You cannot learn organic chemistry just by reading about it. The best way to do well is to work problems, as many as you possibly can. We will assign some, and the quizzes will be based on them, but try to do as many others as you possibly can. You may consult other chemistry texts in the library for additional problems. While attendance at lectures is not required, experience shows that most people who do not attend regularly do poorly in the course.
Organic chemistry is a cumulative subject.
If you get behind at the beginning, you will get lost, because every new topic depends on what went before it. A good method to review this material is to read the Overview Sections of each chapter as presented in Volume 1 of the Study Guide. Reading and Problem Assignments. Exams will be taken mostly from the assigned problems below. They will be based upon the lecture material and upon the principles and facts exemplified by the assigned problems.