Your College Experience, Two Year College Edition

by Gardner, John N.; Barefoot, Betsy O.

• ISBN13: 9781457628047
• ISBN10: 145762804X
• Edition: 10th
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2012-04-09
• Publisher: Bedford/St. Martin's

Summary

Written by the leading authorities on the first-year seminar and grounded in research, Your College Experience, Two-Year College Edition by John Gardner and Betsy Barefoot offers today's diverse students the practical help they need to make the transition to college and get the most out of their time there. Goal setting has always been central to this text, and the Tenth Edition has been revised with added coverage and activities to strengthen this material throughout. In addition, a new focus on self-assessment of strengths will help students see where they are already succeeding so that they get off to a great start and stay in college. This version of the text maintains the authoritative, research-driven approach of the Tenth Edition and has been edited carefully to address the specific needs of 2-year students.

 

A full package of instructional support materials — including an Instructor's Annotated Edition, Instructor's Manual, PowerPoint slides, videos, and a Test Bank — provides new and experienced instructors all the tools they will need to engage students in this course and increase student retention.

Table of Contents

PART ONE: Preparing for Success

Chapter 1: Exploring Your Purpose for Attending College

Student Profile: Rachel Olga Ford, Sinclair Community College

The College Experience

Setting Goals for Your College Experience and Beyond

Tech Tip: Expand Your Skills

Outcomes of College

Making the Transition

What Is Your Purpose in College?

Chapter 2: Managing Your Time

Student Profile: Roberto LeGrand, Community College of Rhode Island

Taking Control of Your Time

Getting Organized

Making Sure Your Schedule Works for You

Tech Tip: Get Organized

Respecting Others' Time

Chapter 3: Understanding Emotional Intelligence

Student Profile: Sabeena Maharjan, Oklahoma City Community College

What Is Emotional Intelligence?

Assessing Your Emotional Intelligence

Identifying Competencies

Tech Tip: Stay Connected

How Emotions Affect Success

How to Improve Your Emotional Intelligence

Chapter 4: Discovering How You Learn

Student Profile: Robert Schein, Truman College

The VARK Learning Styles Inventory

The Kolb Inventory of Learning Styles

The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator

Multiple Intelligences

When Learning Styles and Teaching Styles Conflict

Tech Tip: Branch Out

Learning with a Disability

PART TWO: Preparing to Study

Chapter 5: Thinking Critically: The Basis of a College Education

Student Profile: Donna Hardy Williford, Pitt Community College

What Is Critical Thinking, and Why Is It Important?

Becoming a Critical Thinker

How Collaboration Fosters Critical Thinking

Thinking Critically about Arguments

Tech Tip: Research Wisely

Critical Thinking in College and Everyday Life

Chapter 6: Being Engaged in Learning: Listening, Taking Notes, and Participating in Class

Student Profile: Jordan Hardy, Santa Monica City College

Using Your Senses in the Learning Process

Preparing for Class

Participating in Class

Taking Effective Notes

Tech Tip: Take Notes Like a Rock Star

Reviewing Your Notes

Becoming Engaged in Learning

Chapter 7: Reading to Learn from College Textbooks

Student profile: Irene Ramirez, Community College of Rhode Island

A Plan for Active Reading

Strategies for Reading Textbooks

Tech Tip: Embrace the E-Book

Monitoring Your Reading 

Improving Your Reading

Chapter 8: Learning to Study, Comprehend, and Remember

Student Profile: Joshua Mortin, Massachusetts Bay Community College

Studying to Understand and Remember

Tech Tip: Don't Be a Virtual Wallflower

How Memory Works

Improving Your Memory

Chapter 9: Improving Your Performance on Exams and Tests

Student Profile: Jaime Espino, Pitt Community College

Getting Prepared for Tests and Exams

Taking Tests and Exams

Types of Tests 

Tech Tip: Fear Not the Online Test

Overcoming Test Anxiety

Academic Honesty and Misconduct

Chapter10: Writing and Speaking Effectively

Student Profile: Victoria Walter, Santa Fe Community College

Writing

Using Freewriting to Discover What You Want to Say

Tech Tip: Blog for Brilliance

The Writing Process

Choosing the Best Way to Communicate with Your Audience

SPEAKING

Preparing a Speech

Using Your Voice and Body Language

The GUIDE Checklist

Speaking on the Spot

Chapter 11: Developing Library, Research, and Information Literacy Skills

Student Profile: Analee Bracero, Ocean County College

Information Literacy

Choosing, Narrowing, and Researching a Topic

Using the Library

Tech Tip: Check Your Engine

Electronic Resources

Evaluating Sources

Making Use of What You Find

PART THREE: Preparing for Life

Chapter 12: Making the Right Choice for Majors and Careers

Student Profile: Megan Henley, Eastern Wyoming College

Careers and the New Economy

Aligning Your Sense of Purpose and Your Career

Planning for Your Career

Skills Employers Look For

Working in College

Tech Tip: Job Search Wisely

Chapter 13: Managing Your Money

Student Profile: Cody M. Rosier, Florida State College at Jacksonville

Living on a Budget

Getting Financial Aid

Achieving a Balance between Working and Borrowing

Managing Credit Wisely

Tech Tip: Create Wealth and Security

Planning for the Future

Chapter 14: Establishing and Maintaining Relationships in College

Student Profile: Benjamin Smock, Bunker Hill Community College

Building Relationships with College Instructors

Friendships in and beyond College

Tech Tip: Maintain Some Mystery

Getting Serious with Relationships

Family Connections

Getting Involved

Chapter 15: Appreciating Diversity

Student Profile: Devin Webb, Sinclair Community College

Understanding Diversity and the Source of Our Beliefs

Forms of Diversity

Seeking Diversity on Campus

Discrimination, Prejudice, and Insensitivity on College Campuses

Challenge Yourself to Experience Diversity

Tech Tip: The Case for Volunteering

Chapter 16: Maintaining Wellness

Student Profile: Matthew Chinchilla, Ocean County College

Managing Stress

Mental Health

Nutrition and Weight Management

Sexual Health

Tech Tip: Surf for Health 

Substance Abuse

Epilogue: Taking the Next Steps to Success

Glossary

Credits

Index