Helpful Hints

As you doubt you have heard, if not already have experienced, chemistry is a tough subject that requires hard work. It is also most exciting and interesting. Your success in this class is directly dependent upon your attitude and willingness to work hard. Many ingredients go into making your efforts a success. The professor and the textbook have important roles to play but you have the most important role of all.

Be an active and involved learning. Chemistry is not learned by osmosis. Read, ask, think, and do. Read the chapter in detail and for details. Ask questions in class and outside of class. Do not hesitate to go see your instructor for help. Think about what you are doing and how the concepts tie together into the overall scheme. Think atoms and molecules. Do the problems and understand them. Pure memorization is a path that leads to confusion and frustration.

Come to class. Come to every class. You are responsible for all of the material covered in class whether you are there or not. If you absolutely have to miss a class you need to as soon as possible before the next class get in touch with either a fellow classmate or the professor to find out what you missed and what the next assignment is. Get a copy of the notes. Read over them. Write down your questions and find answers to them from any of your resources. Even if your absence is excused by the dean you are still responsible for that information.

When you get a quiz or test back go over it before the next class period. See what you missed and try to understand why. If you have questions please go see the professor. Often the material builds on itself over the semester. What you don't learn and understand one day will come back to haunt you later. If you are absent the day that quizzes or tests are returned visit the instructor and pick up your graded quiz or test.

Do not fall behind. That can be a fatal mistake. Keep up. Do some chemistry every day. For each hour spent in lecture you should spend a minimum of two hours in study prior to the next class.

Other suggestions:

Skim each chapter before it is covered in lecture.
Write out questions about material that you do not understand.
Form study groups.
Do extra problems.
Prepare chapter outlines.
Use the student study guide.
Obtain copies of old tests from Alpha Chi Sigma and work and understand all problems.
Visit the Math Lab for help with algebra and graphing skills.

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