Biology Spring 2010

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hey everyone,

i see threads for micro and a&p, so i figured why not make one for those of us who are taking general biology this semester. i'm really, really excited about taking it and i thought it would be cool for us to have a place to talk about it in case we get stuck.

hope to be hearing from people.

Well the class I took a while ago was called "Intro to Biology" , with a lab portion. We definitely didn't go that far into cells so they are probably just 2 different classes.

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Specializes in Emergency Nursing.

Most likely. I saw your other post too. If your school doesn't require it, I wouldn't worry about it at all...You don't absolutely need it for A&P, but I found it helpful.

How much that has to do with being out of school for 25 years is open to debate...

lol

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Hey there!

So I just bombed another test! After getting a D- on my first and now it looks like a F or a D- on this one I feel even more confused than ever.

So my question is:

How do you guys study for tests? I feel like since there is so much info I may be having a hard time sorting in into my head in a way that I will remember it.

The test I just failed was about the chapters on carbohydrates, lipids, proteins (etc) and parts of a cell. We are now on the chapter about the plasma membrane.

Any advice?

Thanks a ton!

ps. MsMagnificent I hope everything is going well in class and you are passing the weekly quizzes :D

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Specializes in Emergency Nursing.

3x5 cards.

Write "Rough Endoplasmic Reticulum" (or whatever) on one side, on the other write: "RER; Ribosomes; protein synthesis, etc." Or whatever you need to know about the item or topic.

Note: try to whittle these topics or items down to manageable bites, and keep the information you need to know about them as cursory as possible. For example you wouldn't want to label a card "All mRNA codons", but you might want to label a card "Start Codon" and another "Stop Codons". Know what I mean?

Do this for everything.

Make three piles of cards:

1. One for the stuff you know inside and out, we'll call this group one,

2. One for the stuff you kinda know, we'll call this group two, and

3. One for the stuff you really need to work on, we'll call this group three.

Concentrate on piles two and three. As you gain confidence in a point on a card in group three, move it to group two. By the same token, when you feel utterly confident in an item from group two, move it to group one.

Review all three piles periodically to make sure items from group one haven't slipped to group two.

Making the cards is time consuming but it's worthwhile.

This method works. I aced BIOL and am aceing A&P using this method (scored 104% on the first lab practical exam, histology, fwiw).

It works for any subject where the point is to absorb and retain information.

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Thanks Anoetos I am going to give this a try tonight!

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Specializes in Emergency Nursing.

I am a true believer in this study method, KyGreen. Let us know how it works for you, and I would say "good luck" but luck has nothing to do with it, it's all just work, work, work.

:p

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Specializes in Emergency Nursing.

Ooh, one more thing, I'd urge you to make your own cards rather than buying ready made ones.

Writing down the information the way you want to digest it is better for your brain. Also, what you put on the card will be what you got from the class and will therefore more accurately reflect what the instructor is going to be looking for on the exam.

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Specializes in None,but plan to be well trained in all.

hey

i'm so sorry to that kygreen13 but i have faith in you that you will pull though! just as anoetos said try the homemade flash cards. if you prefer learning face to face go to tutoring,you can even get a study buddy. my method is a study buddy and i also use the website from my book. the website provides break downs for even chapter and test..along with vocabulary words. i also read ahead for the next lesson so i know what the professor will speck of in class. my professor using power point to teach the lesson. so if i come across something in the reading i didnt understand i where to pay close attention to or ask to explain. everyone is different and you just have to find what works for you. as of right now i'm not a flash card studier. i prefer to study with my buddy,read, and test myself. i received my quiz yesterday and did great! we're starting on chemistry now and so far so good.keep your head up kygreen13 and do a little of everything till you find what works :)

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Hey there!

So I just bombed another test! After getting a D- on my first and now it looks like a F or a D- on this one I feel even more confused than ever.

The test I just failed was about the chapters on carbohydrates, lipids, proteins (etc) and parts of a cell. We are now on the chapter about the plasma membrane.

Any advice?

We just started those same chapters, and my brain is still spinning from my class this morning (we had no school for almost two weeks because of 2.5' of snow). I will definitely be making some flash cards.

We have a website that goes along with our book, do you? The power points are there, animations, practice tests, etc., and they are very, very helpful to help you find what you don't know, and you can keep retaking them. I am going back and forth between reading the chapter and the online tests, and will not be leaving my house without flash cards from here on out so I can study on my breaks at work. Whew.

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Specializes in None,but plan to be well trained in all.

hey

so i'm just checking in to see how everyone is holding up! i'm on spring break now and so far i'm holding a b-. i did decide to study with index cards (study group didn't work out) i see this really works for me. i hope all is doing well!

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At the moment I have a D+ in the class. I got a high C on my last test which increased my tests score by 16% so after talking to my professor she told me I need a 72% on my last two tests in order to get a C (which is passing for my school)

Needless to say I have not had much of a life after I failed my second test. I found that writing my notes over and over again have really helped me!

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the Campbell 8th ed or 9th ed book that they would like to get rid of?

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