TIPS-4.ECONEconomics 201 Issue 1 Fall 1998 Ronald C. Fisher, 1998HOW TOSURVIVEAND THRIVEINECONOMICSMany students believe that an economics class will be hard, and some even find that to be true. But if you understand the nature of economics and economics classes,it is easy to make the class easy (or at least easier). Just follow these steps:1. READ the textbook and other readings, preferably before coming to class. But you shouldn’t read an economicsbook like a novel or a biography. Economics is a sequential subject that uses information already covered todevelop new topics. So if you don’t know where you’ve been, theseis no way to find where you’re going. Be sure you understand the material on a page or in a section or chapter before moving on. The best way to be sure you understand is to practice while you are reading. Use apencil and paper to redraw diagrams, try numerical examples, and jot down questions if you don’t understand.2. ATTEND class and LISTEN. Lectures and the reading are complements, not substitutes (they do not necessarily cover the same material in the same way, but rather build upon each other). Occasionally even,very important information will bepresented in lecture. Missed lectures will not berepeated, nor will Professor Fisher provide notes.When you come to class, don’t try to write everything down. (You won’t be able to anyway, because most professors speak too fast, and you’llonly get frustratedtrying.) Listen as a theory is developed or an example presented, and justjot down the main points or the conclusion. Definitions usuallyare not important to write down; they’re in the book.3. ASK questions. Ask about the lectures,about the assignments, aboutthe reading. Ask during class, before or after class, or in office hours. It is your responsibility to pursue things that you do not understand. Use Professor Fisher as a resource to help you in class.4. PRACTICE. The key to doing well in this class is being able to applyyour knowledge ofeconomics to new situations and analyze your way to an answer. Theonly way to learn how to do this is to do it. So, practice lots of problems, including the assignments of course, but you also can use the other problems at the end of chapters in the text, problems in the student workbook, and even questions you write yourself.When practicing, it is important to actually write out answers because that is what you will have to do forthe assignments and exams.SOME MATTERS OF COURTESYLarge lectures present special problems in all sorts of ways, not the leastof which is the simple fact that so many people are there together. Experience suggests that it can be a more pleasant experience for all if everyone follows a few simple rules.To avoid disturbing other students and the instructor, please arrive to class on time. This allows everyone to get settled before the lecture begins and will be particularlyimportant when there are materialsto collect or handout.Besides climbing over people to get to your seat, many other things that are quite normal indifferent settings can be quitedisturbing to others in a large lecture. Thus, it isprobably best usually to avoid eating, reading newspapers, playing your Gamegear, and other similarly disruptive activities during class.During lecture, only one person will talk at a time. In some cases, that person will be Professor Fisher; at other times it will be a student. (With some 200 students, if even 10 percent are conversing at once, the din is disturbing.)However, student questions are encouraged, both during class and office hours. During class, you may always ask a question by raisingyour hand, and Professor Fisher will call on you as soon as possible. If your question can’t be cleared upthen, it will be followed up after class.EXTRA CREDIT ASSIGNMENTSIf you are planning on doing the extra-credit assignments, remember the first one is due NEXT WEEK. Extra-credit assignment A is due on Tuesday, September