This course syllabus is designed to inform you about the nature of this course in advance. If you do not accept the terms outlined in this syllabus for this course you should either withdraw from the course or discuss the syllabus with me before the withdrawal deadline has passed. Typically lectures will provide only a very general overview of the principles and concepts presented in much greater detail in the reading assignment. Your textbook should be viewed as a kind of gateway into a new body of knowledge. You are responsible for learning the material presented in the textbook in addition to material presented in lectures.
Textbooks are highly condensed information.
It takes active effort to assimilate the information presented in the textbook. Applying optimal study methods such as using the SQ4R and the Cornell note taking system will facilitate learning that material in the textbook. The work load for a college course is a function of the number of academic credits which will be awarded for the course. By long standing tradition, faculty presume that students will work two hours outside of class each week for every academic credit they receive for a course. If you find it difficult to keep up with the work load for your courses, the first question to ask yourself is whether you are really putting in 24-30 hours each week beyond just attending lectures.