"The List"

To make sure that you are retaining the material you learn in this course, each test/quiz will contain material from earlier in the course. To help you achieve well on these tests, and to eliminate classtime spent reviewing old topics, you will be required to do the following.

The Daily Requirement

Each evening, in addition to your assigned homework, your implied homework is to maintain a running list of ideas that were taught during the day. This list must include:

Definitions (e.g., what is the slope of a line)
Theorems (e.g., Pythagorean theorem)
Rules (e.g., x ^a x ^b = x ^a+b )
Problem strategies (e.g., how to attack word problems)
Examples of each item, e.g.,
- how to compute slope,
- how to use the Pythagorean theorem,
- x ² x = x ³
2 more sample problems with answers, but not the steps to arrive at the answer (this should be covered under examples above). These problems should not be easy ones, as they will be used for studying for tests.

Studying for a Quiz or Test

When you study for a test, begin several days before the test.

First review your List and create a Summary List of theorems, definitions, rules and problem strategies that are not yet at your immediate recall. The emphasis should be on new material, but since you can be tested on anything covered in the course, it must include the important items from prior material as well.
Then, each day or 1/2 day, review your Summary List and create a Sublist of items not yet memorized. Also review the original List to ensure nothing has fallen out of immediate recall. Hopefully by the time the test arrives, you will have no items on your last sublist.
Studying for a test should also include doing homework problems again (some from your List, most from your homework papers), and doing them for speed as much as accuracy.

Grading

To make sure you are keeping this notebook, you will be asked to turn it in from time to time for grading purposes, with at least 1 day notice. (In other words, you won't be required to carry it to school every day.)

The best media for the List is either a looseleaf paper or a spiral bound notebook; a 70-page one should get you through the year unless you have very large handwriting. Do NOT use a thick, multi-subject spiral-bound book for this List.