Student Handbook - Faculty of Social Sciences

The three best ways
to pass a course
Use University resources
You are responsible for your academic success and we
are here to help you. If you’re struggling with a course
or an assignment, talk to your professor or teaching
assistant. The Student Academic Success Service (SASS)
and the Academic Writing Help Centre are also key
resources you should consider using.
Be ready (eat, sleep, study)
A healthy mind in a healthy body, wrote the poet
Juvenal. By paying special attention to your physical
and psychological well-being, you’ll be more alert,
you’ll be better able to concentrate, and you will
learn more.
Be there
While some professors do post their class notes on
Virtual Campus, this does not exempt you from
attending class. The best path to success is to be present
and attentive in class. That way, you can ask questions,
learn information that is not found in the manual
or in the course notes and discuss the material with
your classmates.
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The three best ways
to fail a course
Underestimate the time it takes to complete
assignments, and hand them in late
University assignments require time and effort.
They also require research and help you develop the
ability for critical thinking. Waiting until the last
minute to write a 15-page report is a fool-proof way
to fail a course.
Don’t read the syllabus
The course syllabus outlines all course-related
information: assignment deadlines, learning objectives,
the professor’s instructions and expectations, etc.
Not reading it will prevent you from asking pertinent
questions and from planning your assignments
effectively.
Give in to distractions during class
Facebook, chatting, text messaging, email and so on are
not required for class...Avoid them! Don’t be distracted.
Part-time job? Not more
than 10 to 15 hours
per week.