abstract A paragraph-length summary of the methods and major findings of an article in a scholarly journal.
abstract conceptualization A learner’s ability to integrate observations into logically sound theories. One of the four stages of the Kolb Inventory of Learning Styles.
academic adviser A faculty or staff member who provides official advice to students on course selection and academic planning.
academic calendar A calendar that shows all the important dates specific to your campus: financial aid, registration, and add/drop deadlines; midterm and final exam dates; holidays; graduation deadlines; and so forth.
academic freedom The virtually unlimited freedom of speech and inquiry granted to professors to further the advancement of knowledge as long as human lives, rights, and privacy are not violated.
academic integrity Intellectual honesty; the avoidance of cheating and plagiarism.
academic plan/map A list of the courses you need to take and complete in a program of study to graduate with a degree.
academic planning Creating a plan of coursework that leads to a college degree.
accommodators Individuals who prefer hands-on learning. They are skilled at making things happen, rely on their intuition, and might use trial and error rather than logic to solve problems. Accommodators often major in business. One of the learner groups of the Kolb Inventory of Learning Styles.
acronym A memory device created by forming new words from the first letters of several words.
acrostic A verse in which certain letters of each word or line form a message.
active experimentation A learner’s ability to make decisions, solve problems, and test what he or she has learned in new situations. One of the four stages of the Kolb Inventory of Learning Styles.
active learning Learning by participation, such as listening critically, discussing what you are learning, and writing about it.
active reading A four-step process to reading that involves using strategies, such as highlighting and taking notes, to help you stay focused. The steps in the active reading process are previewing, marking, reading with concentration, and reviewing.
adaptability The ability to adjust your thinking and behavior when faced with new or unexpected situations.
alumni The ability to adjust your thinking and behavior when faced with new or unexpected situations.
analysis The process of breaking down material into its parts so that you can understand its structure. Includes categorizing, comparing, contrasting, and questioning. One of the six levels of Bloom’s Taxonomy.
annotate To add critical or explanatory margin notes on a page as you read.
annotation Note or remark written in the margin about a piece of writing.
application The process of using what you have learned, such as rules and methods, in new situations. Application includes choosing, illustrating, practicing, and interpreting. One of the six levels of Bloom’s Taxonomy.
aptitude Natural talent or an ability an individual has acquired through life experience, study, or training.
argument Reason and evidence brought together in logical support of a claim.
assertiveness Standing up for yourself when you need to, without being too aggressive.
assimilators Individuals who like to develop theories and think about abstract concepts. Assimilators often major in math, physics, or chemistry. One of the learner groups of the Kolb Inventory of Learning Styles.
attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) A disorder characterized by difficulty organizing tasks, completing work, and listening to and following directions.
aural learner A person who prefers to learn by listening to information. One of the preferences described by the VARK Learning Styles Inventory.
autonomy Self-direction or independence. College students usually have more autonomy than high school students.
behavioral interview An interview in which the interviewer questions the candidate about past experiences and how they helped the candidate learn and grow. This type of interview helps assess skills and behaviors.
bias A tendency against or in favor of certain groups or value systems.
biorhythms The internal mechanisms that drive our daily patterns of physical, emotional, and mental activity.
bodily/kinesthetic learner An individual who prefers learning by moving around and is good at sports, dance, and acting. One of the eight intelligences described by the theory of multiple intelligences.
budget A spending plan that tracks all sources of income and expenses during a set period of time.
Campus SAVE Act A federal law passed in 2013 mandating that all colleges and universities provide sexual assault, violence, and harassment education to students.
campus wide common intellectual experience A program in which students take required “common-core” courses, participate in a required learning community, or engage in other shared experiences such as a “common reading” (a high-impact practice).
capstone course or project A course or experience taken during the senior year that requires students to reflect on what they learned in all their courses and create a project of some sort that integrates and applies that knowledge (a high-impact practice).
cheating Dishonesty in academic work. Each campus has its own definition, which could include looking over a classmate’s shoulder for an answer, using a calculator when it is not permitted, obtaining or discussing an exam or individual questions from an exam without permission, copying someone else’s lab notes, purchasing term papers over the Internet, watching the video instead of reading the book, and copying computer files.
