College Success Strategies / Edition 4

by Sherrie L. Nist-Olejnik, Jodi Holschuh

Overview

This concise and affordable book teaches students the skills and strategies that will enable them to be lifelong learners capable of knowing how to approach new and challenging material in college and beyond.

Although the first priority of College Success Strategies is to help students learn effectively in their college courses, the skills they learn from this text will serve them well in the future in a variety of learning situations. It is designed to engage students in thought about their own learning and the important role they play in the learning process. The strategies used in this book are based on the authors’ many years of experience interacting with college students and professors, as well as their own research focusing on how college students study. Students are often unprepared for the study demands of college and therefore overwhelmed and frustrated with the work. This text is designed to help students obtain lifelong methods and strategies to achieve success in college and beyond.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780205190911
Publisher:	Prentice Hall
Publication date:	01/18/2012
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	304
Product dimensions:	5.90(w) x 8.90(h) x 0.80(d)

About the Author

Jodi Patrick Holschuh is an associate professor in the Department of Curriculum and Instruction at Texas State University. For more than fifteen years, Jodi has been involved in helping students make the transition from high school to college learning. An award-winning teacher, Jodi teaches courses to help students learn effective and efficient study habits as well as courses for graduate students and instructors on how to teach reading and learning at the college level. She has presented many conference papers both nationally and internationally and has written many articles, book chapters, and books on the topic of helping students learn in college. Her research interests include students' beliefs about learning, making the transition from high school to college learning, strategies for academic success, and motivation. When she is not writing, teaching, or researching, Jodi loves rediscovering the world as her son and daughter learn new things. She also loves to read good books and travel to new places.

Sherrie Nist-Olejnik is a professor emeritus at the University of Georgia. Prior to retiring, she was the director of the Division of Academic Enhancement at the University of Georgia. Before becoming director, she taught reading and studying courses to college students in the same division. Dr. Nist received both her master's and doctoral degrees from the University of Florida. It was as a graduate student that she first became interested in how students learn, particularly concerning the factors that seem to influence a smooth transition from high school to college, and the academic struggles that first-year students seem to face. Sherrie has published more than eighty articles, textbooks, textbook chapters, and other professional pieces all related to how college students learn and study. She has presented the results of her research in more than 100 national and international professional meetings, and she has received honors and awards for her contributions to both teaching and research. She continues to be active in her field by writing books and consulting. Sherrie loves traveling, cooking, and, of course, reading and learning new things.

Table of Contents

Preface
PART ONE WELCOME TO COLLEGE SUCCESS STRATEGIES

CHAPTER 1 Now That You’re Here

Self-Assessment

How Does College Differ from High School?

What Special Situations Can You Expect to Encounter Sooner or Later?

REAL COLLEGEWanda’s Woes

ADD TO YOUR PORTFOLIO

CHAPTER 2 Active Learning: What’s in It for You?

Self-Assessment

What Do Active Learners Do?

Benefits of Active Learning

Four Factors That Influence Active Learning

Factor 1: Characteristics of the Learner

Factor 2: The Tasks

Factor 3: The Texts

Factor 4: The Learning Strategies

The Holistic Nature of Active Learning

REAL COLLEGEMalcolm’s Malingering

ADD TO YOUR PORTFOLIO

CHAPTER 3 How You Learn

Self-Assessment

The Role of Memory: Two Theories

The Parts Theory

The Levels of Processing Theory

Stretching Your Memory

The Role of Learning Styles

Using Your Senses to Learn

REAL COLLEGELeo’s Learning (Style)

ADD TO YOUR PORTFOLIO

CHAPTER 4 Interacting with Your Professors

Self-Assessment

What Is a Professor?

Some General Tips About Interacting with Professors

Talking with Your Professors

Question 1: Why Are You Going to See Your Professor?

Question 2: What Are the Logistics of This Meeting?

Question 3: How Do I Talk with My Professor?

REAL COLLEGEMarsha’s Mistake

ADD TO YOUR PORTFOLIO

CHAPTER 5 What Is It I’m Supposed to Do, Anyhow?

Self-Assessment

What Is a Task?

Part One: The Type of Activity

Part Two: The Level of Thinking

How Can You Get Information About the Task?

Technology in College Classes

REAL COLLEGETina’s Task

ADD TO YOUR PORTFOLIO

CHAPTER 6 Getting Organized: Managing Yourself

and Your Time

Self-Assessment

Managing Yourself

Managing Your Time

Creating a Schedule You Can Live With

Timely Tips for Following Your Schedule

Planning for Midterms and Finals

REAL COLLEGEJanice’s Jam

ADD TO YOUR PORTFOLIO

CHAPTER 7 Academic Energy: Motivation for Learning, Attitudes,

and Interests

Self-Assessment

What Influences Motivation?

What Motivates People?

Getting Motivated Through Goal Setting

CONTENTS

Staying Motivated

Changing Attitudes and Interests

Types of Academic Attitudes

Maintaining a Positive Attitude

The Role of Interests

REAL COLLEGEMartin’s Misery

ADD TO YOUR PORTFOLIO

CHAPTER 8 Just What Do You Believe, Anyway?

