Course Overview

• Learning is not a spectator sport.  It is an active process.

  • Readings: You are expected to read the assigned material before attending the lecture and the recitation session about that subject.
  • Attendance: Daily attendance is important in both the lecture and recitation sessions.  If you miss a lecture for a legitimate reason, you may copy the class notes taken by your recitation instructor.   However, there is no substitute for hearing the information yourself.
  • Lectures: The material presented in the lecture will compliment the readings, but it will not be the same. Take complete notes, not just what is displayed on the overhead or power point slides.  Material from both lecture and assigned readings will be covered in the tests.  An abbreviated outline of lecture notes will be posted on the course webpage before the class that covers each topic.  I post brief outlines of the power point slides to help you take more complete notes during lecture.  However, be advised the outlines are a compliment to, not a substitute for, the notes you take in class.     
  • Recitation classes: You will be meeting once a week for an hour with a smaller group of students and your recitation instructor.  Your instructor will provide you with a “recitation syllabus” that will detail contact information and his or her expectations and assignments for the course.  Recitation points will constitute approximately one third of your course grade.  The recitation class is your opportunity to discuss and ask questions about ideas presented in the lecture and the textbook.  It will also allow you to demonstrate your understanding of course material in ways other than standardized multiple choice tests. 
  • Tests: There are two tests during the semester each worth 65 points and a comprehensive final exam worth 100 points.  All tests are multiple choice exams.  The two tests during the semester will be given at night in a location to be announced later. Recitation instructors will administer quizzes (including “pop quizzes”) at their discretion.
  • Make up tests: Arrangements for make-up tests must be made with your recitation instructor or Dr. Besser prior to the date of the test.  Permission to take a make up test will be granted only under the most extreme circumstances.  Permission forms and requirements are available on the course web page.  Requests based on illness must be accompanied by a signed physician’s statement.  Normal employment or job conflicts will NOT be accepted as valid reasons for missing an exam.  Even in circumstances of verified sickness or injury, make up tests must be scheduled within one week of the test date.  Make up tests will not be given on the day of the scheduled exam or before the exam day.  All make up tests, except for the mass make up test given the day after the scheduled test, are short answer essay tests. 
  • Lecture attendance/in class assignment points: Ten times throughout the semester, there will be opportunities for students to earn “reaction points” in lecture.  These may consist of a short quiz about material covered in the lecture, a request for  comments about a subject covered in class, a short exercise, or some other in class assignment.  Each assignment is worth a maximum of 5 points.  Students may earn a total of 40 points from lecture attendance points.  Since these are attendance points, students cannot make them up.  There are no excused absences.  If a student is present for all ten assignments, the two lowest scores will be thrown out in calculating the total attendance points. 
  • Extra credit points: Your recitation instructor will provide you with opportunities to earn extra credit points.  However, in order to receive extra credit, you must earn 50% of the points possible in the course.  The most extra credit points can increase your grade is by one bump, i.e. from a C to a C+ or B- to a B. 
  • Students with special needs: Please discuss any special needs or special accommodations with your recitation instructor and/or me at the beginning of the semester or as soon as you become aware of your needs so that we can work together to support your learning.  Iowa State University complies with the American with Disabilities Act.  If you think you have a disability that requires accommodation, you need to obtain a Student Academic Accommodation Request (SAAR) form from the Disability Resource Office (294-6624) located on the main floor of the Student Services Building, Rm. 1076.
  • Graduating seniors: Graduating seniors are required to complete all assignments and take all the exams including the final exam. 
  • Academic dishonesty: Academic dishonesty is a serious offense that can result in suspension from the university.  Cheating on exams and quizzes, or plagiarism on written assignments, will not be tolerated.  The minimum consequence for cheating or plagiarism is a “0” for the exam or assignment.  Don’t do it.

  Classroom Decorum

  • Please be respectful to other students and the instructor.  Do not talk, eat lunch, read newspapers, play your Ipod, or engage in any behavior that is distracting or impolite while in class.  One of the most frequent complaints of students in large lecture classes is that students around them are noisy and distracting.  If the recitation instructors (who are seated around the auditorium) decide that you are distracting other students or not attending to lecture, don’t be surprised when they tell you to cease and desist. 
  • Arrive early. The lecture begins promptly at 10:00.  Late arrivers disrupt other students and make it difficult to cover the necessary material in the allotted time.
  • Leave on time: The class lasts 50 minutes.  Don’t worry, students who wait until the lecture is over to pack up do not suffer any long term negative effects.  In fact, future research will show that they get better grades, have more successful careers, lead longer, healthier lives, and are more popular.  
  • Turn off your cell phone
  • Leave your laptop at home or in your backpack.  It is too easy to check your e mail, Facebook, ESPN.com, watch movies, etc. instead of paying attention to the material covered in lecture.  Laptop entertainment not only distracts you from the lecture material, but distracts your neighbors and those sitting behind you. 

  Study Suggestions

  • SQ3R works!  Survey, question, read, review, and recite.
  • Read the chapters before the material is covered in class using S, Q, and R1. 
  • Write out the definition of key terms in your own words and think up illustrations for each. 
  • Develop organizational schemes (some will be presented in class) to help you understand how major concepts are related to each other.
  • Take complete notes in class (not just what's on the overheads). 
  • Integrate material presented in class with the notes you've taken from the text.  At the end of each chapter, review the material, and quiz yourself about it.  R2 and R3.
  • Before each test, review the book chapters, class notes, and your chapter notes.  Quiz yourself on it again.  R2 and R3.
  • If you don't understand something, ask for help from your recitation instructor or me.