chunking A previewing method that involves making a list of terms and definitions from the reading and then dividing the terms into smaller clusters of five, seven, or nine to learn the material more effectively.
citation A source or author of certain material. When browsing the Internet for sources, use only material that has citations crediting the author, where it came from, and who posted it.
cloud computing A term that describes using the Internet as a storage device and sharing files and folders with others.
co-curricular experience Learning that occurs outside the classroom through on-campus clubs and groups, co-op programs, internships, or other means.
cognitive restructuring A technique of applying positive thinking and giving oneself encouraging messages rather than self-defeating, negative ones.
collaborative assignment A learning activity in which you work and solve problems with your classmates (a high-impact practice).
comprehension Understanding the meaning of material. Comprehension includes classifying, describing, explaining, and translating. One of the six levels of Bloom’s Taxonomy.
computerized test A test that is often taken in a computer lab or testing center and is usually not administered online.
computer literacy Facility with electronic tools, both for conducting searches and for presenting to others what you have found and analyzed.
concrete experience Abilities that allow learners to be receptive to others and open to their feelings and specific experiences. One of the four stages of the Kolb Inventory of Learning Styles.
content skills Cognitive, intellectual, or “hard” skills acquired as one gains mastery in an academic field. They include writing proficiency, computer literacy, and foreign language skills.
convergers People who enjoy the world of ideas and theories and are good at thinking about how to apply those theories to real-world, practical situations. Convergers tend to choose health-related and engineering majors. One of the learner groups of the Kolb Inventory of Learning Styles.
cooperative (co-op) education Paid work assignments that provide students with an opportunity to use their education and apply it to the workplace. In cooperative education, a period of work alternates with a period of school.
co-op programs Programs offered at many institutions that allow students to work in their field of study while enrolled in college. They offer valuable experiences and an excellent preview of what work in the chosen field is actually like. Also called cooperative education.
Cornell format A method for organizing notes in which one side of the notebook page is designated for note taking during class, and the other serves as a “recall” column where main ideas and important details for tests are jotted down as soon as possible after class.
credit hours A representation of the number of clock hours you spend in each class every week during a term, and the number of credits you will earn if you satisfactorily complete a course. A one-credit course generally meets for 50 to 60 minutes once a week.
credit score A numerical representation of your level of fiscal responsibility, derived from a credit report that contains information about all the accounts in your name. This score can determine your ability to qualify for loans, the interest rates and insurance rates you pay, and can sometimes affect your employability.
critical thinking Thoughtful consideration of the information, ideas, observations, and arguments that you encounter; in essence, a search for truth.
cultural literacy Knowing what is going on around you and what has happened in the past.
culture The aspects of a group of people that are passed on or learned. Traditions, food, language, clothing styles, artistic expression, and beliefs are all part of culture.
cyberbullying Any behavior performed through electronic or digital media by individuals or groups who repeatedly communicate hostile or aggressive messages intended to inflict harm or discomfort on others.
database An organized and searchable set of information. Like a special search engine, a database is often classified by a certain subject area, such as chemistry or U.S. history.
deep learning Understanding the “why” and “how” behind the details.
degree The type of diploma students receive after graduation.
delayed gratification The ability to resist the temptation for an immediate reward and wait for a later reward.
digital footprint How you represent yourself—and how others represent you—online on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and other social media sites.
digital persona/profile The version of yourself that you present online on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and other social media sites.
discipline An area of academic study, such as sociology, anthropology, or engineering.
discrimination The act of treating people differently because of their race, ethnicity, gender, socioeconomic class, or other identifying characteristics, rather than on their merits.
divergers Individuals who are adept at reflecting on situations from many viewpoints. They excel at brainstorming and are imaginative and people-oriented but sometimes have difficulty making decisions. Divergers tend to major in the humanities or social sciences. One of the learner groups of the Kolb Inventory of Learning Styles.
diversity Variations in social and cultural identities among people living together.
drafting Step two of the writing process, during which a writer organizes information and ideas into sentences and paragraphs.
dyslexia A widespread developmental learning disorder that can affect the ability to read, spell, or write.
