Basic_Skills_for_College.pdf

Basic_Skills_for_College.

Basic Skillsfor CollegeEdith WagnerJessika SobanskiErika WareckiNew York Copyright © 2001 LearningExpress, LLC.All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. Published in the UnitedStates by LearningExpress, LLC, New York.Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data:Wagner, Edith.Basic skills for college / Edith Wagner, Jessika Sobanski, Erika Warecki—1st ed.p. cm.ISBN 1-57685-388-8 (pbk.)1. Universities and colleges—United States—Entrance examinations—Study guides.I. Sobanski, Jessika. II. Warecki, Erika. III. Title.LB2353.2.W37 2001378.1'98—dc212001038243Printed in the United States of America9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1First EditionISBN 1-57685-388-8For Further InformationFor more information or to place an order, contact LearningExpress at:900 BroadwaySuite 604New York, NY 10003Or visit us at:www.learnatest.com The following individuals contributed to the content of this book.Edith Wagner is an instructor of English at Tusculum College, Pellissippi State Technical Community College,and Maryville College in the Knoxville, Tennessee area.Jessika Sobanski is a freelance writer and has written several LearningExpress titles. She has a degree in Biochemistry.Erika Warecki is a freelance writer and has a degree in Anthropology.LIST OF CONTRIBUTORS CONTENTSIntroduction1CHAPTER 1:Important Writing Practice 7CHAPTER 2: Basic Grammar 31CHAPTER 3:Reading Comprehension 49CHAPTER 4:Essential Practice with Math 67CHAPTER 5:Practice Tests in Grammar, Writing, and Reading Comprehension 101Grammar 102Writing 106Reading Comprehension 107CHAPTER 6:Practice Tests 115Arithmetic 116Algebra and Geometry 117 LearningExpress Skill Builders • INTRODUCTIONviiSUMMARYFirst, this chapter explains the rationale behind the testingmethodologies used for college placement exams, and thenit answers some FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions) that youmay have. Next, you will also get a feel for what you shouldexpect after the test, both academically and socially as youembark on the wondrous thing that is the college experience.Last, you’ll explore the myths versus realities about collegefrom those who have been there. So start making the mostof your college days even before classes start.reparing to enter the world of higher education, whether at thelocal community college or a four-year liberal arts college oruniversity, requires that you take a look at your abilities in thebasic skills areas. Fundamental for success in any academic sit-uation is knowledge of reading, writing, and mathematics. This is not tosay that there aren’t other important skills, but the foundation for the mosteffective learning rests on your ability to read with understanding, writewith clarity and precision, and understand basic mathematical operations.These are the skills you’ll use to build knowledge. They are also the skillsthat will be tested when you apply for college because just as you need toanalyze your strengths and weaknesses in these areas, so do the schools whereyou plan to study.INTRODUCTIONPP INTRODUCTION • LearningExpress Skill BuildersviiiAlmost all institutions of higher learning requirea placement test to determine your ability to handle col-lege level English. Many schools accept a score on theverbal portion of the SAT or the SAT II essay, or an ACTscore. These are nationally administered tests, and thescores are recognized as reliable indicators of your ver-bal abilities. However, if you haven’t taken these testsor if you will be attending a school that requires an addi-tional assessment of your skills,you will be asked to takea placement test. Usually, the institution you are plan-ning to attend develops the test, and it is not part of theapplication process. Basically, it is used to provide youwith a freshman English class that meets your needs andensures that you get the instruction you need to be effec-tive in all your courses.Similarly, these schools look to the mathematicsscores on standardized tests to access your level ofknowledge and problem solving capabilities. If youhaven’t taken the SAT or ACT, your abilities can begauged through a math college placement test.FAQSIS THERE A STANDARD TEST THATCOLLEGES USE FOR PLACEMENT?There are several tests that a college may use for mathplacement. One test is called ASSET and another iscalled COMPASS. Additionally, colleges may designtheir own test to give to incoming students.You can askyour college if they use a particular test.Also, ask themif the test is given on the computer or with paper andpencil. Some computer tests may just be on-screen ver-sions of paper tests. Other computer tests may be adap-tive, which means that after you answer one question,the computer decides what question to give you nextbased on how well you answered the first.Adaptive testsare nothing to be afraid of. Just read and answer care-fully, because you will not have the opportunity todouble-check your work. Adaptive tests have the ben-efit of being relatively quick and painless.DOES IT COST MONEY?It is unheard of for a college to charge you an extra feefor a placement test. You should expect this test to befree.WHAT SHOULD I BRING WITH MEON THE DAY OF THE TEST?You should bring ID (driver’s license or equivalent), anumber 2 pencil, and a calculator if permitted for themath portions, and you should know your Social Secu-rity number. Also bring any forms the school asks for.CAN I USE A CALCULATOR FOR THEMATH SECTIONS?Ask your school if calculators are permitted during thetest. Some schools allow calculators, others don’t. Don’tbe too upset if your school doesn’t permit calculators.In this case, you should expect to see questions that workout “nicely,” without elaborate scratch work and cal-culations.IS IT A TIMED TEST?Most tests give you a very generous time frame to workwith. Ask your school what the time limit is, if any.WHAT DO I NEED TO KNOW?For the English test, you should feel comfortableresponding to a given statement, or prompt. Most likely,you will also be tested on reading comprehension andlanguage use (grammar, spelling, and so forth). For themath assessment, most schools test basic arithmetic andelementary algebra. Additionally, many schools testbasic geometry. Ask your school for the specific sub-–BASIC SKILLS FOR COLLEGE– LearningExpress Skill Builders • INTRODUCTIONixject areas that will be on your test, so that you can pre-pare accordingly.HOW DO I PREPARE?It is a good idea to brush up on the above-mentionedbasic skills. This book is designed to walk you throughsample questions and and to provide you with practicequestions in the Skill Builder sections. After workingthrough these sample essays, questions, and problems,you