1. Attend class and take notes.
    Taking notes keeps you actively engaged in class. Comparing your notes with the text will help make clear which topics you grasp fully and which you don't. Lectures will cover some material not contained in the readings.

2. Do the assigned readings.
    If you are having trouble following lecture, read all of the textbook assignments before coming to class, not just the sections selected as mandatory for advanced reading.

3. Spend time studying every week.
    These sessions move quickly, so don't get behind! If you want to learn the material and do well in this course, you should plan on spending a minimum of 3 hours out of class for every 80 minute lecture. You will need an hour to do the assigned reading, a half hour to review and correct your lecture notes, and an hour and a half to work on problems in section and on your own. The review session before each exam is the time to polish your understanding and to make sure you can assemble the parts into a big picture.

4. Use the textbook website.
    There are a host of tutorials, guides, and self-quizzes available to help you learn and review the material.

5. Learn the vocabulary.
    You can not understand complex biological concepts if you are not familiar with the words that are being used. Definitions can be found in the glossary of your textbook and online.  

6. Attend sections.
    Hearing and seeing material presented in a smaller group and from a different perspective can be enormously beneficial. Even better is to participate in discussion by asking and answering questions.

7. Talk to me.
    If you have a question or problem, don't suffer in silence. Contact me by e-mail, during office hours, or right after class. Put my office hours in your weekly schedule planner.