Each semester I teach two courses. I have discovered that many students coming into college --- or even worse, already in college --- do not know how to deal with courses.

I have posted a few articles about how courses work and what they are good for and all that sort of thing. They are part `how-to-get-through-college' advice and part editorial opinion. I will be posting more of this kind of stuff in the future, and also revising the postings here, so I am interested in any comments, advice, criticism, etc.: you may mail to me.

For the older sections, there are two kinds of postings. First, there is a handout, which should be printable onto a single page, suitable for class distribution (see my copyright line on my main page. This will simply give concise advice. Then there will be a longer explanatory essay.

The newer sections --- at the moment, just the homework section --- there is a single introductory page (printable in less than two pages) leading to some additional pages.

The postings are:

• Postings on what a college education is for will be posted soon.

• Advice for doing coursework and homework. Coursework and homework consume a lot of time in some courses, especially math courses. What homework good for? And if it is good for something, how can one get it done?

• Advice on reading textbooks. In addition, there is a longer discussion on: How to read texts. Many people know how to read, but when one is presented with a huge book and told ``learn that'', what does one do? This posting is oriented towards math texts.

• About precision. In addition, a more extensive essay on precision will be posted soon.

• Advice on getting help. In addition, there is a longer discussion on: Getting help and asking questions. Many people are nervous about asking questions, and are unsure about how to get help. The result: many people sit in nervous silence as the course roars past, leaving them behind. So how does one get help?

• Advice on dealing with people. In addition, a more extensive essay on civility will be posted soon.

• Advice on tests. In addition, there is a longer discussion of: Tests. These are the things that everyone stresses over. What are tests good for, anyway? And how does one pass tests?

• Advice about grades. In addition, there is a longer discussion of: Grades. These are the golden rings one gets at the end of the semester. How should one look at grades? What do they mean?

Finally, I have a page of advice from former calculus students to students just beginning calculus.