How Can I Survive My Physics Class with a Difficult Professor?

[oldunion]

i had a 3.52 gpa coming into the second semester of freshman year at uncc. i have now, astronomy, calc2, engineering, and physics.

Little history on my physics teacher: he mumbles, what he teaches in 50 minutes of class 3x a week is not at all what is on the tests, and last semester 75% failed. This semester he has given the prognosis of 45%.

I expect to get an A or possibly b if i mess up badly in each class, except of course for physics. i have had 3 tests, and failed them all. we also have in class quizzes every day (did ok on these-i think), and weekly quizzes (not too good here), and a mastering physics homework grade of a B. The final can count for as much as 30 percent of the grade, or itself and a replacement for one other test.

He has given us no review, and when asked by a student what good study material would consist of, he reportedly said, "read the chapters."

Im looking for some way to not fail badly, i had high hopes before i met this man. someone give me a strategy.

 

[ktpr2]

Wow.

Uh. Find someone's whose taken that class before and ask them for their past exams. Or at least get a general idea of what's on the test. If you want to be sneaky go to the math/physics office and see if you can request a tutor that's aced that class. $10 might get you the vital info you need. Good luck.

 

[gnome]

Just reading the chapters may not help too much, but doing a lot of textbook exercises will. That will force you to think about the material from a problem-solving point of view, and help you focus on the topics that you really need to re-read.

And I guess the weekly quizzes should give you a pretty good idea of the kind of questions, and the topics, that he likes.

 

[campa]

I know what you mean I'm having my A/L s next month and am trying to rush through the process of making sums and studying the notes!

 

[oldunion]

if i retake the class, which i think is going to happen, i am assuming that the old physics grade will still count, and my new physics grade will also count.

There is no cancellation or replacement of the grades, correct?

 

[ktpr2]

Check with your school about that. At my school they let you retake a class and the new grade replaces the former one. However, I think the old grade somehow shows up on your transcript. It might mention this is your second chance at the class or something.

 

[The Reverend BigBoa]

Check with your school about that. At my school they let you retake a class and the new grade replaces the former one. However, I think the old grade somehow shows up on your transcript. It might mention this is your second chance at the class or something.

Sounds right to me. If you retake a class, they'll use the higher score for determining GPA, but the original class will also still be on the transcript. I think it is also true in most places that you can only repeat a class once, and often, if not always, only if your score was below a B.

 

[oldunion]

Sounds right to me. If you retake a class, they'll use the higher score for determining GPA, but the original class will also still be on the transcript. I think it is also true in most places that you can only repeat a class once, and often, if not always, only if your score was below a B.

Really? i was almost certain, from my unfounded beliefs, that both grades would affect my gpa. Ill check on this immediately.