Consider the text as a guided tour of the material. Read the assigned material at least once before attempting the homework. Read with a pencil, paper and a graphing calculator handy, interacting constantly with the text. On the first reading note the parts that puzzle you. When you come to a worked example, first cover the solution. Read the question carefully until you understand what is requested. Then try to solve the example yourself. After a short time, look at the first part of the given answer. If you are doing what the solution says, good—keep working the problem out yourself. If not, look back in the text to see why they thought to do it their way. Remember, the first step is often the hardest, so concentrate there and do not lose heart. Keep alternating between doing the steps yourself and reading their solution.

On your second reading, see if you understand the parts that puzzled you the first time. Reflect on the ideas in the text; remember all college level mathematics focuses on concepts. Ask lots of questions, and look for connections with what you have already learned. When your reading of a section feels comfortable, you are probably ready for the next section. Mathematics builds carefully on all previous material, so keep up with the class.

Start working on the problems after the first reading of a section. Read the problem enough times so that you know what you are to do. If you know a step, write it down; it is amazing how that can clear your mind to figure out the next step. Draw diagrams and graphs whenever appropriate. Most people think visually much better than symbolically.

Always use notation correctly. Otherwise you will likely be confused later and those of us who read your work, especially your future students, will certainly be confused.

READING IS NOT A SPECTATOR SPORT!