The Eleventh Edition of Becoming a Master Student raises the bar for Student Success texts. While the vision and proven content of the text has been maintained, the Eleventh Edition has been rejuvenated with a cleaner, more sophisticated design to address comments that the previous layout was too "busy" and "MTV-like." The new design appeals to both traditional students and adult learners. Other enhancements include: a new, organizational framework that provides structure throughout the text and helps students learn to monitor thinking and learning; career application case studies at the end of each chapter that allow students to apply new skills to the workplace environment right away; improved integration of learning styles within each chapter to make addressing the four modes of learning easier; and expanded coverage of Multiple Intelligences and a new Visual, Auditory, and Kinesthetic inventory in to help students discover more about their individual learning styles.

The long-standing best seller in student success, Becoming a Master Student gives students a framework for examining their lives from a self-discovery perspective. Through a student-created and value-based approach to life and learning, the text inspires and motivates students to acquire and develop the skills needed for success in college and throughout life. Articles, strategies, and exercises help students understand their strengths and weaknesses, set goals, and practice academic and life skills.

• New! Master Student Map (Metacognitive Application Process) feature provides an organizational framework that introduces each chapter and acts as a common theme throughout the text to guide students in monitoring thinking and learning. A reasoning model based on the Learning Styles Inventory, the map helps students understand why the chapter matters, what is included in the chapter, how they can use the chapter, and what to think about as they read ("As you read, ask yourself what if...").
• New! Power Process: "Discover What You Want" establishes the motivation for students to act on their goals. This new Power Process is found in the Introduction.
• New! Technology chapter (Chapter 10) assists students in mastering learning in an online environment; finding useful, accurate information on the Internet; and taking part in online communities that promote success.
• New! Put it to Work feature--an in-depth article at the end of each chapter--shows students how skills apply to the world of work. Similarly, the feature discusses how skills developed in the workplace can translate to academic work.
• The Introduction has been enhanced by the Master Student Map and with the addition of essential advice on making the transition to college and locating campus resources.
• Goal Setting coverage has been enhanced: The exercise "Divide and Conquer your Goals" from the Tenth Edition has been integrated into a new article and exercise, "Setting and Achieving Goals." Similar exercises throughout the book ask students to re-think and refine their goals. The newly titled chapter 2, "Planning," also covers more on goal setting.
• Money Management coverage in the new "Planning" chapter (2) helps students get started in planning their finances right from the start.
• Discovery and Intention Journal Entry System asks students to explain the whys, whats, and hows in their writing, and offers instructors a more specific and measurable form of journal writing than any other text.
• Updated Learning Styles make addressing the four modes of learning easier. Each chapter now has four common elements to ensure that the needs of each learning style are met. Journal Entries at the beginning of each chapter stimulate thinking and help students understand why the material is beneficial; Articles provide students with information, ideas and suggestions to help them succeed; Exercises engage students and allow them to practice new skills; and Discover and Intention Statements and Learning Style Applications at the end of each chapter show students how to tie all the information together and use it in the future.
• New! Master Student Profiles have been updated to include the following: Craig Kielburger, Paul Farmer, and Bayard Rustin (Master Student Profiles retained from previous edition include Suny Urrutia Moore, Greg Louganis, Cesar Chavez, Helen Keller, Barbara Jordan, Ron Brown, Fred Smith, Christopher Reeve, and Golda Meir).

Introduction: Making Transitions

This book is worthless--if you just read it
This book is worth $1,000
Exercise #1: "Textbook reconnaissance"
Get the most out of this book
Exercise #2: "Commitment"
The Discovery and Intention Journal Entry system
Rewrite this book
Discovery and Intention Statement guidelines
Journal Entry #1: Discovery Statement
Making the transition to higher education
The art of re-entry: Going back to school as an adult learner
Connect to school resources
Connect to community resources
Extracurricular activities: Reap the benefits
Following instructions
Link to the world of work
Ways to change a habit
Journal Entry #2: Discovery Statement
Power Process: "Discover what you want"

