New Page 2

Students often ask for advice about how to study chemistry. There is no single best method for studying, but here are a few suggestions.

Before lecture:

Scan the assigned reading for that unit. Read the first page of the chapter(s), as well as the first few sentences of each section. These usually introduce or sumarize key concepts for the chapter

During lecture:

	Take copious notes.
	Do not focus solely on what is written on the board. Listen and copy down key verbal points as well.

After lecture:

	Carefully read the assigned reading.
	Expand and clarify your lecture notes based on the text reading.
	Make flash cards for new reactions as encountered.
	Do all of the homework problems.
	Go through the stack of flash cards.
	Do all the appropriate practice problems on the web.

Other Useful Tips

Study chemistry every day. An hour every day is much better than ten hours on Saturday alone.
Do the assigned reading before attending lecture!
Do not try to write down every word spoken during the lectures. Get the high points, and fill in the details later (see the next point).
Rework your notes after each lecture. Work through the notes carefully, and make sure that you understand each concept. Redraw all of the structures. Have the text open, and expand upon each point covered in the lecture. Fill in blank spaces or abbreviated material in your notes. Make sure you understand all the material from every lecture. Expand and organize your notes. Making a fresh but neater copy of your notes without adding anything new is a waste of your valuable study time.
Keep up with all of the reading. Read (not just skim) the scheduled material before you come to class, and read it again after the lecture.
Organize the material that must be memorized. Make flash cards summarizing essential memory bank material, especially reactions. The goal is to minimize memorization.
Work lots of problems. You should try to do every problem in every chapter. Get another text or other source of problems if you can.
Do not scurry to the study guide, another student, TA, or instructor immediately after deciding that you cannot solve a given problem. Find an appropriate section of the text (use the index!) and read through it carefully. The study guide, etc., should be used as a last resort and not a means of avoiding a reexamination of the text. Getting the 'right answer' is not the main point of working the problems; becoming more intimately familiar with chemical concepts is. It is more important to focus on concepts and developing thought processes.
Do not spend more than 15 minutes on any one problem. If you haven't solved the problem by that this time, you are probably missing something and further effort is a waste of valuable study time. A review of the text, your lecture notes, or another source of material (perhaps even another text) is called for. Go on to other problems, and return to these difficult ones when you have had a bit more practice.
Do ALL the problems associated with the assigned reading, even if they seem irrelevant. You must take responsibility for your own learning.
Form study groups. A small groups of students working together often exchange ideas and concepts to the benefit of everyone. Teaching each other is an ideal way to learn chemistry. However, do not allow these study sessions to turn into pizza parties and gossip sessions. Group study sessions should be all business.
Think molecules. That is, think about what is happening on the molecular level. Consider where the electrons are, what they are doing, and why they are doing it. Chemistry is much more than equations. You will find this course difficult if you ignore this way of thinking.

	Study chemistry every day. An hour every day is much better than ten hours on Saturday alone.
	Do the assigned reading before attending lecture!
	Do not try to write down every word spoken during the lectures. Get the high points, and fill in the details later (see the next point).
	Rework your notes after each lecture. Work through the notes carefully, and make sure that you understand each concept. Redraw all of the structures. Have the text open, and expand upon each point covered in the lecture. Fill in blank spaces or abbreviated material in your notes. Make sure you understand all the material from every lecture. Expand and organize your notes. Making a fresh but neater copy of your notes without adding anything new is a waste of your valuable study time.
	Keep up with all of the reading. Read (not just skim) the scheduled material before you come to class, and read it again after the lecture.
	Organize the material that must be memorized. Make flash cards summarizing essential memory bank material, especially reactions. The goal is to minimize memorization.
	Work lots of problems. You should try to do every problem in every chapter. Get another text or other source of problems if you can.
	Do not scurry to the study guide, another student, TA, or instructor immediately after deciding that you cannot solve a given problem. Find an appropriate section of the text (use the index!) and read through it carefully. The study guide, etc., should be used as a last resort and not a means of avoiding a reexamination of the text. Getting the 'right answer' is not the main point of working the problems; becoming more intimately familiar with chemical concepts is. It is more important to focus on concepts and developing thought processes.
	Do not spend more than 15 minutes on any one problem. If you haven't solved the problem by that this time, you are probably missing something and further effort is a waste of valuable study time. A review of the text, your lecture notes, or another source of material (perhaps even another text) is called for. Go on to other problems, and return to these difficult ones when you have had a bit more practice.
	Do ALL the problems associated with the assigned reading, even if they seem irrelevant. *You must take responsibility for your own learning.*
	Form study groups. A small groups of students working together often exchange ideas and concepts to the benefit of everyone. Teaching each other is an ideal way to learn chemistry. However, do not allow these study sessions to turn into pizza parties and gossip sessions. Group study sessions should be all business.
	Think molecules. That is, think about what is happening on the molecular level. Consider where the electrons are, what they are doing, and why they are doing it. Chemistry is much more than equations. You will find this course difficult if you ignore this way of thinking.