How to Succeed in This Course

[Adapted by Dr. Geller from Dr. Ehrlich’s website]

Motivation and attitude

  1. Realize that how much you learn in this course is ultimately up to you.  Make your success in this course your responsibility.
  2. When you talk to other students to get tips for success, you may want to consult those who are doing very well in the course, rather than those who are doing poorly.
  3. Most people are taking this course to satisfy a requirement.  For better motivation you should try to think of the many ways that principles in astronomy relates to your chosen career.
  4. Do not be fooled by the fact that the beginning of the course seems fairly easy or hard.
  5. Do not become overconfident if you do very well on the first exam.  Likewise, don't get depressed if you do very poorly.
  6. Don't dwell on your exam grades, and try to figure out exactly what you need to get on future exams -- just do the very best you can on each test.

Math preparation for course

  1. Take the math pretest on the web site to see the kind of math skills required, and brush up on your algebra and trig if you are rusty.  In particular, see the useful web sites listed at the end of the math pre-test.
  2. Know how to translate sentences such as these into algebraic equations: "y is 7% more than x."
  3. One source of help with algebra and trig would be the math tutoring center or the self-paced math modules the math department provides.
  4. If you are really rusty in algebra and trig, consider auditing MATH 105.
  5. High school astronomy is not a prerequisite for this course.  In fact, there may be an advantage to not having taken high school astronomy, since you won't have a false sense of security that you already know the material.

The nature of astronomy

  1. Be aware that astronomy uses English words like force, work, power that have very precise meanings, which may not exactly correspond to their conventional meanings in English.
  2. Realize that astronomy is cumulative, so what you learn in the beginning chapters will be used later.
  3. Astronomy is a challenging subject that requires more time than some others.  It is especially important that you haven't loaded yourself down with too many other commitments.

During class

  1. Regular attendance in lecture is highly advisable.  There is a high correlation between attendance and grades.
  2. Be sure to come to class on time, and turn off your cell phone.
  3. Don't sit next to people who talk in lecture.
  4. Ask questions in lecture.  Don't be afraid of showing that you don’t understand something.  If you don't understand something, the chances are a number of other people also don't understand it.
  5. Don't simply accept what I say as being true -- understand why it is true.
  6. Don’t be afraid to challenge me if you think I have said or written something wrong in class.  I do make mistakes.
  7. Be sure to bring the printed lecture notes to each class on which to record your own notes.
  8. Come to lecture regularly even if you happen to be repeating the class and have notes from last year.
  9. If you are absent from a lecture, check with a fellow student to find out what you missed.  There is no need to inform me of your absence.
  10. Be sure to attend the review session before each exam.

Study habits

  1. Try to avoid falling behind in hopes of catching up later.  The chances are you won't be able to.
  2. The best way to avoid falling behind is to read each chapter before coming to lecture, and review it again along with your class notes immediately afterwards.  Don't wait until just before the exams.
  3. You cannot read an astronomy textbook the way you read a novel.  You have to continually ask yourself why each statement is true, and how one equation follows from the other.  If you can't figure it out, don't simply stop reading, but make a note in the margin to ask me about it in class.
  4. Don't overlook answering the textbook questions.
  5. Consider forming a study group with other students.  If the study group doesn't work out, join another one.
  6. Don't over-rely on the other members of your study group.  Everyone in the group needs to try answering textbook questions on their own before getting together.

Problem solving

  1. Astronomy can best be learned by answering questions.  Just knowing the theory is useless if you can't apply it to solve a problem.  A common refrain is: "I know the theory, I just can't answer any questions."  Those who make this claim often don't understand "the theory," as well as they believe they do.
  2. Start your solution to a problem by writing down all your givens, and your unknown.  Also, draw a diagram.  Think up a plan for the solution before you start scribbling equations.
  3. The first step in devising a plan for solving a problem is to recognize what general astronomy principle the problem illustrates.
  4. Don't assume that if your answer disagrees with the book, that your solution is necessarily wrong, since the book may have some wrong answers.
  5. When you get an answer to a problem, ask yourself if the answer is reasonable.  Don't blindly accept the results from your calculator.
  6. Be sure that you know how to work your calculator -- especially for trig functions.  The degree/radian mode business can be confusing.

