PREFACE :
Opening a comprehensive biochemistry text for the first time can be a daunting
experience for a neophyte. So much detailed material is presented that it
is natural to wonder if you can possibly master it in one or two semesters of
study. Of course, you can’t learn everything, but experience indicates that you
can, indeed, learn the fundamental concepts in an introductory biochemistry
course. We have written this Student Companion for Biochemistry to ease your
entry into the exciting world of biochemistry.
Your goal is to “know” and “understand” biochemistry. Unfortunately, awareness of these grand goals offers no practical help in reaching them, because they are such high-level and complex intellectual processes. In addition, it is difficult for you to know to what extent you have attained them. We have found that, by subdividing these goals into simpler ones and expressing them in terms of demonstrable behaviors, you can begin to approach them and, in addition, can readily assay your progress toward reaching them. Thus, a part of each chapter consists of Learning Objectives that ask you to do things that will help you to begin to understand biochemistry. When you can master the objectives, you are well on your way to learning the material in the chapter. It is important to add a cautionary note here. Being able to respond to all the objectives adequately does not mean that you know biochemistry, for they are a limited sampling of all the possible objectives; more to the point, they do not explicitly require such higher-level activities as creation, analysis, integration, synthesis, problem-solving, evaluation, application, and appreciation. These more advanced skills will develop to varying levels as you continue your studies of biochemistry beyond the introductory stage.
Your goal is to “know” and “understand” biochemistry. Unfortunately, awareness of these grand goals offers no practical help in reaching them, because they are such high-level and complex intellectual processes. In addition, it is difficult for you to know to what extent you have attained them. We have found that, by subdividing these goals into simpler ones and expressing them in terms of demonstrable behaviors, you can begin to approach them and, in addition, can readily assay your progress toward reaching them. Thus, a part of each chapter consists of Learning Objectives that ask you to do things that will help you to begin to understand biochemistry. When you can master the objectives, you are well on your way to learning the material in the chapter. It is important to add a cautionary note here. Being able to respond to all the objectives adequately does not mean that you know biochemistry, for they are a limited sampling of all the possible objectives; more to the point, they do not explicitly require such higher-level activities as creation, analysis, integration, synthesis, problem-solving, evaluation, application, and appreciation. These more advanced skills will develop to varying levels as you continue your studies of biochemistry beyond the introductory stage.
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