e-book A book in electronic format that can be read on a computer or other digital device.
emotional intelligence (EI) The ability to recognize, understand, use, and manage moods, feelings, and attitudes.
emotional self-awareness Knowing how and why you feel the way you do.
empathy Recognition and understanding of another person’s feelings, situation, or point of view.
episodic memory An aspect of long-term memory that deals with particular events, their time, and their place.
essay exam An exam made up of questions that require students to write a few paragraphs or a short essay in response to each question.
ethnicity The identity that is assigned to a specific group of people historically connected by a common national heritage or language.
evaluation The ability to judge the value of ideas and information you are learning according to internal or external criteria. Evaluation includes appraising, arguing, defending, and supporting. The highest level of Bloom’s Taxonomy.
explanatory writing Writing that is “published,” meaning that others can read it.
exploratory writing Writing that helps you first discover what you want to say. It is private and is used only as a series of steps toward a published work.
extraverts Individuals who are outgoing, gregarious, and talkative. Extraverts are good communicators who are quick to act and lead. One of the personality preferences described by the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator.
feeling types Individuals who are warm, empathetic, compassionate, and interested in the happiness of others as well as themselves. They need and value harmony and kindness. One of the personality preferences described by the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator.
fill-in-the-blank question A test question that consists of a phrase, sentence, or paragraph with a blank space indicating where the student should provide the missing word or words.
financial aid Monetary sources to help pay for college. Financial aid can come in the form of scholarships, grants, loans, work study, and cooperative education.
first-year seminars The course in which you find yourself now, designed to prepare you for your college experience (a high-impact practice).
fixed expense An expense that will cost you the same amount every time you pay it.
flash cards A card with words or numbers that is displayed or reviewed as part of a study routine.
flexibility Adapting and adjusting your emotions, viewpoints, and actions as situations change.
foreward A brief overview from the author explaining why the book was written, the material it covers, and it's organizational structure.
forgetting curve The decline of memory over time.
freewriting Writing that is temporarily unencumbered by mechanical processes, such as punctuation, grammar, spelling, context, and so forth.
gender A continuum that accounts for many different ways of identifying oneself based on the things a person says, does, or wears.
general education Introductory courses—such as English, math, history, or psychology—that almost every student must take in order to earn a degree.
global learning or diversity experience Courses and programs in which you explore cultures, life experiences, and worldviews different from your own (a high-impact practice).
glossary A list of key words and their definitions.
grants A form of financial aid awarded by the federal government, state governments, and institutions themselves. Students meet academic qualifications for grants by being admitted to the college and maintaining grades that are acceptable to the grant provider.
happiness Being satisfied with yourself, with others, and with your situation in general.
humanities Branches of knowledge that investigate human beings, their culture, and their self-expression. They include the study of philosophy, religion, literature, music, and art.
idioms Thinking carefully about potential consequences before you act and delaying gratification for the sake of achieving long-term goals.
impulse control Thinking carefully about potential consequences before you act and delaying gratification for the sake of achieving long-term goals.
inclusive curriculum A curriculum offering courses that introduce students to diverse people, worldviews, and approaches.
independence Making important decisions on your own without having to get everyone’s opinion.
information age Our current times, characterized by the primary role of information in our economy and our lives, the need for information retrieval and information-management skills, and the explosion of available information.
informational interview A meeting used to gather information on a field or company and expand one’s professional network.
information literacy The ability to find, interpret, and use information to meet your needs.
intellectual property Ownership over nonphysical creative works such as slogans, artwork, and inventions. Copyright, trademarks, and patents are kinds of intellectual property.
interdisciplinary Linking two or more academic fields of study, such as history and religion. Encouraging an interdisciplinary approach to teaching can offer a better understanding of modern society.
interlibrary loan A service that allows you to request an item at no charge from another library at a different college or university.
internship Direct experience in a work setting often related to your career interests.
interpersonal Relating to the interaction between yourself and other individuals. Friendships, professional networks, and family connections are interpersonal relationships that can be mutually beneficial.
interpersonal learner An individual who likes to have many friends and is good at understanding people, leading others, and mediating conflicts. One of the eight intelligences described by the theory of multiple intelligences.