Formulas and equations

  1. Don't regard problem solving as simply looking up the appropriate equation and plugging in the appropriate symbols or numbers.  As just noted, it will be much easier to solve problems if you understand the underlying principles.
  2. Some equations are much more important than others.  Learn which ones they are.  Put boxes around them when you encounter them in lecture.
  3. Learn how to spot errors in equations using dimensional analysis and “limiting cases.”
  4. Learn when a given formula should not be used.
  5. When you do review before an exam, go through each equation and be sure that you understand exactly what each quantity in the equation represents.
  6. Get in the habit of solving equations for the appropriate variable algebraically and, only then substituting numbers in the equation.

Preparing for exams

  1. Avoid preparing for exams at the last minute in an "all-nighter."
  2. If you do pull an “all-nighter,” make it in addition to not instead of regular study sessions.
  3. If you do pull an all-nighter, be sure that you have a good alarm clock!
  4. If you don't live on campus, allow extra time to get to GMU on exam days.
  5. Be sure that you are aware of the dates of all exams noted on the syllabus.
  6. There are tricks to doing well on multiple choice tests.  Be sure to read the tips on taking multiple choice exams on the course web site.
  7. You may also want to take the workshops on test-taking strategies or time management offered by the advising center.
  8. Try answering the sample questions on the publisher's web site before an exam.
  9. When you go over questions think of various ways the questions might be modified.
  10. Try answering questions under realistic conditions, i.e., under time pressure and without notes handy.
  11. Do not expect exam questions to be just like questions or problems in the textbook or from old examinations.

During exams

  1. Read every test question extremely carefully before answering it.
  2. After finishing exams review your work carefully.
  3. Never leave any multiple choice answers blank.

After Exams

  1. If you have any questions about the grading of an exam, ask me about it at about the same time that you get your grade, not a month or more later.

Grading

  1. Be aware of how your course grade is determined as spelled out on the syllabus.
  2. It doesn't matter whether you consider yourself to be an "A-student" or a "B-student."  It also doesn't matter what grade you "need" to get in this course.  How you do in this course is based strictly on your performance on the tests.

Deciding to drop this course

  1. If you are struggling, be prepared to unload some of those other commitments or drop this course.
  2. I try to post the first exam grades before the last drop date.  If you do very badly on the first exam consider why, and if you should consider dropping the course.  Remember, you will not be allowed to drop after the drop date for academic reasons.  The dean's office rarely makes exceptions on this point.
  3. If you are uncertain about whether you should drop the course, come and talk to me about it.

Extra help and extra credit

  1. If you have difficulty with this course, a free tutor is available to help you.  The tutor’s hours, e-mail and phone number can be found here.  The tutoring hours will also be posted outside the Department of Physics and Astronomy, Science and Tech 1, Room 303.
  2. There are no "extra credit" opportunities in this course for specific individuals, nor are there make-up exams, so give your very best effort on each exam.
  3. Come and see me during my regular office hours, or any other time I'm in.  I'd be happy to discuss any astronomy concepts with you, but do not expect me to tell you what will be on the examination.
  4. I’d also be more than happy to talk to you about difficulties you may be having in the course, but the first thing I'm likely to ask you is whether you have read through this list of suggestions, and whether you are following the advice given here.  If you are trying very hard and not succeeding, the chances are you are not actually following this advice given here.

About this list

  1. There is too much information listed here to absorb at one reading, so be sure to reread this list again several times after about a month has gone by, but before the first exam.
  2. If you have any suggestions on tips to add to this list, or on how the course can be improved, please let me know.