Important Tips for Succeeding In This Class
06/19/06If you wish to succeed in this class, you should do the following things.
- Have your reading done before class, and make sure you understand what you've read.
- Attend class regularly.
- Attend class punctually.
- Don't start assignments at the last minute. Begin them the day that they're assigned.
- Submit your assignment on time.
- Ask questions when you don't understand something.
Have your reading done before class, and make sure you understand what you've read.
Readings are assigned so the class will have a particular body of material to discuss at the same time. To ensure that reading assignments are completed in a timely manner, I will give either a quiz at the beginning of class, or ask students to do an in-class exercise based on that day's readings. Remember that quizzes cannot be made up for any reason, so it is imperative that you do your reading, as well as come to class, on time, in order to do these assignments. Students who miss class habitually or are frequently late will have a greatly diminished quiz grade, which will in turn negatively affect their overall grade. Also remember that having to study for another class or go to work are not excuses for failing to complete your reading.
Your goal for the semester should be to attend 100% of class meetings. Always know that we will do something in class important to your further understanding of the subject matter, and that getting notes from someone else isn't a completely satisfactory substitute for attendance. And on some days, we have quizzes which cannot be made up for any reason at all. If you miss too many quizzes and your average is in between two letter grades, you could end up receiving the lower of the two, and remember that I do not round up grades at the end of the semester (an 81.99 is a C, not a B, for example). Of course, if you have a true emergency and skip class, I encourage you to consult your classmates about what you've missed. But also know that no one can completely summarize what happened that day. Also, please don't come to my office hours and ask me to re-teach what you've missed. Such a request is at odds with the purpose of office hours. Finally, remember that having to study for another class or go to work are not excuses for missing class.
It is also important that you arrive on time for class. Too many students believe that if they just stick their heads in the door during the last ten minutes of class, that this magically means they've attended the entire session. Not so. Class begins at the time officially scheduled by the university. Since there isn't a clock in our classroom, my watch is the official arbiter of time, and its time is set by the campus bell tower clock. If you're not in your seat and ready to learn when class begins, you will be counted absent. Arriving to class late is disrespectful to your instructor and to the students whose toes you step on and whose view of the board you obstruct as you try to get to your seat. And on some days, we have quizzes at the beginning of class which cannot be made up for any reason at all. If you miss too many quizzes and your average is in between two letter grades, you could end up receiving the lower of the two, and remember that I do not round up grades at the end of the semester (an 81.99 is a C, not a B, for example). Finally, remember that having to study for another class, go to work, getting caught in traffic, or walking from a remote part of the campus are not excuses for being late.
Don't start assignments at the last minute. Begin them the day that they're assigned.
Begin writing assignments they day they're assigned, even if that means you just make a few notes on the first day. It is important that you give yourself plenty of time to develop your ideas and fine tune your writing. Remember that writing is a process. Even professional writers don't sit down and generate a complete draft on one try. If you begin a writing assignment the day before it's due, you rob yourself of the ability to do your best work.
Submit your assignment on time.
Your work must be submitted by the due date or else your grade on that assignment will be docked according to the schedule set forth in our class policies. Both of us benefit when assignments are turned in on time. I benefit because I have a complete set of assignments to grade and don't have to deal with any lose ends. You benefit because you have been prevented from procrastinating and eventually being overwhelmed by too many overdue assignments. Finally, remember that having to study for another class or go to work are not excuses for failing to submit your work on time.
Ask questions when you don't understand something.
Finally, if you don't understand something, ask questions. I'm happy to answer questions about your assignments. Visit me during my office hours or send me an e-mail.
Following these tips won't ensure that you make an "A" in this class. However, they will help you cultivate good habits that allow you do your best possible work.