As we begin this semester, I am sure that you hope for success in all the classes you are taking at NKU. I think that you will find this a very interesting class, but challenging. To do well this class, you will need to set aside sufficient time to not only come to class, but prepare yourself for each class. To help you to start the semester off right, I offer the following suggestions to help you master this class.

ATTENDING CLASS: Coming to class for each and every lecture, awake and ready to learn, is the first step. The vast majority of information that you will be tested on will be presented in lecture. Comparing lecture notes to the information provided in the textbook should allow you to make decisions on what topics and information provided in the text that you do and do not need to concentrate on. My experience in teaching this class for more than 10 years has shown that those people who miss many classes usually end up failing the class. I do not, however, take attendance for lecture. It is up to you to make the effort to come to class and get notes from your classmates if you should miss a lecture.

READING THE TEXTBOOK: The second step to success is to read the reading assignments in your textbook. The best strategy to making the most of your textbook is to read the assigned reading before the information is presented in class. Read through the material to get an overview of the given subject, do not spend a bunch of time worrying about parts that you do not immediately understand. This will probably take about 45 minutes to an hour. After the material is presented in lecture, go back and re-read the chapter. Highlight terms and information in the textbook that was presented in lecture. Look over the review materials at the end of the chapter and hunt for those questions that are directly related to the material you have just highlighted. I will try to make you aware of review materials on the included CD-ROM that may help with the information. This will probably take one to one & a half hours (sometimes longer). If you have any questions on the material that was presented in class, make a note to yourself to ask me about them. I will make time available at the beginning of each class to answer questions about the previous class’ material.

STUDYING FOR THE EXAMS: A study guide, which includes terms and concepts that you will be tested on, will be posted on my web site (www.nku.edu/~dahlem) at least one week prior to each sectional exam. Print this out and use it to study from. We will be covering a large amount of information in this class. Do not wait until the day before the exam to start studying! Be sure to set aside sufficient time for you to master all the material. Different people need different amounts of time to memorize terms and learn material. Use what you know about your own strengths and weaknesses to decide on the amount of time you need. Some strategies that I have seen work for many students is 1) find another student (or students) to study with; 2) make up flash cards with new terminology on one side and definitions on the other side; 3) find a quiet place without distractions of TV, family, friends, etc. and use this place to routinely do your studying.

COMPLETE ALL HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENTS: You will have three homework assignments during the semester. While only two are required, plan now on doing all three. If you do all three, the third assignment will count for up to 25 points extra credit. You can think of this as the ability to raise any exam grade by 25 points (e.g. turning a 75 into a 100!). This is your one (and only) opportunity for extra credit in this class. Homework is a way to raise your class grade outside of the normal testing arena. Be sure, however, to do an excellent job on every assignment and follow the requirements given for presentation. You should plan on spending at least 4 hours to complete each assignment well. Remember: homework assignments are not accepted late and no additional assignments will be offered if you miss an assignment.

SET YOUR PRIORITIES AND MANAGE YOUR TIME: My assumption in teaching this course is that your classes are your Number 1 priority while you are a student pursuing a degree at NKU. Doing well in any class requires a time commitment on your part, and this is especially true for science courses. The general "Formula for Academic Success" for a college class is that: "For every hour in class, plan on working and studying 2-3 hours outside of class". Each week you will be spending about 3 hours in class. For even a beginning science class like this, you should plan on spending at least 6 hours working on this class each week, outside of class. I highly recommend that you purchase a daily planner and use it to effectively plan your time. With a busy schedule, this is the most effective way to keep track of important dates (exams, homework due dates, etc.) and set up an effective schedule that will allow you to handle course-work, work schedules, special events, and still find time to get a good night’s sleep.

SOLVE PROBLEMS BEFORE THEY GET TOO LARGE: If you find that you are having trouble with this course, please come to see me as soon as possible and/or obtain a free tutor through the Learning Assistance Center at BEP 230. The free tutor service at NKU is very effective and I have seen many students over the years significantly improve their grade in this course with regular tutoring. I am always happy to talk with you about this class and will try to offer suggestions on how to improve your grade in the class. The main problems that I have seen arise from students who miss many lectures and/or do not read their textbook and work on the class outside of lecture.

LASTLY - DO NOT EVEN THINK ABOUT CHEATING! The maintenance of academic standards and integrity includes the obligation not to cheat or plagiarize. A student who uses a dishonest or deceitful means to obtain a grade is guilty of cheating; a student who submits another’s work as one’s own without adequate attribution is guilty of plagiarism. Penalties range from lowering the student’s grade or failing the student to suspension or expulsion from the University. Cheating and plagiarism are serious offenses and I will deal with such offenses harshly. For more information, see the section on Student Rights in your current Student Handbook.