Ten rules on how to ace my classes

Rule 1.   You have to earn your grade.   Don't rely upon asking me for a better grades.  I just don't have them,   Over the years, I have heard many real good pleadings  asking me to assign a better grade (I will  get disqualified, my spouse will divorce me,  I need a B to get a job (life?),  my boy/girlfriend will leave me, I am a graduate student so I must get a B in each class).    I am sympathetic, but I still do not have any grades to give out.

Rule 2.  You cannot get a good grade in my class unless you invest-  I mean invest your time, your energy.   Attend class, pay attention, participate in class discussions. Read the book, notes and the references.  Better still, read the chapters ahead of the class.  You will find attending class more productive that way.  

Rule 5.  Do not sleep in my class.  Those who do, tend to get Ds and Fs.  Why?  You know the reason.  Anyway, it is more comfortable to sleep on your bed at home.  Sleep in my class, and you will throw away the points for participation and my enthusiasm to help you learn.  Incidentally, you may think that I don't notice those who sleep.  Actually I do,  every time!

Rule 3.  Cut work, not class.  Don't plan on working 40 hours, do overtime and breeze through my class. 

Rule 4.  Don't plan your wedding around quizzes, finals or homework deadlines (Am I crazy?  It seems to happen every semester)

Rule 5.  Cut out excuses; they don't fool anyone but the person giving it.

Rule 6.  Prepare for my exams and homework.  You can't do either at the last minute.  It is obvious when the homework or project had little or no thought behind it.

Rule 7.  Think about what the question asks and answer only the question- nothing else.   Many students have said that writing the question out before trying to answer it helps; it  focuses the mind on what is being asked.  Try it?

Rule 8.  Please don't ask for extra credit work.   If I give extra credit work to you, then I will have to offer it to everyone.  How would that work?  So, you have to work within the bounds of the syllabus- you earn more points in quizzes that come later in the semester, so don't give up if you did not do well in the first quiz or homework.

Rule 9.  Don't submit scruffy work.  A professional presentation makes you feel good and makes me feel like reading your work with more interest.

Rule 10.  When answering questions, in exam or homework, do not copy material verbatim from the book or notes.  You will score zero points, if you do.  Answer in your own words.