Hints for a successful completion of Principles of Biology

This can be a difficult class for many students. Success requires active participation in thinking, listening, taking notes, attending lectures and labs, and serious study. Most failures in the class can be attributed to poor attendance, inadequate time put into studying, and poor preparation in advance for lectures. This science class contains much specific information which is synthesized into larger patterns and concepts. Study methods that are successful for you in non-science classes may not work well here. For most students, a minimum of 1 to 2 hours of serious study outside of class is required for each 1 hour inside of class in order to achieve a C grade. Higher grades demand more time and more work. The following hints may help you be more successful in Biology.

  1. Come to class every day. Many previous failures in the class have been caused by students simply having poor attendance records Of course, you will need to pay attention when you are in class.

  2. Read your text assignments completely and read them before the material is presented in class. Lectures are presented at a speed and detail level that assumes that you have read your book and are familiar with the material. By reading the material ahead of time, you will understand the lecture more easily, you will be able to ask questions about sections you do not understand, and you will find note writing much easier. Try not to get caught before a test with lots of basic reading to do. This study time should be for review, not new learning.

  3. Take careful and thorough notes. Use abbreviations and incomplete sentences to make them more concise. Make labeled drawings to record visual concepts. Write down more than just the material written on the board. Listen for ideas, key words, transition points. Good notes are most easily taken when you are at least slightly familiar with the material ahead of time. Read ahead! Quality notes will greatly improve your performance in the class.

  4. Review your notes on the same day you write them, within a few hours if possible. This will allow you to: add information you remember but missed writing down, improve your handwriting so you can read it later, find weak spots in your notes that need improving. These can be fixed by asking another student what they wrote down, or by asking questions in class or in my office.

  5. Read your text, and study your notes regularly throughout the period between exams. Thus, when you study for an exam, you will spent most of your time reviewing, not just trying to learn the information for the first time. Short periods of study, done frequently, are much better than a long cram session before the exam.

  6. Identify priorities in the information. There is much information to cover this semester. There is far too much to try and learn it all. Understand and master the primary ideas before moving on to the finer details. This is one of the most important keys to success.

  7. Try and not get behind. Lots of information is presented in this class and trying to catch up can be very difficult. If you see yourself confused, lost, or having trouble, make sure you come and let me know. I may be able to provide you with help. Do not put off this request for help too long. Come and see me as soon as possible. The sooner you recognize trouble, the easier it is to correct.

  8. Lots of new vocabulary will be presented in this class. Reading ahead will help in comprehension of these new words. Make sure you fully understand what these words mean, and don't just memorize definitions. You will be required to use and understand the words on exams, and rarely will you be asked to simply provide a definition.

  9. Use the information and resources available on the class homepage.
    To Biol 1010 Home Page.