SUGGESTED TECHNIQUES FOR EXAM PREPARATION

GEOG 3133, Principles of Economic Geography

Chuck Ziehr, Northeastern State University

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Here are some specific additional study suggestions:
 

• Class Participation
• Attend every class meeting if possible.
• Sit near the front of the room where: you can hear the instructor easily, there is less distraction from other students, and you can see the overhead screen clearly.
• Take notes. Your notes should record facts and items placed on the overhead, but ALSO should include some sort of notations that help you remember concepts and the general context of the facts and overhead items. Get the essential details, but, most importantly, try to see the big picture--how it all fits together.
• Ask questions and make comments during class.
• Ask the instructor before or after class for additional clarification if necessary. Use e-mail for further discussion with the instructor and fellow students. Come by the instructor's office to ask questions--you've paid for my time; take advantage of that opportunity.
• Reading the textbook
• Check the "Course Outline" in the Syllabus for required reading assignments.
• Try to read the textbook material either just before or right after that material is discussed in class (you'll have to experiment to see which is better for you).
• Don't wait too long to start reading the textbook. It contains important material that WILL be covered on the exams.
• Please Click on the Suggested Study Method for Use with the Textbook to see a very efficient and effective way for reading and studying in the textbook.
• Preparation for exams
• Students who use the "Exam Study Guide" almost always do much better on the exams than students who do not. Students who don't use the Exam Study Guide for the first exam almost always decide definitely to use it before the second exam. Try to determine the answer to every sample question in the Exam Study Guide. Most exam questions are either verbatim from that sample set or very similar to those questions. Make sure you know WHY the right answer is the correct one. Click on Exam Study Guide to find sample questions for Exams 1, 2, and 3.
• Study with other students if possible. This usually helps everyone in the group. Use e-mail to discuss questions and check answers.
• Start your review for the exam several days before the exams. This will allow more time to find difficult answers and permit the possibility of contacting fellow students or the instructor for assistance with questions to which you cannot determine the answer yourself.

The Center for Teaching Excellence at Iowa State University has prepared an excellent overview for how to prepare for essay exams. This overview may be obtained via the WWW by clicking on A Student Guide to Essay Exams. (This site was definitely active in August 1999; please inform instructor if you have trouble accessing these sites.)