Self-Assessment

Assessing Your Personal Theory

The Five Components of Beliefs That Influence Learning

Component 1: Certainty of Knowledge

Component 2: Simple Knowledge

Component 3: Responsibility for Learning

Component 4: Speed of Learning

Component 5: The Role of Ability

Changing Your Beliefs

Evaluating Internet Information

REAL COLLEGE College Knowledge

ADD TO YOUR PORTFOLIO

CHAPTER 9 Dealing with Stress

Self-Assessment

Sources of Stress

Strategies for Reducing Stress

Academic Stress: Anxieties

Public Speaking Anxiety

Writing Anxiety

Mathematics Anxiety

General Test Anxiety

Three Important Tips for Reducing Academic Stress

REAL COLLEGEAndrea’s Anxiety

ADD TO YOUR PORTFOLIO PART THREE STRATEGIES FOR COLLEGE LEARNING

CHAPTER 10 Strategic Reading

Self-Assessment

Gearing Up for Reading

CONTENTS

Staying Active During Reading

Put Away Your Highlighters

Make a Note of It

What Is Annotation?

Why Annotate Your Text?

How Do You Annotate?

What Type of Information Should You Annotate?

Studying Your Annotations

Some Common Concerns About Annotation

REAL COLLEGEHillary’s Highlighter

ADD TO YOUR PORTFOLIO

CHAPTER 11 Take Note! Lectures: A Different Kind of Text

Self-Assessment

The Importance and Characteristics of Good Lecture Notes

Taking Good Lecture Notes

General Note-Taking Guidelines

Getting Ready to Take Notes

Staying Active During Note Taking

Format and Organization

Active Listening

Being Flexible: Four Methods of Note Taking

Method 1: Split-Page (Cornell) Notes

Method 2: Parallel Notes

Method 3: Discussion Columns

Method 4: The T-Method

Note-Taking Myths

REAL COLLEGEChad’s Challenge

ADD TO YOUR PORTFOLIO

CHAPTER 12 Rehearsal and Review Strategies

Self-Assessment

Rehearsing

Why Is Rehearsal Important?

Written and Oral Rehearsal Strategies

Components of Good Rehearsal Strategies

Written Rehearsal Strategies

Oral Rehearsal Strategies

Reviewing

Making a Specific Study Plan

Forming Study Groups

Improving Your Memory Through Reviewing

REAL COLLEGEConrad’s Confusion

ADD TO YOUR PORTFOLIO

CHAPTER 13 Strategies for Social Science

Self-Assessment

Characteristics of Social Science Courses

Figuring Out the Task

Reading Social Science Textbooks

Gearing Up for Reading

What and How to Annotate During Reading

Taking Notes in Social Science Courses

Studying in Social Science Courses

CARDS

Question/Answer Strategy

REAL COLLEGEFast Frank

ADD TO YOUR PORTFOLIO

CHAPTER 14 Strategies for the Humanities

Self-Assessment

Characteristics of Humanities Courses

Figuring Out the Task

Reading Humanities Textbooks

Gearing Up for Reading

What and How to Annotate During Reading

Taking Notes in Humanities Courses

Studying in Humanities Courses

Time Lines

Question/Answer Strategy

Compare/Contrast Charting

REAL COLLEGEHarry’s Humanities Horror

ADD TO YOUR PORTFOLIO

CHAPTER 15 Strategies for Science and Mathematics

Self-Assessment

Science Courses

Characteristics of Science Courses

Figuring Out the Task

Reading Science Textbooks

Gearing Up for Reading

What and How to Annotate During Reading

Taking Notes in Science Courses

Strategies for Science Courses

Mathematics Courses

Mathematics Textbooks

Study Strategies for Mathematics Courses

CONTENTSxiv

REAL COLLEGEStacy’s Science Situation

ADD TO YOUR PORTFOLIO PART FOUR PREPARING FOR YOUR COLLEGE EXAMS

CHAPTER 16 Preparing for Objective Exams

Self-Assessment

General Test-Preparation Strategies

Objective Exams

Preparing for Objective Exams

Taking Objective Exams

REAL COLLEGETeddy’s Tactics

ADD TO YOUR PORTFOLIO

CHAPTER 17 Preparing for and Taking Essay and

Specialty Exams

Self-Assessment

Essay Exams

PORPE

Taking Essay Exams

Time Allotted for Writing

Structuring Your Essay

Evaluation Guidelines

A Word About Identification Items

Specialized Exams

Problem-Solving Exams

Open-Book Exams

Take-Home Exams

REAL COLLEGEIris’s Intentions (Gone Awry!)

ADD TO YOUR PORTFOLIO

Appendix A: “Cognition and Intelligence” from Essentials

of Psychology Third Edition

Appendix B: “The Nation Divides: The Vietnam War and Social

Conflict, 1964—1971” from Created Equal, A Social and Political History of

the United States

Credits

Index

Additional Titles of Interest