1. First Steps

First Step: Truth is a key to mastery
Journal Entry #3: Discovery/Intention Statement
If you skipped the Introduction ...
Exercise #3: Taking the First Step
Exercise #4: The Discovery Wheel
Journal Entry #4: Discovery/Intention Statement
Textbook reconnaissance, take two
Learning styles: Discovering how you learn
The Learning Style Inventory (LSI)
Interpreting Your Learning Styles Graph
Scoring Your Inventory
Learning Style Graph
Cycle of Learning
Journal Entry #5 Discovery/Intention Statement
Balancing Your Preferences
Using your learning style profile to succeed in school
When learning styles conflict, you have options
Claim your multiple intelligences
Learning by seeing, hearing, and moving: The VAK system
The magic of metacognition
The Master Student
Motivation: Discover it now
Attitudes, affirmations, and visualizations
Attitude replacements
Exercise #5: Reprogram your attitude
The value of higher education
Practicing Critical Thinking #1
Master Student Profiles
Power Process: Ideas are tools
Learning Styles Application
Master Student: Suny Urrutia Moore

2. Planning

You've got the time
Journal Entry #6: Discovery/Intention Statement
Exercise #6: The Time Monitor/Time Plan process
Journal Entry #7: Discovery Statement
Setting and achieving goals
Exercise #7: Get real with your goals
The ABC daily to-do list
Planning sets you free
Strategies for scheduling
The seven-day antiprocrastination plan
More ways to stop procrastination
Practicing Critical Thinking #2
25 ways to get the most out of now
Keep on going?
Remember cultural differences
Time management for right-brained people (... or what to do if to-do lists are not your style)
Exercise #8: Master monthly calendar
Gearing up: Using a long-term planner
Strategies for even longer-term planning
Exercise #9: Create a lifeline
Financial planning: Meeting your money goals
Places to find money for school
Take charge of your credit card
Exercise #10: Education by the hour
Practicing Critical Thinking #2
Power Process: Be Here Now
Learning Styles Application
Master Student: Greg Louganis

3. Memory

Take your memory out of the closet
Journal Entry #8: Discovery/Intention Statement
The memory jungle
20 memory techniques
Pay attention to your attention
Exercise #11: Create a Lifeline
Set a trap for your memory
Keep your brain fit for life
Notable failures, part one
Exercise #12: Remembering your car keys--or anything else
Journal Entry #9: Discovery Statement
Remembering names
Mnemonic devices
Exercise #13: Be a poet
Notable failures, part two
Practicing Critical Thinking #3
Exercise #14: Move from problems to solutions
Power Process: Love your problems (and experience your barriers)
Learning Styles Application
Master Student: Cesar Chavez

4. Reading

Muscle Reading
Journal Entry #10: Discovery/Intention Statement
How Muscle Reading works
Phase one: Before you read
Phase two: While you read
Five smart ways to highlight a text
Phase three: After you read
Muscle Reading--a leaner approach
Read with a dictionary in your lap
Reading fast
Exercise #15: Relax
When reading is tough
Journal Entry #11: Discovery Statement
English as a second language
Reading with children underfoot
Practicing Critical Thinking #4
Power Process: Notice your pictures and let them go
Learning Styles Application
Master Student: Helen Keller

5. Notes

The note-taking process flows
Journal Entry #12: Discovery/Intention Statement
Observe
Journal Entry #13: Discovery/Intention Statement
What to do when you miss a class
Record
Review
Journal Entry #14: Discovery Statement
Improving your handwriting
Exercise #16: Consider the impact of handwriting
Create your instructor
When your instructor talks fast
Taking notes on your journey: The art of journal writing
Exercise #17: Television Note Taking
Taking notes while reading
Exercise #18: Revisit Your Goals
Get to the bones of your book with concept maps
Practicing Critical Thinking #5
Power Process: I create it all
Learning Styles Application
Master Student: Craig Kielburger

6. Tests

Disarm tests
Journal Entry #15: Discovery/Intention Statement
What to do before the test
Ways to predict test questions
Cooperative learning: Studying with people
Journal Entry #16: Intention Statement
What to do during the test
Words to watch for in essay questions
The test isn't over until ...
Integrity in test taking: The costs of cheating
Have some FUN!
Let go of test anxiety
Exercise #19: Twenty things I like to do
Journal Entry #17: Discovery/Intention Statement
Overcoming math and science anxiety
Journal Entry #18: Discovery/Intention Statement
Journal Entry #19: Discovery Statement
How to cram (even though you shouldn't)
8 reasons to celebrate mistakes
Practicing Critical Thinking #6
Power Process: Detach
Learning Styles Application
Master Student: Barbara Jordan

