Success is your right--and your responsibility!
The following suggestions will help you:
1. ATTENDANCE. Exam questions will be drawn from lecture notes, class discussions and assigned reading.
Although class outlines will be posted to the list serve, these will not provide the level of detail covered in
lectures, and are no substitute for being in class.
2. TAKE GOOD NOTES. Good note-taking is a learned skill. It can make the difference between success and
failure in college. Everyone develops their own style of taking notes, but keep the following in mind: write legibly;
careful spell new terms and write their complete definition; if you are lost, ask questions; write topic headings
bigger; leave open space on each page; compare notes with a friend's after each class or before exams; review notes
as you read text to fill in gaps; if lecture material contradicts text material, ask for clarification; recopy
or outline notes to study for exams. If you miss class, ask to copy a friend's notes, but keep in mind your friend
may take lousy notes.
3. BIOLOGY 101 LISTSERVE. Check it every day for important information about lecture and lab. Use it to
ask questions about lectures or lab assignments, or to connect with fellow students to form study groups. Study
questions, discussion questions, and assignments will be posted on the listserve.
4. READ the text assignments before each class. Taking good notes is easier if you are somewhat familiar
with the material. After class, check your notes against the appropriate portion of the text. Keep in mind that
if the text is much more detailed than the lecture you will be responsible for the level of detail presented in
class.
5. THE TEXT BOOKS have many features (usually outlined in the preface) that can help you study. Be familiar
with these--they can save you a lot of time.
6. YOUR CLASSMATES. Form study groups early in the semester. Compare class notes on a regular basis. Quiz
each other prior to exams.
7. YOUR LAB TAs. We are very fortunate to have a bright and dedicated staff of graduate teaching assistants
for this class. Your TA will help guide you through lab assignments, and can also help you to understand lecture
material. If you are nice to them, they may agree to organize review sessions prior to exams.
8. PLAN AHEAD. One of the greatest challenges for college students is being organized enough to balance
the demands of many classes at once. The first week of class, write the exam dates for all your classes on your
calender. Don't wait until the last minute to study. The best way to fight test anxiety is to be as prepared as
possible. Be completely ready for an exam the day before it is given. Use the last day to lightly review and spend
some time relaxing. This will keep you calm during the exam.
9. OTHER RESOURCES. If you doing all of the above and still need help, visit the university bookstore for
additional biology-related study guides, etc. Find out about tutoring services provided by the university.
10. A WORD ABOUT TERMINOLOGY. Biology, like any field, has a lot of unique terminology. If you are having
trouble comprehending the material, be sure that you completely understand the definitions to all the new words
you are learning. These terms will be defined in class as well as your textbooks. If this is a particular problem
for you, buy a dictionary of biological terms (such as The Penguin Dictionary of Biology). It is also a
good idea to invest in a good college level dictionary if you don't have one already. This will serve you in all
your classes throughout your college career and beyond.