense to you, raise your hand and ask a question. If I go over a point too quickly, tell me and I will go over it again. If you have a problem with something I've said, chances are that several other people have the same problem. If students don't speak up I have no way of knowing whether they understand what's going on. Make your voice heard; it can't hurt you and it may help you. If you find that you're not getting the kinds of answers you need in class, or if you're just too uncomfortable asking your question in public, talk to me before or after class. Make an appointment to see me during office hours, or if you have a schedule conflict, tell me and we'll find another time. There is no such thing as a stupid question. Sometimes questions about the simplest topics turn out to be the most profound and important. If you have a question, it is an important part of my job to help you find the answer. |