Study And Critical Thinking Skills In College

by McWhorter, Kathleen T.

• ISBN13: 9780321276483
• ISBN10: 0321276485
• Edition: 6th
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2006-01-01
• Publisher: Longman

Summary

Presenting a unique integration of study and critical thinking skills designed to help readers achieve college success, Study and Critical Thinking Skills in College discusses the active learning strategies and techniques that develop readers' proficiency in interacting with academic material. The author emphasizes the cognitive approach to learning, the basis for how to apply study skills to academic disciplines, and how to identify early warning signs of academic difficulty. Critical thinking tips and activities are included in every chapter. The book includes comprehensive coverage of how to apply study skills to academic disciplines and instruction on how to identify early warning signs of academic difficulty. At the end of every chapter, "Thinking Ahead" sections offer readers pragmatic motivation for excelling in college: their success in work depends on it. This integrated coverage of workplace material is exciting and unique. Integrated coverage of using electronic channels to enhance various study skills emphasizes the importance of mastering these new forms of communication and research. For those interested in developing their study skills.

Table of Contents

Preface	x
Quick Guide to the Book	xviii
PART ONE COLLEGE: STRATEGIES FOR SUCCESS	1	(139)
The College System: An Orientation	1	(21)
Information Sources	2	(3)
College Services	5	(1)
Campus Diversity	6	(4)
Course Organization	10	(3)
Grades and Grading System	13	(1)
Thinking Critically . . . About Grades	14	(1)
Classroom Success Tips	15	(7)
Taking Charge of Your College Career	22	(24)
Coping with New Expectations	22	(5)
Thinking Critically . . . About Course Content	27	(1)
Taking Charge	27	(2)
Early Warning Signals of Academic Difficulty	29	(3)
Active Versus Passive Learning	32	(3)
Critical Thinking: The Key to College Success	35	(4)
Building Academic Integrity	39	(7)
Establishing Goals and Managing Your Time	46	(25)
Establishing Life Goals	46	(3)
Organizing Your Life for Success in College	49	(5)
Analyzing Your Time Commitments	54	(3)
Building a Study Plan	57	(5)
Making Better Use of Time	62	(1)
Time Management in the Electronic Age	63	(1)
Time Management Tips for Returning Adult Students	64	(1)
Time Management Tips for Commuters	64	(1)
Thinking Critically . . . About Procrastination	65	(1)
Concentration Tips	66	(5)
Managing Your Life	71	(22)
Managing Your Finances	71	(4)
Maintaining Your Health	75	(8)
Thinking Critically . . . About Drinking	83	(1)
Managing Your Part-Time Job	83	(3)
Managing Relationships	86	(3)
Managing Online Relationships	89	(4)
Managing Stress	93	(15)
What Is Stress?	93	(1)
Symptoms of Stress	94	(1)
Causes of Stress	95	(3)
Changing Your Thinking to Reduce Stress	98	(3)
Changing Your Habits to Reduce Stress	101	(1)
Thinking Critically . . . About Accomplishing Tasks	102	(6)
Communication Skills for the Classroom	108	(15)
Listening Critically	108	(2)
Participating in Class	110	(4)
Asking and Answering Questions	114	(1)
Thinking Critically . . . About Meaningful Questions	115	(1)
Working with Classmates: Group Projects	115	(2)
Planning and Making Oral Presentations	117	(6)
Thinking Critically and Solving Problems	123	(17)
Thinking Critically About Decision Making	123	(3)
Problem-Solving Strategies	126	(2)
Problem-Solving Processes	128	(7)
Keys to Problem Solving	135	(1)
Thinking Critically . . . About Alternatives	136	(4)
PART TWO LEARNING AND THINKING STRATEGIES	140	(39)
Learning Styles and Teaching Styles	140	(21)
Analyzing Your Learning Style	140	(5)
