Page 37 - Carrahers_Polymer_Chemistry,_Eighth_Edition

xxxvi How to Study Polymers

In studying about giant molecules please consider doing the following:
• Skim the text BEFORE the lecture.
• Attend the lecture and take notes.
• Organize your notes and relate information.
• Read and study the assigned material.
• Study your notes and the assigned material, and then
• Review and self-test.

Learning takes time and effort. Study daily by skimming the text and other study material,
think about it, visualize key points and concepts, write down important material, make outlines,
take notes, study sample problems, and so on. All of these help—but some may help you more than
others—so focus on these modes of learning but not at the exclusion of the other aspects.
In preparing for an exam consider the following:

• Accomplish the above—DO NOT wait until the day before the examination to begin study-
ing; create good study habits.
• Study wisely—study how YOU study best—time of day, surroundings, and so on.
• Take care of yourself; get plenty of sleep the night before the examination.
• Attend to last-minute details—is your calculator working, is it the right kind, do I have the
needed pencils, review the material once again, and so on.
• Know what kind of test it will be—if possible.
• Get copies of old examinations if possible; talk to others who might have already had the
course.

During the test:

• Stay cool, do NOT PANIC.
• Read the directions; try to understand what is being asked for.
• In an essay or similar exam, work for full or at least partial credit; plan your answers.

The study of polymer molecules contains several types of content:

• Facts—the term polymer means “many” (poly) “units” (mers).
• Concepts—linear polymers are long molecules like a string.

• Rules—solutions containing polymer chains are more viscous, slower flowing, than solu-
tions that do not contain polymers.
• Problems—what is the approximate molecular weight of a single polystyrene chain that
has 1,000 styrene units in it?

These varied types of content are often integrated within any topic, but in this introduction to
polymer molecules, the emphasis is often on concepts but all the aspects are important.

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