Synopses & Reviews
The Fifth Edition of Developing Textbook Thinking continues to guide mid- to high-level developmental students through a series of highly successful strategies based on the authors' own BCA system. A four-step process, BCA represents Before Reading, Staying Connected During Reading, and After Reading (Studying and Reviewing.) General strategies for reading and studying are taught in the context of the BCA system, including how to find the main idea, identify supporting details, and take lecture notes.
Synopsis
The Fifth Edition of Developing Textbook Thinking continues to guide mid- to high-level developmental students through a series of highly successful strategies based on the authors' own BCA system. A four-step process, BCA represents Before Reading, Staying Connected During Reading, and After Reading (Studying and Reviewing.) General strategies for reading and studying are taught in the context of the BCA system, including how to find the main idea, identify supporting details, and take lecture notes.
About the Author
Sherrie Nist is in charge of the reading and study skills component of the University of Georgia's Developmental Studies Department. She has published widely in academic reading journals and has become one of the most prominent researchers in her field. William Diehl is head of the Corporation for Business, Work, and Learning.
Table of Contents
I. Understanding College Reading and Studying Demands 1. What You Have to Do Assessing Your Strengths and Weaknesses Assessment 1: Locating Your Reading Problems Assessment 2: Study-Strategies Inventory Assessment 3, Part I: College Study Demands Assessment 3, Part II: A Scenario to Write About and Discuss The Reading Journal: Becoming More Aware Key Ideas Selection from a Magazine: "Blood and Money" Selection from a Magazine: "Prisoner of Pain" 2. Getting Started: The BCA's of Successful Study Introduction: The BCA's Following Effective Strategies The Basic Strategies Key Ideas A Scenario to Write About and Discuss Selection from a Magazine: "I Hate School" 3. Finding the Motivation Student Attitude and Responsibility Immediate Gratification Versus Delayed Gratification If Necessary, Wipe Out the Past Developing the Big M Key Ideas Two Scenarios to Write About and Discuss Selection from a Magazine: "First Born, Later Born, Rebel or Reactionary?" Selection from a Magazine: "For $6,000, You Get a Pencil with the Answers Included" 4. Finding the Time Self-Discipline Setting Goals Schedules Key Ideas A Scenario to Write About and Discuss Critical Thinking Exercise 5. Taking Notes from Lectures The Split-Page Method Types of Lectures Before the Lecture Staying Connected: Listening to Lectures Staying Connected: Taking Notes During the Lecture After the Lecture Key Ideas A Scenario to Write About and Discuss 6. Vocabulary Development Understanding New Words and New Definitions Using Context Using the Dictionary Using Structure Generative Vocabulary Strategies Key Ideas A Scenario to Write About and Discuss Vocabulary Exercises for an Article: "A Colony in the Sky" Selection from a Magazine: "A Colony in the Sky" 7. Flexibility and Efficiency in Studying Background Knowledge and Interest Characteristics of Textbooks A Scenario to Write About and Discuss Developing Reading-Rate Fluency and Flexibility Reading Habits That Slow You Down Strategies to Increase Fluency Push Yourself to Read Faster Flexibility Key Ideas A Scenario to Write About and Discuss Selection from a Magazine: "The Date Who Rapes" Selection from a Newspaper: "Why Everyone Is So Short-Tempered" II: Developing the BCA's of College Reading and Study Strategies BCA's: A Method of Efficient and Effective Study 8. Before You Read Learning Principles Before Reading Set Goals and Begin to Formulate Test Questions Selection from a Magazine: "Born Happy?" Key Ideas Selection from a Newspaper: "Measuring the Shape We're In" Selection from a Magazine (Annotated): "Born Happy?" 9. Staying Connected During Reading Learning Principles Being Selective Key Ideas Selection from a Chemistry Text (Annotated): "Matter and Energy, Atoms and Molecules" Selection from a Psychology Text: "The Psychology of Memory" Selection from a History Text (Annotated): "The New Frontier" Selection from a Psychology Text (Annotated): "The Psychology of Memory" 10. After You Read: Studying Learning Principles Rehearsal Strategies Primary Rehearsal Strategies Selecting the Most Appropriate Strategies Secondary Rehearsal Strategies Key Ideas 11. After You Study: Reviewing Learning Principles Reviewing The PLAE Model Key Ideas PLAE Model 12. Pulling Everything Together: Preparing for Examinations General Preparation Guidelines Know the Academic Task Tips on Reviewing for an Exam Objective Tests Essay Tests Test Anxiety Key Ideas Two Scenarios to Think About and Discuss Appendix: Selections from a Variety of Texts Selection from a Psychology Text: "The Psychology of Memory" Selection from a History Text: "Great Promises, Bitter Disappointments, 1960-1968" Selection from a Chemistry Text: "Matter and Energy, Atoms and Molecules" Selection from a Writing Online Handbook: "Evaluating Sources" Selection from a Biological Science Text: "Genetics: The Science of Inheritance" Selection from a Business Text: "Information Systems and Marketing Research" Discussion and Review Questions Application Questions Vocabulary Exercises Application Exercises