Contrary to what many beginning chemistry students believe, doing well

in chemistry and still having time for a life, is not an oxymoron.

Being successful does, however, require that you make a few decisions
now, at the beginning of the course, and stick to them even if the going
gets rough.
Decide now that you will be persistent.
If you encounter an obstacle, fnd a way through it, over it, around it, or under it, but do not
give up. Get whatever help you need to be victorious. The highest achieving students are
only rarely those who are the smartest, but they are always those who persevere.
Make the most of your time in class.
Rather than socializing or packing up early, use class time to work through eample
problems to be sure you understand what you are doing. !hen given the opportunity, begin
your homework " you can often complete it before the bell rings. #very minute you continue
working in class will free up $ or more minutes later.
Be in class every day and be on time.
Remember that class begins at the tardy bell. %ou will often have materials to pick up or
turn in before beginning class.
&sk your parents to arrange your doctor's and dentist's appointments at other times of the
day, if possible. If you must be absent, ask another student to take notes for you and to
bring you the assignments.
If you get behind due to being sick, catch up (uickly " even if that means coming in for lunch
tutorials for a few days. )osing a couple of lunch times is better than losing a couple of
weekends or failing the class.
Complete make-up work as soon as possible.
The sooner you are able to make up missed work, the less you will fall behind.
If you miss a test or a (uiz, make it up rather than waiting for the si*weeks unit eam. The
si*weeks unit eam covers the entire si weeks of study and, therefore, is always more
di+cult than the chapter test.
Do all assigned work now.
#ven if it is not to be turned in for a grade, work every problem and answer every (uestion.
&ssigning practice problems is not my way of keeping you from having fun " it is to help you
fully understand, use and be comfortable with a concept being studied. Trying to go back
later to work those problems will usually take much longer and be more confusing. ,ot
doing the work at all will result in much lower grades on (uizzes, tests, and your notebook.
Keep your notebook organized and use it.
%our notebook is your best study tool -it is also an easy ma.or grade/. In your notebook you
will have reference pages for many concept, your notes, chapter reviews, vocabulary,
eample problems and your graded work. This provides a wealth of tutorial help for you.
urn in all work on time.
&lthough I accept late work, remember that there is a penalty for every day an assignment
is late. 012 is 01 points per day on a scale of 011 points before your work is graded " no
one's grade can stand up to much of that kind of penalty.
Be certain you understand each concept and all the vocabulary.
#verything in chemistry is built upon understanding everything else. 3astering each
concept as we go through the course makes the net concept easier to master. %ou cannot
decide to .ust let a concept slide and pick up with the class later " you will (uickly start an
avalanche that will engulf you.
It's very di+cult to take part in or understand a discussion or laboratory eperiment if you
don't know the language. Rather than memorizing vocabulary words and their defnitions,
you must be able to use them4 5%I6 5ormal defnitions are rarely used in class " knowing the
dictionary defnition is not enough.
!"K #$%"&'("))
I don't always know that you do not fully understand what we are doing. If I do know that
you do not understand, I rarely know why. Remember that most of the time most of the
class has the same (uestion, but are not brave enough to ask.
If you don't get your (uestions answered, stay after class for a few minutes or come a few
minutes early or come for a few minutes at lunch, but persist to understanding4
The old clich7 is still very true " 8The only stupid (uestion is the unasked (uestion.9
Don*t wait for hursday night to prepare for a +uiz or test.
If you are current on all your work, and understand the material, test preparation Thursday
night will re(uire less time because you have been preparing little by little each day.
!hen graded work is returned to you, instead of .ust fling it in your notebook, go over it to
understand where you succeeded and, most importantly, what you missed. 5igure out how
to work problems you missed or learn the answers to (uestions you missed. Remember,
understanding this material will be necessary to understand the rest of the year.