Ten Surefire Ways to Fail Organic Chemistry II
In This Chapter
▶ Discovering how to avoid the pitfalls of studying organic chemistry
▶ Finding out about effective study strategies
▶ Understanding how to use every resource available
You probably bought this book to help you succeed in your Organic II chemistry course. This chapter title caught your eye, and you thought,
“I don’t want to fail, I want to pass.” Well, we decided to tackle the study habits and techniques part of the course in a different fashion than most other lists of advice, and these “tips” are based on what we’ve heard our student say throughout our years of teaching. So take the advice here in the good natured, tongue-in-cheek manner it was intended.
Simply Read and Memorize Concepts
A lot is sometimes said about organic chemistry simply being a memorization course. Yes, you need to do a lot of memorization, but applying the concepts requires much more than simple memorization. This is especially true of the second semester of organic chemistry. You will not only be applying the new concepts that you are learning, but also the concepts from the first semester course. It’s a lot like learning French or any other foreign language. You need to know (memorize) the vocabulary and rules of grammar, but in order to be able to converse in that language, you must be able to put all that vocabulary together in the proper way (grammar) to convey an idea. The same is true of organic chemistry.
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Don’t Bother Working the Homework Problems and Exercises
The key to passing organic chemistry is work, work, work. Your brain needs repetition to form those neural pathways, so you must work and rework the homework exercises and exercises. And don’t be sloppy — if you leave out formal charges or ionic charges or don’t check the number of bonds for each carbon, you’ll do the same thing on exams where those mistakes cost you points. You may want to start or join a study group if you’re the type of person that benefits from discussing exercises with other students. And be prepared to wear down a lot of pencils and use a lot of paper. Don’t try to conserve paper by writing and drawing so small that you can’t see everything.
Don’t Buy a Model Kit
Organic chemistry is a very visual subject, but most of us have difficulty visualizing a structure in three dimensions. Making a 3-D model of the structure allows you to detect finer points of conformation, steric hindrance, and so on. Making a model also helps you find those carbons with incorrect numbers of bonds.
Don’t Worry About Falling Behind
One surefire way to flunk organic is to get behind. Organic is not one of those classes that you can ignore and then cram the night before a test. It’s best done in small chunks, so plan on studying organic six or seven nights a week.
Don’t try to jam it all into two or three study sessions a week.
How long should you study each time? Good question, but no pat answer.
The college-course rule of thumb that says you should spend two to three hours studying for every hour you’re in class, but for organic, it’s probably more than three for every class hour. However, you should know from your performance in Organic Chemistry I if this is reasonable for you or if you need even more. And remember, the quality of your studying is far more important than quantity.
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Chapter 19: Ten Surefire Ways to Fail Organic Chemistry II
Don’t Bother Learning Reactions
Organic chemistry, especially Organic II, is all about the reactions and their mechanisms. If you don’t know the reactions, you can’t pass. You need to know the reactions by name, the reactants, the products, and the conditions, along with the reaction mechanism. Practice, practice, practice. Use flash cards. Quiz each other in your study groups. Write, write, write. Group reactions by product, by type, and so on. Do them forward and backward.
Know those reactions!
If Your Textbook Confuses You, Don’t Bother with Additional Resources
Sometimes organic textbooks aren’t the easiest books to read, but no one says you can’t use multiple sources. You already invested in this For Dummies guide, so use it. If you’re having a difficult time with a particular concept, search the Internet and other organic chemistry textbooks until you find an author who explains in a way that makes sense to you. Use several sources and compare. Yes, all of that takes time, but it’s worth it in the long run.
Don’t Bother Reading the Chapter before Attending Class
Going into a lecture “cold” isn’t a good idea. Okay, so maybe you don’t need to read the entire chapter, but at least take 30 minutes or an hour to read the part your instructor will be covering that day. Don’t try to work any exercises; just try to familiarize yourself with general concepts. Pay particular attention to vocabulary because it will help you get the most from the lecture.
In other words, set the stage before you walk into class. Remember the six Ps — prior preparation prevents pretty poor performance.
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Attend Class Only When You Feel Like It
Class attendance has a direct correlation to class grade. If you don’t want to pass, don’t come to class. Most people find that they can’t really “get”
organic just by reading the textbook. You need to watch your instructor draw structures, push electrons around (organic teachers are such bullies), and so on. You’ll benefit from the in-class discussions, pick up some tricks of the trade, and maybe discover the logic of organic chemistry. Besides, your instructor may give a hint as to what’s going to be on the next exam.
Don’t Bother Taking Notes — Just Listen (When You Aren’t Sleeping or Texting)
We said you should go to class; now we’re saying that you should pay attention and take notes. A crucial survival skill for Organic Chemistry II: Learn to listen to your instructor, watch the board or screen, and take notes all at the same time. Have extra pencils handy (possibly with different colors). If you drop the one you are using, just grab another one. If you stop to pick up the dropped pencil, you may get so far behind that you end up dropping the course (especially if you’re taking Organic II during a summer term!). Your lecture notes will probably be somewhat messy, so recopy them ASAP before you forget what they mean. The act of recopying notes within 24 hours of taking them is a great reinforcement of the material, and you gotta form those neural pathways. And don’t even think about texting in organic class — unless you plan to repeat the class!
Don’t Bother Asking Questions
If you’re puzzled about something in class, ask about it either during class or during your instructor’s office hours. Most professors teach because they like it, so they’re happy to answer your questions. But if you go to your instructor for help, avoid saying “I just don’t know anything,” because what your instructor hears is that you haven’t invested the necessary study time to know what you don’t know. Go in with a list of specific questions, and go through them one by one. You have to learn the material yourself; the instructor is your guide. Don’t worry about appearing to be stupid. The only stupid question is one that you don’t ask. Better to ask questions than to give proof of your ignorance on the next test.
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