Organic Chemistry is a big game which consists of several little games. As such, the issues are 1) can you learn the rules quickly, 2) can you play by the rules consistently, 3) can you tell when you're playing a game you've already played.
1) CAN YOU LEARN THE RULES QUICKLY?
Definitely, and all the quicker if someone tells you the rules.
Sometimes professors are a little vague about the rules, or at least not very explicit when a new set of rules is coming into play. Some instructors are vague because they want you to work to figure things out yourself. Other instructors are vague simply because they are so good at following the rules that they don't have to think about it anymore. Since they don't have to break it down for themselves, they don't think they have to do it for the students.
Job One of the organic chemistry tutor is to teach the rules of the game in play.
2) CAN YOU PLAY BY THE RULES CONSISTENTLY?
Attention to detail is key -- in pretty much any endeavor. Then again, do you forget to brake when you get to a stoplight? With consistent, focused practice, it may be possible to become skilled at anything.
Many textbooks have enough practice that the student can become good at particular problem types. A few textbooks actually have such meager samplings that it is difficult to ever attain a high skill level.
Job Two of the organic chemistry tutor is to provide relevant practice of the rules.
2) CAN YOU TELL WHEN YOU'RE PLAYING A GAME YOU'VE ALREADY PLAYED?
If you learn a simple scale pattern on the fretboard of a guitar, it's not that hard to slide that pattern a fret over and do the same scale in a different key. Past the beginning of organic chemistry, there is tremendous redundancy in the type of games being played. If you never catch on to the trends of the course, it can be an unmanageable mess of rules to learn.
Many instructors and many textbooks point out to the students when the rules of the current game echo the rules of previous games played. ...Could the problem be that they are not emphatic enough about it?
Job Three of the organic chemistry tutor is to explain how the rules of the current game relate to the rules of games that have already been played.
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