REVIEWER'S CORNER
Review of Becoming a Master Student
submitted by Elise Anton
 Text:Becoming a Master Student by Dave Ellis, 10 th edition, Houghton Mifflin Publishers, 2003. Houghton Mifflin has a Web site for this textbook at: http://college.hmco.com/collegesurvival/
ellis/master_student/10e/students/
Reviewer : Elise Anton, Community College of VT instructor (11 years), Bridge-to-College program instructor (2 years).
This text is for students who are about to enter or have just entered college. It includes 12 self-contained chapters which provide “...tools, techniques, hints, ideas, illustrations, examples, methods, procedures, processes, skills, resources, and suggestions for success” (Ellis, from the subtitle).
Use of book:
I have used this text with six classes of Bridge-to-College students in one of the courses they take with me, Introduction to College Studies. These students come from diverse academic backgrounds but are mainly recent GED completers. They have ranged in age from 17-51, and generally lack self-confidence in their academic skills. The chapters in the text consist of short essays and activities compiled around a theme (i.e. “tests”, “thinking”, “communicating”). They are fairly easy to read, even for adults with low reading skills, and they are aimed at the non-traditional adult learner our programs are targeting, so they include material from the ESL perspective, ideas on integrating college studies with work and family, and so on.
The text is based on the premise that personal change and growth take effort on the individual’s part, and offers students many ideas and techniques to support their success. There are many short writing exercises in each chapter, including “Discovery Statements” which help students examine themselves as learners in the past, present and future. A colleague has used this text with a group of high school students transitioning to college, and felt it did not work well because it is geared more towards the non-traditional college-bound student.
Strengths of text:
- Self-contained chapters can be assigned in various orders.
- Aimed at non-traditional student.
- Uses lots of examples and catch-phrases to help engage students.
- Course Manual support provides lots of suggestions for classroom activities, assignments, quizzes.
- Very reality oriented (diversity, financial issues, time management…).
- Emphasizes that the same things that make you a successful student will help you be successful in the workforce.
- Breaks material down into small, easily digested sections.
Limitations of text:
None that I have found yet.
Favorite aspect:
This text really encourages students to “walk the walk and talk the talk”. Many activities based on each chapter are there for the student to complete for simply their own benefit. Students who have used these activities (unassigned) have told me they really helped them clarify their understanding of themselves as learners. Many hands-on suggestions are given, but the author repeats frequently that students should consider each suggestion and then use what works for them individually. As a compilation of ideas from real students and instructors, the text is a work in progress in its 10 th edition, and the author encourages contributions to future editions.
About the Reviewer:
Educational Background:
- B.A. in Sociology from Grinnell College (1975)
- Elementary Teaching Certificate from Keene (NH) State College (1982)
- M.Ed. in Curriculum and Instruction from Keene State College (1985)
Teaching History:
- 1982-1989 Elementary Teacher
- 1993-Present Instructor, Community College of VT. Courses taught include: Interpersonal and Small Group Communication, Child Development, Infant and Toddler Development, Early Childhood Education: Birth to Age Five, Managing Behavior in Early Childhood Settings, Methods and Materials in Early Childhood, Effective Leadership, Community and Work Experience Field Studies, Introduction to College Studies (most of these multiple times).
- 2002-Present Instructor in Bridge-to-College Program, in collaboration with The Tutorial Center. Courses taught include Introduction to College Studies and Effective Leadership.
Top of page |
