The best-selling text for the student success, study skills, or college survival skills course is founded on
the principle that the people most responsible for an excellent education and student success are students themselves.
Instructors are facilitators who help students come to understand who they are and what they want to become. As
a result, Becoming a Master Student is not merely a book. For instructors, it is an entire system of support to
help them give their students the tools they need to fashion successful academic careers and lives. For students,
the message of the book becomes a way of life if it is taken to heart. For college administrators, increased retention
and higher graduation rates are a welcome result of the book and the course.
Reflecting the spirit of collaboration and improvement that is inherent in any student success program, the Ninth
Edition has been revised and enhanced with direct input from an insightful advisory board and more than a thousand
surveyed student users. This edition retains its engaging, readable style, action-oriented exercises, illuminating
Power Process articles, and the Discovery Wheel.
Expanded and updated coverage of technology includes new articles on distance learning and "netiquette";
web-based exercises linking the text to an accompanying Web site; and abundant Internet resources in the text with
updates on the Web site. An Internet icon highlights these features throughout the text.
Increased focus on student monetary concerns features a new chapter combining money, health, and valuable financial
aid advice.
Broader inclusion of diversity issues offers practical strategies for communicating across culture gaps and
resolving conflict with people from other cultures.
Stronger emphasis on careers includes advice on transferring academic success to job success and applying knowledge
of learning styles to work projects.
Section on creating and using portfolios is reinforced by exercises throughout the text.
Master Student Profiles contribute fresh voices and diverse perspectives.
The lively new illustrations and design retain the text's readability and popular appeal with students.
Toll-Free Telephone Consulting Services of College Survival (800-528-8323, from 8:30 am to 5:00 pm, Central
Time, Monday through Friday): Our consultants--all higher education instructors, administrators, or student service
professionals--are on hand to provide advice on program development or on using the Becoming a Master Student materials.
Table of Contents
Note : Each chapter ends with a Quiz, a Learning Styles Application and a Bibliography.
1. First Step
First Step : Truth is a key to mastery
If you skipped the Introduction
The Discovery and Intention Journal Entry System
Seven Discovery and Intention Statement guidelines
Creating and using portfolios
Artifacts for your portfolio
Power Process #1 : Ideas are tools
Learning styles : Discovering how you learn
Learning styles : Using your learning profile to succeed in school
Resources on learning styles
The Master Student
Maslow's qualities of a self-actualizing person
Master Student : Veronica Espinoza
2. Time
You've got the time
25 ways to get the most out of now
Keep going?
Reap the benefits : Extracurricular activities
Overcome computer addiction
Time management for right-brained people
Planning sets you free
Strategies for scheduling
Strategies for long-term planning
Gearing up : Using a long-term planner
The seven-day antiprocrastination plan
The ABC daily to-do's
Power Process #2 : Be here now
Master Student : Malcolm X
3. Memory
You never forget
The memory jungle
20 memory techniques
Set a trap for your memory
Remembering your car keys...or anything else
Give your "secret brain" a chance
Notable failures; part one
Remembering names
Mnemonic devices
Notable failures Part Two
Power Process #3 : Love your problems
Master Student : Helen Keller
4. Reading
Muscle Reading
How Muscle Reading works
Before you read...Pry out questions
While you read...Root up answers
After you read...Recite, review, and review (again)
The Universal Law of Reading
Studying with children underfoot
Ways to change a habit
Reading fast
When reading is tough
Read with a dictionary in your lap
Motivation or "I'm just not in the mood"
English as a second language
Library : The buried treasure
Treasure-hunting on the Internet
Power Process #4 : Notice your pictures and let them go
Master Student : Barbara Jordan
5. Notes
The note-taking process flows
Observe
Record
Review
Improving your handwriting
Power Process #5 : I create it all
When instructors talk fast
Get to the bones of your book with concept maps
Taking notes while reading
Learning across borders : Getting the most from distance learning
Taking notes on your journey : The art of journal writing
Master Student : Clarissa Pinkola Estés
6. Tests
Disarm tests
What to do before the test
What to do during the test
F is for feedback, not failure
Words to watch for in essay questions
The costs of cheating
Have some fun!
Ways to predict test questions
Let go of test anxiety
Overcoming math and science anxiety
Special techniques for math and science tests
How to cram (even though you shouldn't)
8 reasons to celebrate mistakes
Power Process #6 : Detach
Cooperative learning : Study with people
Master Student : Fred Smith
7. Diversity
Living with diversity
Diversity is real--and valuable
Communicating across cultures
Adapting to the culture of higher education
Learn the language of higher education
The art of re-entry
Stay tuned to these networks
Plug into school resources
Plug into community resources
Dealing with sexism...and sexual harassment
Students with disabilities : Ask for what you want
Power Process #7 : Choose your conversations and your community
Master Student : Jaime Escalante
8. Thinking
Critical thinking : A survival skill
Finding "aha!"--Creativity fuels critical thinking
Tangram
Techniques for creative thinking
Asking questions
The value of higher education
Qualities of a critical thinker
Core skills for critical thinkers
Finding a critical thinking in yourself and others
Becoming a critical thinker
Create on your feet
Uncovering assumptions
Ways to fool yourself
Thinking critically about information on the Internet
Gaining skill at decision making
Divide and conquer your goals
Warning : Advertising can be dangerous to your health
Power Process #8 : Find a bigger problem
4 problem-solving steps
Solving math and science problems
Master Student : Margaret Mead
9. Writing
Writing well pays
Phase 1 : Getting ready to write--Creating something from nothing
Phase 2 : Writing the first draft--Getting down to it
Phase 3 : Revising your draft--Polishing your creation
Misplaced modifier poses threat of suffocation
Seven steps to nonsexist writing
Giving credit where credit is due : Avoiding the high cost of plagiarism
Getting connected : Entering cyberspace
Overcoming technophobia
Finding what you want on the Internet
Some places to start surfing the Web
Using computers to manage ideas and information
Ways to waste time with a computer
Learning the language of computers
Staying up-to-date with technology
Writing and delivering speeches
Power Process #9 : Risk being a fool
Master Students : Jerry Yang and David Filo
10. Relationships
The communication loop
Listening
Sending
Five ways to say "I"
You deserve compliments
Practice "netiquette"
The fine art of conflict management
Conflict management in a nutshell
Developing self-esteem
Emotional pain is not a sickness
Suicide
Claiming your multiple intelligences
Relationships can work
Relationships change
Create your instructor
Power Process #10 : Employ your word
Seven steps to effective complaints
We are all leaders
Leaders on leadership
Master Student : Golda Meir
11. Money and Health
Money in, money out
The source of money problems
Increase money in
Decrease money out
Free fun
Money for the future
Education's worth it...
Seventeen places to find money
We live like royalty
Take care of your machine
Your machine : Fuel it
Your machine : Move it
Your machine : Rest it
Your machine : Observe it
Your machine : Protect it
Stay up-to-date on STDs
The experts recommend seven dietary guidelines
Crazed glazed donut runs amok
Power Process #11 : Surrender
Some facts
Alcohol, tobacco and drugs : The truth
Seeing the full scope of addiction
Where to turn for more information on recovery
Master Student : Christopher Reeve
12. What Next?
Now that you're done--begin
"...use the following suggestions to continue..."
Attitudes, affirmations, and visualizations
Attitude replacements
"But I don't know what I want to do"
Majors for the taking
Changing schools
Contributing : The art of selfishness
Service learning
Career planning : Begin now
Cruising for jobs on the Internet
Job skills for the new millenium
Link to the world of work
Power Process #12 : Be it
One set of values
Master Student : Raul Julia
