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• How to study
• How to do homework
• How to deal with missing classes or exams
• How to deal with failing the first exam
• How to deal with failing the second exam
• How to deal with a failing grade

How to study
For the first exam try the following:
1. Devote 3 hours solid for a solitary study session. This will help prepare you for the final.
2. Look at any old exams. You will get a feel for how the professor asks questions
3. Look at old quizzes. You will get a feel for what the professor feels in necessary
4. Look at any homework mistakes you made, you are likely to make them again
5. Look at recitation problems. These are a source of common mistakes.
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How to do homework
1. Try to work in 80 minute blocks. This will prepare you for exams.
2. Work on developing study groups. This will prepare you for life.
3. Do all your homework in pencil
4. Leave a lot of extra room. You may want to make additions
5. Write on one side of your paper. Pencil can smear, and finding problems is easier
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How to deal with missing classes
1. Try not to miss any classes. You will never know what you miss.
2. If the material is easy, bring something to do; but don't read books or disturb your classmates.
3. Don't use a lame excuse. If you wouldn't want to hear it from a friend, don't give it to the prof.
4. If you really have a good reason, e-mail as soon as possible. 
5. If you can't e-mail, get someone else to e-mail.
6. A doctor's note is OK for missing a class, but a Deans note is required if you miss an exam.
7. Get a Dean's note whenever possible.
8. Don't wait until the last minute to talk to the professor or TA. 
9. Talk to the TA first if you are missing a recitation.
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How to deal with failing the first exam
So you missed or failed the first exam, what now? Well, all is not lost. If you realize what you have done  incorrectly and you feel you can fix the problem, then do so. If the circumstance that have caused you to not live up to your fullest are passed, then proceed with the course (if you can catch up). At this point you should be watching for the end of the drop period in week 7/8, and you should be prepared to use it if things don't look good. But  remember, the point of this university to to teach you something. If you are willing to change your ways and improve yourself things are definitely not lost. I figure you might need the first exam to really understand how to prepare for the second exam and the final. If your first exam is bad, but the next two are at least solid C grades, I am likely to ignore the first exam entirely. If you do well on the final, I will sometimes extract the questions relevant to the first exam and recreate a grade from that material. Show me that you've learned the material and I will count that in your favor. It wouldn't hurt to introduce yourself to me, and maybe come to some of my office hours?
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How to deal with failing the second exam
It is not good to fail the second exam. If you did well on the first exam, but had some bad experience that has passed, then I wouldn't worry. Just get get back into the swing of things, and you can redeem yourself on the final. If the second exam grade is inconsistent with the other grades of solid C's or higher, then I will likely drop the second exam and use the final to recreate a grade based on exam 2 material. If you failed the first exam too, or it doesn't seem likely that you will get your act together, then I would  talk to the professor or Dean for options.  Remember, two points make a line, and if the second exam grade is lower than the first, then your line is pointing to disaster!
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How to deal with a failing grade
Failing the course can be done by getting a 50% or lower on the final, or by just not doing well overall. You should contact me immediately if you are not sure why you failed. It will help you to do better the next time.
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Old Exams (when available)

EXAM	SECTIONS	ANSWERS
026 Exam 1	1.1-4.4	026 Exam 1 Answers
026 Exam 2	5.1-7.7	026 Exam 2 Answers
026 Exam 3	7.8-8.8	026 Exam 3 Answers

EXAM	PRACTICE	SECTIONS	ANSWERS
111 Exam 1	111 Exam 1	1.1-1.8	111 Exam 1 Answers
111 Exam 2		1.9-2.5	111 Exam 2 Answers
111 Exam 3		2.7-End	Answers at end of exam

EXAM	ANSWERS
112 Exam 1	112 Exam 1 Answers
112 Exam 2	112 Exam 2 Answers

 

 

EXAM	SECTIONS	ANSWERS
135 Exam 1	135 Sample Exam
135 Exam 2
135 Exam 3

 

EXAM	SECTIONS	ANSWERS
138 Exam 1		138 Exam 1 Answers
138 Exam 2		138 Exam 2 Answers
138 Exam 3		138 Exam 3 Answers

EXAM	CHAPTERS	Exams with answers
027 Exam 1	To 4.6	027 Exam 1 Answers
027 Exam 2		ANSWERS ON EXAM

This is RICHARD PORTER He won't bite you! Take a deep breath and say, " I Love Math!"