Scientific Terminology:

All of the scientific disciplines use terminology that the non-scientist is not familiar with.  It is important that scientists use this terminology so that they can communicate with each other unambiguously and clearly in publications and through discussion.  There will be many terms that are new to you during the course.  Your instructor will explain them and expect you to know and use them correctly.  You may want to make flash cards with the terms on one side and its definition on the other and review them frequently until you have learned it.  Use the glossary in the back of your book - it will help you!

Study Hints:

1.    Read over the material to be covered in class before that class

2.     Make a brief outline of this material.  Note anything you did not understand, listen for an explanation in class or ask the instructor.

3.     Read over your lecture notes as soon after class as possible in order to correct phonetic spellings and make sense out of the occasional nonsense you have written down.  You may have to refer to your text or ask a friend or the instructor.

4.     Look at the figures, drawings, graphs, outlines and captions in the text and relate these to your notes.