NOTEBOOK

Since several people have asked, here is are some suggestions for organizing a notebook for this class, and a few thoughts about preparing a sheet of notes for each exam (two for the final). 

• A ringbinder with pocket dividers works well for the material you will need to keep track of in this class. 

• Use one section to keep a running list of definitions, and a separate running list of theorems (these will be very useful in compiling your sheet(s) of notes for the exams). Having it in a ring binder will let you use as many pages as needed, as opposed to a spiral binder where you have to estimate how many pages you will need.

• Use one section of the binder for your class notes--using a ring binder means that if you don't bring the whole binder to class, you can still take notes on loose-leaf and then insert them when you get back to your room.

• Use a second section of the binder for your returned homeworks. (Do your homeworks on three punch paper so you can insert them into the notebook.) This will help keep them in order and make it easy to find specific kinds of problems when you go to review.

• Use a third section of the binder for your corrections on the exams.

• Use separate pockets for your exams, Maple labs, and class handouts.  

These are just some ideas--obviously use whatever is most effective for you.

Sheet of Notes

You are the best judge of what will be the most helpful to have on your sheet of notes for an exam, but here are some things that people have done in the past in this class.

• Include definitions, theorems, and formulas.
• Include sample problems for involved procedures.
• Most important--compare your sheet with other members of your study group.  This will help all of you avoid miscopying any formulas or omitting any important material.
• As you study for tests, and when you make up your sheet(s) of notes, remember that there are review lists at the ends of all the chapters.