Success In Chemistry

KEY TO SUCCESS IN CHEMISTRY...:))))))

Chemistry is typical of most science courses in that you must become skilled in all of the following activities :

• Reading with retention and comprehension

• Memorizing essential facts

• Taking lecture notes

• Understanding abstract concepts

• Solving patterns

In chemistry, most topics build upon previous topics. You must master each topic in chemistry as you proceed or your will soon find yourself in trouble.

It is important to realize that, for the most part, you teach yourself chemistry, and you must learn how to do this effectively.

The instructor’s job is to guide you, to help you organize material, to point out what is important, to indicate what must be memorized, to clarify textbook material, to help you grasp difficult concepts, and finally, to evaluate your progress (exams).

Often you may find that you don’t understand everything presented in a lecture. Also, some material in your textbook may not make sense the first time (or even the second or third time) through. This does not mean that you are incapable of learning chemistry or that the lecturer is bad or that book is poorly written! Sciences such as chemistry frequently require hard thinking and repeated efforts to understand concepts.

The most basic study skills are time management and organization. Successful student are those who are organized : they plan ahead, and they make efficient use of their time. It is best to study chemistry everyday. Make use of small chunks of time - even 10 or 15 minutes on the bus, between classes, waiting, etc. - for "low level" activity such as memorization or initial scanning of assigned reading.