Excerpts
 

Chapter IV
 

Grades

52. Take advantage of ALL opportunities to boost your grade by class participation.

Many professors will base up to 10% of a final grade on your participation in a class. ALWAYS get the full percentage by participating. Even if you are the quiet type, try to answer a question or two in every class.
 

53. If you are shy or uncomfortable answering questions in front of the class, try HARD to get over it. You CAN get over it.

It will be to your advantage in college and the working world to answer questions in a classroom setting. A 10% participation grade is almost a freebie. If you are going to stare at the floor all semester when your professor asks a question, you will lose 10% of your grade in every class. That is ridiculous.

You have got to overcome your shyness, at least to the point of being able to answer short questions in every class. If you will answer short questions, you will get your 10% participation grade.

Even if your professor does not give a participation grade, answering questions will help your professor know you, and know you are conscientious. It will definitely translate into a better grade.
 

54. MAKE yourself answer some short-answer questions in class.
 

If you hold your breath and shoot up your hand the moment you know an answer, then blurt out the one or two words that will answer the professor's question, it will become easier and easier to do until you can do it with ease.

Know your daily assignment then MAKE yourself answer a question or two. Be confident. Believe in yourself. Discover your strengths. Overcome your weaknesses.

It will boost your confidence and give you a great deal of power in any situation. It will certainly make a difference in your grade, and later, your job performance.

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63. If you haven't read the assignment, use this trick to get your participation grade.

Read as much as you can of the assignment, at least the first couple pages. Lay low and wait for the first question out of the professor's mouth then shoot your hand up and answer that question before anybody else, because it will likely be the only one you know!

You will appear to be prepared and anxious. Then, for the rest of the period, when a question is asked, you can stare at the floor with the rest of the deadbeats; but YOU will have gotten your participation grade for the day.

I have used this method many times and it works.

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