How to Succeed In COMP 110
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Do the assigned reading before class. Go over it again after class.
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Start early on all assignments. If a programming assignment
takes 5 hours of work to complete and you start the assignment
exactly 5 hours before it is due, you have no hope of getting
it done. Why? First, if you absolutely, positively need to get
on a computer - you won't be able to. Your laptop will be
acting up, a network will be down, a printer not working,
etc. This is a basic Law of the Universe; they know when you
are desperate. Here is some advice from students who took
this course last year:
- "Don't, I repeat DON'T, procrastinate."
- "Start the assignment the day it is handed out."
- "Don't wait until the last minute."
Take it from those who found out the hard
way. Starting early is especially
important because this course is on a compressed summer
schedule.
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Come for help. It's why I have office hours. I want
you to come. There is a lot of help available to you, but if
get a late start on your assignments, it will be much more
difficult to get the help you need.
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Participate in class. With lots of classmates, this seems
scary, but it is not so bad once you get used to it.
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Think in class. Since we will not be spending lots of time
rehashing the material in the textbook, you won't have to take
lots of notes. Instead, you should be figuring out the
material.
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Review your class notes after each class. A good self-test is:
Can I explain the material to someone else? Use study groups
to regularly review course material.