How to succeed in a University-level Science course Attending class and meeting deadlines You should be in class, on time, prepared,

, and attentive. If you miss many classes, expect those absences to affect how well you understand what is going on in class. Expect this to impact your grade. If you must miss a day, get the material from a classmate BEFORE you return to class. If this person disappears or is unreliable, find another one. Submit your work on time. Deadlines are not approximates. Students who write deferred exams typically score below the class average. Taking notes Know what is covered in class, even if it is not on the lectures slides/notes/board. Write legible notes, in outline form. Sentences take too long to write in class. Any terms mentioned in class that you are unsure of should be noted and looked up after class. Actively USE your notes. Elaborate on them after class. Studying Dont cram. That is not learning. Be consistent and frequent with your studying. Passively reading the textbook or lecture notes is not studying. Sitting in lecture is not studying. Study in an active manner e.g., write down what you have learned, draw concept maps to link topics together, make charts and lists of points for each topic. Test your knowledge by doing practice tests and example questions. Test your knowledge with a study partner or group. This has a BIG impact on student success. You should be spending 2-3 hrs of studying for every 1 hour spent in lecture. Projects/Reports Work on projects consistently, dont procrastinate, leaving it to the last minute. Treat writing as a process of prewriting, drafting and editing (proofreading). Think carefully about the purpose and audience of your report when writing. Show clear organization. Always write formally for university-level courses (neat, concise, correct grammar, correct spelling, formal diction). Look at a few published research papers to see examples of a formal scientific writing style. Read over your work as if you were the evaluator. Dont assume the evaluator will know what you mean when you have not stated your thoughts clearly. Reading DO the course readings and keep up with them. Annotate your reading using Post-its or pencil notes. Use highlighters sparingly.

Treat reading as an active learning process. Write down questions and make notes on what you have read as you go. Cross reference your reading of textbook or journal material to your lecture notes and vice versa. Look up terms you dont understand. Just because youve seen the term before does not mean you know its meaning.

Expect that if you dont do the above, it will seriously impact on your grades.