Study Tips

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Taking Notes

Homework

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• Because it is an active process, taking notes helps to better retain the material being covered.  By contrast, listening to a lecturer, no matter how engaging he or she may be, is a passive process that at best could be entertaining, but usually leaves a superficial impact. Further, in a topic such as Mechanics of Materials, much learning is achieved by doing, and this can start right in the classroom by taking down problems and examples done on the blackboard or overhead projector. 

• A good set of notes is an efficient way to study the material and to review it before exams.

• An approach to consider is to read ahead the text material to be covered in class. This would facilitate note taking, enhance understanding, and may bring up some questions which could be asked in class.

• Taking good notes is not an easy task, but one gets better at it with practice. Also, a note taker has her/his own purpose and approach. Formulate your own, and give it a try. 

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Assigned problems are associated with material identified by section numbers in the text. Study of that material, a look at the examples treated in class and in the text, and the tutorial notes should be a good preparation for doing the assigned problems.

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Help with homework and class material may be obtained at the tutorial session, at office hours, at special appointments with instructor or teaching assistants, by discussion with study partners and by email if appropriate.

Help with a homework problem can consist of a detailed explanation of method and calculations but the final writing should be personal, and should never contain any copying from someone else's paper. This is the line separating help from plagiarism. Plagiarism is presenting someone else's work as one's own, and is a very serious offense.

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Working with a group or with a study partner can have significant educational benefits if done properly.

Exchanging ideas informally with one's peers helps to confirm, enhance, and sometimes correct one's understanding.

Explaining a concept helps the explainer to better understand it. When studying alone, try to play both instructor and student roles by challenging yourself with questions.

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