There are a number of things you can do to
help you do
well in this class.
- Attend all lectures and recitations.
- Keep up with the required readings (don’t
wait until the night before the exam)
- Turn in all recitation assignments the day
they are due.
- On recitation assignments, pay attention
to proper grammar, use ideas learned in class, and back up your answers
with logical arguments.
- Participate actively in recitations (having
done and thought about the readings ahead of time)
- Your TAs are here to help! Ask questions
during recitation; visit their office hours immediately if you have
trouble with the material. The earlier you see them, the more they can
help you.
- Take effective notes on readings and lecture. In taking notes, identify key arguments,
important points, themes, and concepts.
In
taking your notes, think about trends, processes, orders of magnitude,
and
general principles, rather
than trying to memorize every last
detail.
- Read over your notes and see if they make
sense. If not, or if you have any remaining questions. ask your TA or
the professor.
- Read the Introductory chapter in Cunningham
for excellent study tips and tips on note-taking.
- A good way to study for exams is to pretend
you are the instructor and write your own test questions. If you can’t
write test questions, you probably don’t understand the material well
enough. Once you’ve written the questions, answer them yourself without
referring to the book.
- Also work with other students in study groups
to prepare for the tests.
- Review notes, texts, and recitation
assignments before the exams. Don’t wait
until the night before.