Study suggestions
Here are some suggestions for what you can do succeed:
- Attend every class.
- Read the book before coming
to class. You may not understand all
the fine details on first reading. Every time you get stuck reading,
formulate a question on that material, and ask it when we discuss that
topic on class. Try to identify the general ideas and concepts presented.
- Go through your notes very
carefully. Be sure to understand all
the ideas and examples discussed in class. Ideally, you should be able to
solve the example problems discussed in class on your own, without looking
at your notes. If you get stuck, consult your notes, and come to talk to
me if you donŐt understand some of the steps. DonŐt memorize! Try to
understand the reasoning.
- Start the homework
assignments immediately and have them ready early.
- Do extra problems. I only assign a sampling of the problems from
the text, but you are expected to know how to do most of the problems in
the book, not just those that are assigned. Before an exam, it is
excellent practice to work through problems that were not assigned in
class and ask questions if you have difficulty with them. Also consult
the Review sections at the end of the chapters.
- Take advantage of office
hours. Office hours are time I set
aside for you to come in with the questions you encountered trying to
solve the problems. I can help you exactly where you are stuck. So do
come with your questions!
- Use other available
resources. If you have questions
outside of class and office hours, you can come by and check whether my
office door is open. I am also very accessible by e-mail, and you should
feel free to send me a note at any time.
- Go through the review
sheets carefully before the exams. A
few days before an exam, I will hand out a detailed review sheet with the
material you are expected to know. Use it as an outline for studying. Go
through it carefully in advance, asking me questions about material you
arenŐt sure how to do.
