Biology Serendipity

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Not Making the Grade?

 
Before coming to see me about improving your grade, please make a sincere attempt at the following suggestions.  Of course, you're still welcomed to my office (even if you didn't attempt these suggestions). Read everything. I have a number of other web pages nested as links in the text on this page. Give yourself some time to explore these additional resources.

Time Management
Suggestions for making the most of your study time - Study tips (MacKenzie's Rough and Ready Guide to Surviving General Biology)

Plan Ahead!
You simply must read the chapter before coming to lecture.  That means reading in advance.  Check out the course schedule and budget your time accordingly to not only keep up with the reading - but allowing for time to read ahead.

Online Lecture Notes
All of my lecture notes are on-line (under Schedule on the Biology page). I'm usually tweaking the notes one week in advance of the scheduled lecture date. I have some ideas about how to use my lecture notes to help you during this course. 

Lecture Presentations
Check out my lecture presentations on the college's K: (K drive). This can only be accessed on campus. Double click on the following, in this order:
"My Computer" --> public on braacdfsv3\academic (K:)   --> Murrayj --> Biology --> (semester) --> (chapter)
Each slide will advance when you hit the space bar or click the mouse. If you need to go backwards press the "page up" key.
If these instructions are causing your heart to palpitate, just ask for help in F109.

Test Questions
Sample Test Questions 
 Check out my sample test questions several days before the test.  Don't just answer the questions and check to make sure they are correct... you won't learn anything that way.  Take each question apart. Examine all of the choices.  How could the question be phrased so other choices are correct?  Can you define all of the terms used in the question (and possible responses)?  

I recommend printing out the sample questions and researching the answers using your notes and textbook.  Then, and only then, check your answers (link is at the bottom of the page).  

Test Question Anatomy
 When I write test questions, I include one "best" answer and at least one "spoiler" among the possible answers. The spoilers may seem to be the correct answer to someone somewhat familiar with the material. The students that know their material will be able to identify the best answer as the correct answer AND be able to defend it.

Here's an example that comes from your first test (first semester):
 Which of these is the process by which changes occur in the characteristics of species or organisms over time?
A. evolution [This is the best answer.]
B. metabolism 
C. adaptation [This is the spoiler]
 D. homeostasis
E. photosynthesis
At first "adaptation" seems like it would be the best answer but the question specifically asks for the process. The only process listed is "evolution."

Here's an example that comes from your first test (second semester):
 The kingdom of Prokaryotes can now be divided into the following two groups (or domains):
A. archaea and cyanobacteria 
B. bacteria and cyanobacteria 
C. photosynthetic bacteria and chemosynthetic bacteria 
D. archaea and bacteria [This is the correct answer.]
E. autotrophs and heterotrophs [This is the spoiler]

Carefully read each question. After considering all of the options read the question again.  I'm usually asking for something specific. Don't make the question fit the answer, make the answer fit the question.  Even my best students miss a question or two on every test because they read the question once, make an assumption, and select the answer that went along with their assumption and not my question. 

Extra Credit
Naturally, I think you should invest your time in studying all of the above resources.  But if you insist..... then check out my extra credit page which will be activated after the midterm.

Textbook Resources
How about the CD that came with your textbook?  It's a great learning resource.  It has more pictures, graphs, etc... some of which are interactive. I found the video clips very helpful in understanding tricky concepts like meiosis :-)
Check out your textbook's web site. You will find lecture outlines, definition/terms, sample questions, and links to other web pages that will help explain key concepts (like mitosis).