Synopses & Reviews
This text combines practical and immediately applicable skills and critical-thinking strategies with an emphasis on self-discovery, self-management, and self-assessment. Chapters are presented as a continuous narrative to help students make the transition to college-level reading and work. A new chapter, Building Career Skills, includes information on decision-making as it relates to career preparation, and an emphasis on the skills most valued by employers.
- Revised Thinking Ahead About Career exercises encourage students to apply the concepts they learn in each chapter to real-life situations.
- The Comprehensive Skill Finder (or Confidence Index) provides a 4-point scale to help students discover which of their skills need further development. Plus workplace skills are marked with an asterisk to indicate a related article on the Career Resource Center Web site.
Synopsis
This text provides practical and immediately applicable skills and critical-thinking strategies by emphasizing self-discovery, self-management, and self-assessment. By challenging first-year students to motivate themselves and take personal responsibility for their own success, this text instills confidence by showing students they can succeed by applying themselves. A conversational writing style enhances the journey students take to becoming more successful in college and life. Now, part of the Student Achievement Series, The Confident Student, 6/e, is thoroughly redesigned with input from both students and instructors to incorporate concise, to-the-point coverage of key concepts and pedagogy that reinforces these concepts. This new structure further supports the author's intention to teach the active reading, learning, and critical thinking skills students will need in later academic courses.
About the Author
Carol C. Kanar is the author of several Cengage Learning writing, reading, and college success textbooks. Kanar is a graduate of the University of Florida, where she earned the Master of Arts in English, and of Rollins College, where she earned the Master of Education in reading. She has close to thirty years of teaching experience, twenty of which she spent at Valencia Community College teaching reading, writing, and study skills. A frequent conference presenter and speaker, Kanar has served on the Executive Board of the Florida Development Education Association and is an active member of the National Association of Developmental Educators.
Table of Contents
Note: Each chapter concludes with "Thinking Ahead About Career," "Your Reflections," and a Chapter Review. 1. Becoming a Confident Student Awareness Check 1: Are You Ready for Success? Choose Success and Plan for It Form an Academic Support Group Computer Confidence: Use Technology to Build Communication Skills Embrace Diversity Critical Thinking Confidence Builder: How Flexible Are You? Be an Active Learner Choose Financial Success 2. Motivating Yourself to Learn Assess Your Strengths and Weaknesses Awareness Check 2: What Are Your Strengths/Weaknesses in Basic Skills? Confidence Builder: Howard Gardner's Multiple Intelligences Theory Discover and Use Your Learning Style Awareness Check 3: What Are Your Sensory Preferences? Awareness Check 4: How Does Your Body React? Awareness Check 5: What Is Your Locus of Control? Critical Thinking Adapt to Others' Styles Develop Critical Thinking and Learning Strategies 3. Thinking Critically and Creatively Awareness Check 6: Are You a Critical and Creative Thinker? Examine Assumptions Predict Outcomes Confidence Builder: Thinking Creatively Make Inferences Evaluate Information and Sources Critical Thinking Think Through Decisions and Problems 4. Setting Goals Define Your Values Awareness Check 7: What Are Your Reasons for Attending College? Differentiate Between Long-Term and Short-Term Goals Set Reachable Goals Confidence Builder: How to Develop a Positive Attitude Write Your Action Plan Critical Thinking 5. Sharpening Your Classroom Skills Awareness Check 8: Are You Prepared for Classes and Lectures? Prepare for Class Become an Active Learner Develop a Personal Note-Taking System Awareness Check 9: How Effective Are Your Note-Taking Skills? Make Effective Oral Presentations Critical Thinking Computer Confidence: Use a Computer to Organize Your Notes Participate in Class and Group Activities Confidence Builder: Interpersonal Skills for College and Career 6. Making the Most of Your Time How to GRAB Some Time Awareness Check 10 Where Does Your Time Go? Scheduling Your Time Time Management for Community College Students Confidence Builder: Time Management Tips for Student Athletes Avoiding Procrastination Awareness Check 11 Are You a Procrastinator? Computer Confidence: Use the Computer to Save Time Awareness Check 12 What Is Your Attitude Toward Studying? Critical Thinking 7. Maintaining Your Health and Well-Being Health, Well-Being, and Success in College Awareness Check 13: Are You Leading a Balanced Life? Computer Confidence: Are You Spending Too Much Time on the Net? Managing Your Emotions Critical Thinking Confidence Builder: Emotional Intelligence--Another Way of Being Smart Developing Your Interpersonal Skills Building Healthy Relationships 8. Creating Your Study System Awareness Check 14: Are You Using Your Textbooks Efficiently? SQ3R: The Basic System Computer Confidence: Survey to Save Time on the Net Confidence Builder: Be Proactive About Studying Understanding Graphics Critical Thinking How to Create Your Study System 9. Organizing Information for Study Awareness Check 15: How Well Do You Organize Information for Study? Confidence Builder: Attitudes for Study Concept or Information Maps Comparison Charts Time Lines Process Diagrams Informal Outlines Branching Diagrams Computer Confidence: Using a Computer to Make Study Guides Critical Thinking 10. Controlling Concentration and Memory Awareness Check 16: How Well Do You Control Concentration and Memory? Control Your Concentration Confidence Builder: A Desktop Relaxation Technique Manage Your Memory Awareness Check 17: What's in Your Long-Term Memory? Increase Your Memory Power Critical Thinking 11. Preparing for Tests Awareness Check 18: How Well Do You Prepare for Tests? How to Prepare for Tests: Three Steps Develop a Test-Taking Routine Critical Thinking Master Objective Tests Answer Essay Questions with Confidence Confidence Builder: How to Raise Scores on Standardized Tests 12. Reducing Test Anxiety What Causes Test Anxiety? Awareness Check 19: Do You Have Test Anxiety? Learn to Relax Face Your Fears Engage in Positive Self-Talk Confidence Builder: Help for the Math-Anxious Student Find Your Best Solution Critical Thinking 13. Becoming an Active Reader Awareness Check 20: Are You an Active Reader? Active Versus Passive Reading Improve Your Reading Comprehension Confidence Builder: Calculate Your Reading Rate Use a Textbook Marking System Critical Thinking 14. Building Career Skills Awareness Check 21: Are You Ready for Tomorrow's Workforce? Working in the New Economy Where the Jobs Will Be Choosing Your Future Confidence Builder: College Is the Real World What Employers Want Awareness Check 22: How Are Your Communication Skills? Computer Confidence: Researching Careers on the Internet From College to Work Critical Thinking