WHAT DOES IT TAKE?
1. Mathematical and abstract reasoning ability
2. Consistent motivation
3. The study skills mentioned below
GENERAL SUGGESTIONS
1. Maintain an organized loose-leaf notebook for class notes, written homework, lab reports, exams, quizzes, and handouts
2. Consistently study each day, even if there are no written assignments. Get rid of the idea that study is complete when the written work is completed.
3. Study and review the material covered in class that day. If you have a question, write it down clearly and get the answer the next day.
4. If you still do not understand, get help immediately. Chemistry is a cumulative subject which builds on your understanding of each day's lesson. Don't put it off!
5. Most importantly: imitate a successful athlete. Train every day!
DESCRIPTIVE MATERIAL (terms, names, basic concepts)
1. Keep an organized list with a definition, and/or explanation for each chapter. Can you explain it in your own words?
2. Read your text sentence by sentence, paragraph by paragraph. When you have finished reading a paragraph can you explain it in your own words? If not, read it again. Use the summary, learning goals, and key terms given in each chapter. When that fails, ask about it in class the next day.
TAKING NOTES
1. Come to class prepared to take notes. Reading the text before class will help you recognize terms and concepts covered in class.
2. Use a logical format:
A. Date notes
B. Use block form with headings
C. Leave blank spaces which can be filled in later with further clarification
D. Avoid verbatim transcription. Understand, digest, and paraphrase. Create your own statements
E. Devise a meaningful system of abbreviations.
F. Always read over your notes each night and expand them.
PROBLEM SOLVING
1. Understand the basic concepts first (from text and notes). What are the concepts saying? What information or data do the concepts work with? What does the equation mean? How are the values related to each other?
2. Carefully review the sample problems and derivations from class, your text and the study guide.
3. Now address the problem. Are you sure you understand what it is asking? Make a list of the data given in the problem. Have you missed any implied data? Make a mental picture of the situation. If possible, draw a diagram of the apparatus.
4. Set up the problem on paper with all the information given in the question. Add to that any information that you know of, or can find from tables.(Atomic weight, formulas, density, constants, equations, etc.)
5. Look for the connections between what is given and what is asked for. Solve for new information one step at a time. Use labels on all values in calculations and be sure they cancel properly. This process of dimensional analysis is a very important check of your work.
6. Re-evaluate the question to see if you can determine the steps needed to get the final answer.
7. Review your steps to solve the problem. This will reinforce your understanding and provide review for quizzes and tests.
FIVE COMMON ERRORS
1. Studying passively. A common mistake is to read and say "I understand it" without considering whether you can apply it in a new problem situation, and how it relates to topics you have studied. You must test your understanding by repeating the solution with your own pencil, jotting down comments, equations, terms or diagrams. Successful chemistry students study with a pencil and a stack of paper, testing themselves by example or sample problems in the text as they proceed.
2. Focusing on the text rather than the notes. The text is a support for the material covered in class. The instructor's presentations have the highest priority and will form the basis for the exams.
3. Working the problems too early. Review your notes and the text, and rework the sample problems from your notes and the text before attempting to work on problems.
4. Studying extraneous material. Do not waste time on the unassigned material. If it is important, your teacher would have assigned it.
5. Copying a solution from someone else. This does not help you learn how to solve problems. You must make a decent effort at solving a problem yourself (getting through steps 1-5 in problem solving, above) before seeking help.
Portions of this have been adapted from: Winning Strategies for Learning Chemistry by Kathleen Turner.
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