how to read organic chemistry mechanisms?

Follow the simple steps: Go to class everyday and take great notes. These notes will be your primary source of material for the Exam. Here is what you should do during the entire academic year: 1. Outline the lecture notes every week. You need to do this every single week, not just before the exams! 2. Outline the reading sections every week. You will have reading homework assigned after almost every class. Put together outlines of this material every night. Don't just "read and forget", make an outline while you read. 3. Keep your roadmap up to date every week. A roadmap shows all of the types of organic molecules (alkanes, alkenes, alcohols, alkyl halides, etc.) and with arrows drawn between them, the appropriate reagents and/or reaction conditions written over the arrows, and the stereochemistry/regiochemistry written below the arrow as applicable. Reasons to use the above outlining method: A. Organizing your class notes/reading into outlines will greatly increase the learning process by organizing the important concepts in your mind. B. Organizing your class notes/reading into outlines will also focus your attention on any problems you have understanding the material before it is too late. C. You will then be prepared to better comprehend the material presented the following week in lecture. New material invariably builds upon old material. Never get behind! D. Did you see what I said there? NEVER GET BEHIND. I repeat, NEVER GET BEHIND. read less

First read the content of the chemical reaction,then read the chemical equation involved in it and then go to mechanism...In mechanism concentrate on reacting species ,it's function,desired product and along with it any byproduct....Alway's practise the series of reaction's with multiple steps....only 1 particular equation of all carries a significance and so on...... read less