Interpreting Your Scores	145	(4)
Deciding What to Learn	149	(1)
Thinking Critically . . . About the Intent to Learn	150	(1)
Using Learning Style to Choose a Study Method	150	(3)
Adapting to Various Teaching Styles	153	(3)
Evaluating Your Learning	156	(5)
Learning and Memory	161	(18)
How Learning and Memory Work	161	(7)
Strategies for Improving Encoding, Storage, and Retrieval	168	(5)
Thinking Critically . . . About Learning Strategies	173	(6)
PART THREE APPLYING YOUR SKILLS TO ACADEMIC DISCIPLINES	179	(43)
Study Strategies for Academic Disciplines	179	(26)
Approaching New Fields of Study	180	(1)
The Social Sciences and History	181	(3)
The Life and Physical Sciences	184	(6)
Mathematics	190	(3)
Literature and the Arts	193	(4)
Thinking Critically . . . About Literature	197	(2)
Career Fields	199	(6)
Learning Specialized and Technical Vocabulary	205	(17)
Terminology: The Key to Course Mastery	205	(5)
Mapping Related Terminology	210	(2)
Thinking Critically . . . About Vocabulary	212	(1)
Learning Core Prefixes, Roots, and Suffixes	212	(3)
Developing a Course Master File	215	(7)
PART FOUR MASTERING COURSE CONTENT	222	(150)
Thought Patterns of Academic Disciplines	222	(18)
Thought Patterns: Guides to Learning	223	(1)
Academic Thought Patterns	224	(10)
Thinking Critically . . . About Patterns	234	(2)
Applying Your Knowledge of Thought Patterns	236	(4)
Note Taking for Class Lectures	240	(28)
Sharpening Your Listening Skills	240	(3)
How to Start with an Advantage	243	(2)
Recording Appropriate Content and Organization	245	(8)
Working with Various Lecture Formats	253	(1)
Thinking Critically . . . About Lectures	254	(4)
Note Taking and Learning Style	258	(1)
Using the Lecturer's Thought Patterns	259	(2)
Editing and Reviewing Your Notes	261	(7)
Learning from College Textbooks	268	(39)
Features of Textbooks	268	(13)
Previewing Your Textbooks	281	(2)
Thinking Critically . . . About Previewing	283	(3)
Using the SQ3R Reading/Study System	286	(5)
Learning from Graphs, Tables, and Diagrams	291	(9)
Thinking Critically . . . About Graphs and Statistics	300	(1)
Learning from Supplemental Reading Assignments	301	(6)
Learning from Visual and Electronic Media	307	(18)
Video, Film, and Television	307	(1)
Using Electronic Study Aids	308	(1)
Using Internet Sources	309	(3)
Evaluating Internet Sources	312	(9)
Thinking Critically . . . About the Timeliness of Web Sites	321	(4)
Organizing and Synthesizing Course Content	325	(27)
Textbook Highlighting and Annotation	325	(3)
Thinking Critically . . . About Highlighting	328	(4)
Note Taking to Organize and Condense Information	332	(4)
Mapping to Show Relationships	336	(10)
Using a Computer to Synthesize Course Content	346	(6)
Critical Analysis of Course Content	352	(20)
Synthesizing Information	352	(2)
Recognizing and Evaluating Subjective Content	354	(10)
Asking Critical Questions	364	(4)
Thinking Critically . . . About Arguments	368	(4)
PART FIVE EXAMS: THINKING UNDER PRESSURE	372	(65)
Preparing for Exams	372	(23)
Organizing Your Review	372	(3)
Thinking Critically . . . About Group Study	375	(1)
Thematic Study	375	(6)
Strategies for Particular Types of Exams	381	(6)
Strategies for Specific Academic Disciplines	387	(2)
Controlling Test Anxiety	389	(6)
Reasoning Skills for Objective Exams	395	(24)
Starting with an Advantage	395	(4)
Skills for Objective Exams	399	(12)
Thinking Critically . . . About Practicum Exams	411	(1)
Achieving Success with Standardized Tests	411	(8)
Taking Essay Exams	419	(18)
Writing Effective Essay Exams	419	(11)
Thinking Critically . . . About Returned Exams	430	(1)
Achieving Success with Competency Tests and Exit Exams	430	(7)
References	437	(1)
Endnotes	437	(1)
Credits	438	(3)
Index	441