should take the end test. You can also ask yourschool if they have a sample test. Usually these sampletests are brief and do not come with detailed answerexplanations. Comparing these specific sample tests toa book such as this one will allow you to focus and learnall the necessary material. Just be sure to practice undersimulated test conditions. For example, if you will nothave access to a calculator for the real test, answer allpractice questions without a calculator as you study.WHAT IF I FAIL?Relax. You cannot fail a placement test. The whole ra-tionale behind the test is to gauge the level of incom-ing students. Once your level of ability is assessed,your school will be able to place you into an appropri-ate class in a suitable track.CAN I RETAKE IT?Each school sets its own restrictions regarding retakes.For example, you might be allowed to take one place-ment test per term.Ask your school about their policy.WHAT’S NEXT?After the test, you should schedule an appointment withan advisor if one has not been scheduled already. Youradvisor can give you information on registration andorientation.MYTH VERSUSREALITYMOST STUDENTS KNOW WHAT THEIRMAJORS WILL BE BEFORE THEYENTER COLLEGEFirst of all, you may be overwhelmed at the prospectof going to college.You may ask,“Is this school the rightone?”“What will I major in?”“If I take the wrong classes,will I ruin the rest of my life?” Here’s a secret: Mosteveryone entering college feels the same way. It’s per-fectly natural, and you are not alone.Many students start school with an “undecided”major. Some say they know exactly what they want. Infact, you may hear, “I’m definitely going to be a doc-tor,” or “I’m definitely going to be a lawyer, a veterinar-ian . . .” and they may even profess that their whole lifeis mapped out. However, sometime during the secondyear, when all the dust settles, those same people switchtheir majors. Once they have a taste of the coursesneeded to be a doctor, lawyer, and so on, they oftendecide they want to pursue another career. Don’t let any-one intimidate you for being “undecided” at first.The best thing you can do for yourself is to sample alittle of everything your first year and then make yourdecision.IT’S BETTER TO BE A BIG FISH IN ASMALL POND THAN A SMALL FISH INA BIG PONDGuidance counselors usually give this advice. It basi-cally means that you are better off being a star at a smallschool than just being another faceless “number” in alarge school. In reality, these are not words to take toheart. Even if you choose to go to a large school, youwill ultimately choose a specific course of study, andeach department has its own kind of family atmosphere.If you strive to be your best, you can always make yourmark no matter what size school you attend.–INTRODUCTION– INTRODUCTION • LearningExpress Skill BuildersxDon’t be afraid to get to know your instructors.In college, especially at a larger school, it is importantto develop a good rapport with your professors as youpursue your studies. It is also a good idea to keep intouch with these professors because later you mightneed letters of recommendation from them. File thesereferences in a special folder. The day will come whenyou will be very glad that you did.YOU CAN TAKE ANY CLASS YOUWANTThis is mostly true. You generally have a great degreeof control over your class schedule each semester. Manyschools, however, have a large block of courses calledthe “core curricula”that all students must take. Schoolswant to make sure that your collegiate experience is awell-rounded one, so you will have to take certainhumanities, fine arts, math, English, and foreign lan-guage courses, no matter what major you choose. Someschools even require physical education courses. Thegood part is that there is always a certain degree of choiceinvolved. For example, if your school has a foreign lan-guage requirement, you will be able to pick which for-eign language you want to study. Once you declare amajor, there will be required courses for that major aswell as electives—courses within the major that you pickyourself.THERE IS ONLY ONE WAY TO STUDYOne student shares this method:“During my junior yearI discovered a relatively painless way to do some study-ing. I would attend class with my ‘scrap’ notebook andscribble down everything my teacher was saying. Thenwhen I returned to my room to study, I would get my‘real’ notebook and copy everything I had writtendown, neat as a pin, with colors, highlighted,and so on.”When you are sitting there just copying over notes itseems very easy, but you may not realize it all starts tosink in while you are doing this. And not only that, youhave a nice, neat, organized book to study from later.YOU DON’T HAVE TO GO TO CLASSYour teachers will let you know, up front, what theirattendance policies are. Smaller classes tend to havestricter attendance policies than courses held in largelecture halls. For the most part, you will find yourselfattending class even if no attendance is taken, simplybecause you want and need to learn more than whatyou read or do on your own. Remember that whimsi-cally taking a trip to the mall with your friends is notan academically sound reason for cutting class and istherefore not recommended. Some professors make itvery clear that missing more than a limited number ofclasses without an approved excuse will result in anautomatic failure for that course. They are not bluff-ing, and they are allowed to fail you if you violate theirwritten policy. Don’t waste your money by failingcourses this way. Also, if you receive federal or statefinancial aid, you have to make “satisfactory academicprogress” to keep that aid—which means going toclass.YOU WILL HAVE LOTS OF FREEDOMThis is definitely true. You won’t be sent to the princi-pal’s office in college, although there are deans and judi-cial boards who control student discipline. You are incharge of yourself. So it’s a good idea to follow yourschool’s regulations. Too much freedom creates prob-lems for freshmen when they forget that they are reallyin school to study and not to party. It is important tostay focused on your courses and not to get distractedby the many temptations that face you. With eachcourse you take, you are presented with an opportunityto do your best. While classes are in session, make themthe priority. You can reward yourself later with relax-ation and recreation after the term is over.–BASIC SKILLS FOR COLLEGE– . long as you pick a college that feels right toyou, you will have a great college experience, on-campus or otherwise. BASIC SKILLS FOR COLLEGE LearningExpress. understand basic mathematical operations.These are the skills you’ll use to build knowledge. They are also the skillsthat will be tested when you apply for college