Learn chemistry in class and lab; don't wait til you get home and don't hope that the book will make more sense than I do (although in some cases, it probably will). My exams are directly related to the material I cover in class. Practice problems, laboratory problem sets, and in-class or take-home activities are meant to reinforce and enable practice of the knowledge you gained in class. Learn now, while you're sitting here with me, so don't put it off until you get home. I'm here to help you learn. Please don't deprive me of the opportunity.

Take excellent notes on everything I say and write in class. You're here to listen, ask questions, and learn actively. This is your chance. Scribble quickly and learn chemistry during class. Don't wait until the day (or hour) before each exam. Go home after class and copy your notes neatly into another notebook. Recopying your notes in your own words, with the textbook nearby to amplify and clarify the information) is often a good way to learn things.

Exam Preparation. I expect each of you to take responsibility for your own learning both in class and while you're studying at home. You'll soon realize that actively challenging yourself to do the problems during class or lab, and practicing at home are the best ways to figure out what I want you to know and to get ready for my exams.

Read the book. Skim each chapter before I cover it, then you will have some idea of which questions to ask. You'll also be more aware of what I am skipping. After lecture, use the suggested practice problems to focus your reading toward the parts of the chapter that I talk about in class.

More Suggestions: An understanding of chemical concepts and calculations requires thought and practice. Don't expect to fully comprehend everything. And don't just give up when you don't "get it" immediately. Expect to study hard; strive to study effectively; figure out what I want you to know. This course is as much a course in problem solving ("word problems") as it is a conceptual and descriptive chemistry course. My goal is to make everyone comfortable with science and to help each of you earn an "A" in this class. If you pay attention, follow directions, ask questions, challenge yourself to learn in class, actively review at home, figure out what you'll see on exams, and read the manual before you arrive to lab, then you'll do well.

Notes Page. Check this website's "Notes" page often for copies of handouts, exams, answer keys, presentations, and other resources.

Be Interested. You'll get best results if you listen carefully while you're in class. Try to act interested (it may be habit-forming). The first things you should expect to see on a test are the topics that I cover in class and examples that I provide for practice. If you realize this truth now, you'll be happier with your performance on exams and quizzes later in the semester. If you focus on learning only from the book, you'll probably be misdirecting your time and effort.

Ask questions! It is my job to answer them. Scientists are curious characters! People either know all of the answers or they ask. I usually assume people understand me. If you are so lost that you don't know what to ask, then ask me what to ask! Yes, try it. I have never heard an unnecessary question, and I am not one of those people who judges students negatively based on the questions that they ask. On the contrary, I admire those of you who are smart enough and brave enough to clarify things before you need to take an exam and before an assignment is due. Don't ever think that you don't deserve to ask a question, or that you're going to "drag the rest of the class down" if you ask a "simple" question during class. Those are the lamest excuses I know. The best time to ask questions is during class. The second best time is anytime via email. I've had email for more than 25 years now, and I've never been bothered by a message from someone I know. Those of you who ask questions eventually become the smartest people in the class. Those who neither know nor ask will find this course very difficult to pass. Okay, now read this paragraph again.

The PLACe, our tutoring center, is located in D-106 and
http://www.sdmiramar.edu/root/stu_svcs/PLACe/index.htm (alert: this is a noisy website).They have tutors, practice tests, advice about studying, computer drills, and more.

Peer-Led Workshops are offered by the Chemistry Dept and led by students who are interested in helping you and have done well in our chemistry classes.

Textbook Website. Our textbook has an optional website called http://www.masteringchemistry.com. An access code comes with the new textbook. Sign up using this course identification: MCLINGNER26738. Contact the publisher to buy a code if you bought the textbook used. Although not required, you may use and will definitely benefit from the learning tools on this website.

Start now.