7. Thinking

Critical thinking: A survival skill
Journal Entry #20: Discovery/Intention Statement
Becoming a critical thinker
Attitudes of a critical thinker
Finding "aha!": Creativity fuels critical thinking
Tangram
Ways to create ideas
Create on your feet
Ways to fool yourself: Six common mistakes in logic
Uncovering assumptions
Gaining skill at decision making
Four ways to solve problems
"But I don't know what I want to do": Choosing a major
Majors for the taking
Exercise #20: Make a trial choice of major
Solving math and science problems
Asking questions
Practicing Critical Thinking #7
Exercise #21: Explore Emotional Reactions
Exercise #22: Translating goals into action
Journal Entry #21: Discovery/Intention Statement
Power Process: Find a bigger problem
Exercise #23: Fix-the-World Brainstorm
Learning Styles Application
Master Student: Paul Farmer

8. Communicating

Communicating creates our world
Journal Entry #22: Discovery/Intention Statement
The communication loop
Five ways to say "I"
Journal Entry #23: Discovery/Intention Statement
The fine art of conflict management
You deserve compliments
Exercise #24: Write an "I" message
Relationships can work
Relationships change
Seven steps to effective complaints
Criticism really can be constructive
Exercise #25:"V.I.P.'s (Very Important Persons)
Three phases of effective writing
Journal Entry #24: Discovery Statement
Giving credit where credit is due: Avoiding the high cost of plagiarism
Writing and delivering speeches
Making the grade in group presentations
Practicing Critical Thinking #8
Power Process: Employ your word
Learning Styles Application
Master Student: Ron Brown

9. Diversity

Living with diversity
Journal Entry #25: Discovery/Intention Statement
Diversity is real--and valuable
Communicating across cultures
Overcome stereotypes with critical thinking
Students with disabilities: Ask for what you want
Dealing with sexism and sexual harassment
Seven steps to nonsexist writing
We are all leaders
Journal Entry #26: Discovery/Intention Statement
Practicing Critical Thinking #9
Journal Entry #27: Discovery Statement
Power Process: Choose your conversations and your community
Learning Styles Application
Master Student: Bayard Rustin

10. Technology

Technology, satisfaction, and success
Journal Entry #28: Discovery/Intention Statement
Connect to cyberspace
Overcoming technophobia
Finding what you want on the Internet
Exercise #26: Evaluate search sites
Thinking critically about information on the Internet
Using technology to manage time and money
Ways to waste time with your computer
Write e-mail that gets results
"Netiquette": Being kind while you're online
Joining online communities
Becoming an online learner
Exercise #27: Staying motivated with technology
Staying up-to-date with technology
Exercise #38: Maybe it's your breath
Library--the buried treasure
Exercise #29:Revisit your goals, take two
Practicing Critical Thinking #10
Power Process: Risk being a fool
Learning Styles Application
Master Student: Fred Smith

11. Health

Thinking about health
Journal Entry #29: Discovery/Intention Statement
Take care of your machine
Your machine: Fuel it
Your machine: Move it
Your machine: Rest it
Your machine: Observe it
Journal Entry #30: Discovery/Intention Statement
Your machine: Protect it
Stay up-to-date on STDs
Men, consider your health
Journal Entry #31: Intention Statement
The experts recommend--seven dietary guidelines
Journal Entry #32: Discovery Statement
Crazed glazed donut runs amok
Developing self-esteem
Emotional pain is not a sickness
Suicide
Alcohol, tobacco, and drugs: The Truth
Some facts ...
Exercise #30: Addiction: How do I know ...?
Seeing the full scope of addiction
Where to turn for more information on recovery
Warning: Advertising can be dangerous to your health
Journal Entry #33: Discovery/Intention Statement
Practicing Critical Thinking #11
Power Process: Surrender
Learning Styles Application
Master Student: Christopher Reeve

12. What's Next?

Now that you're done--begin
Journal Entry #34: Discovery/Intention Statement
"... use the following suggestions to continue ..."
Exercise #31: "Do something you can't"
Exercise #32: This book shouts, "Use me!"
Transferring to Another School
25 Transferable skills
Career planning: Begin the process now
Exercise #33: Recognize your skills
Use the SCANS reports to discover your skillsUse résumés and interviews to "hire" an employer
Cruising for jobs on the Internet
Journal Entry #35: Discovery/Intention Statement
Creating and using portfolios
Artifacts for your portfolio
Contributing: The art of selfishness
Service learning: The art of learning by contributing
Practicing Critical Thinking #12
Define your values, align your actions
One set of values
Exercise #34: Discovery Wheel--coming full circle
Journal Entry #36: Discovery/Intention Statement
Power Process: Be it
Learning Styles Application
Master Student: Golda Meir