We will emphasize this approach in lecture, discussion sections, and exams. Organic chemistry cannot be mastered by pure memorization. Although some will be required, you should always be searching for conceptual explanations and patterns of logic in the material. A thorough mental chewing of the material will aid in later digestion. Shifting your emphasis from memorization to conceptual understanding will alter your perspective of organic chemistry from one of the hardest courses you'll take at UCLA to one of the most logical.
Organic chemistry is a linear subject, meaning new material is usually built on older material.
You will need to have a good grasp of many of the concepts from your general chemistry classes. Exams will emphasize the new material, but do not neglect the older foundations. Consider the exams to be cumulative in nature. Exam questions will be designed to probe your mastery of not only the fundamentals, but how you apply these concepts to draw conclusions. The questions will consist of a variety of formats, often requiring words and chemical structures.