intrapersonal Relating to how well you know and like yourself, as well as how effectively you can do the things you need to do to stay happy. Knowing yourself is necessary in order to understand others.
intrapersonal learner Someone who likes to work alone, understands him- or herself well, and is an original thinker. One of the eight intelligences described by the theory of multiple intelligences.
introduction Description of a book's overall organization and contents, often chapter by chapter.
introverts Individuals who like quiet and privacy and who tend to think a lot and reflect carefully about a problem before taking action. One of the personality preferences described by the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator.
intuitive types Individuals who are fascinated by possibilities, the meaning behind the facts, and the connections between concepts. They are often original, creative, and nontraditional. One of the personality preferences described by the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator.
judging types Individuals who approach the world in a planned, orderly, and organized way. They strive for order and control, making decisions relatively quickly and easily so they can create and implement plans. One of the personality preferences described by the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator.
keyword A term used to tell a search engine what you’re looking for. Keywords are synonyms, related terms, or subtopics of your search topic.
kinesthetic learner A person who prefers to learn something through experience and practice, rather than by hearing or reading about it. One of the preferences described by the VARK Learning Styles Inventory.
knowledge Awareness or understanding gained through study or experience. Knowledge includes arranging, defining, and recognizing.
laboratory test Given in many science courses, a test that requires you to move from one lab station to the next to solve problems, identify parts of models or specimens, or explain chemical reactions.
learning community A program in which students take two or more “linked” courses with a group of other students, allowing them to work closely with each other and with instructors (a high-impact practice).
learning disability A disorder such as dyslexia that affects people’s ability to either interpret what they see and hear or connect information across different areas of the brain.
learning management system (LMS) A Web site that helps you connect with the material you’re studying—as well as with your instructors and classmates.
learning objectives The main ideas or skills that students are expected to learn from a particular course, from an entire program of study, or from reading a particular article, chapter, or book.
learning styles Particular ways of learning, unique to each individual. For example, one person may prefer reading to understand how something works, while another may prefer using a “hands-on” approach.
list format A method for organizing notes that is most effective for taking notes on lists of terms and definitions, facts, or sequences. This format is effective when combined with the Cornell format, with key terms in the left column and their definitions and explanations in the right column.
logical fallacy A false belief or misconception resulting from incorrect reasoning.
logical/mathematical learner An individual who likes to work with numbers and is good at problem solving and logical processes. One of the eight intelligences described by the theory of multiple intelligences.
long-term memory The type of memory that is used to retain information and can be described in three ways: procedural, semantic, and episodic.
major An area of study such as psychology, engineering, education, or nursing, in which you can earn a degree.
mapping A previewing strategy of drawing a wheel or branching structure to show relationships between main ideas and secondary ideas. This strategy also helps you see how different concepts and terms fit together and helps you make connections between the material at hand and what you already know about the subject.
marking An active reading strategy of underlining, highlighting, or writing margin notes or annotations in your text.
matching question A test question that is set up with terms in one column and descriptions or definitions in the other. The student must match the proper term with its definition.
media literacy The ability to think critically about material distributed to a wide audience through television, film, advertising, radio, magazines, books, and the Internet.
merit scholarships Scholarships based on talent, which do not require you to demonstrate financial need. Most merit scholarships are granted by colleges and are part of the admissions and financial aid processes.
mind map A review sheet with words and visual elements that jog the memory to help you recall information more easily.
mnemonics Various methods or tricks to aid memory, including acronyms, acrostics, rhymes or songs, and visualization.
motivation The process that initiates, guides, and maintains goal-oriented behaviors; the desire to do things.
multiculturalism The active process of acknowledging and respecting the diverse social groups, cultures, religions, races, ethnicities, attitudes, and opinions within a community.
multimodal An individual who learns through two or more modes described by the VARK Learning Styles Inventory.
multiple intelligences A theory developed by Dr. Howard Gardner based on the premise that the traditional notion of human intelligence is very limited. According to Gardner, all human beings have at least eight different types of intelligence, including verbal/linguistic, logical/mathematical, visual/spatial, bodily/kinesthetic, musical/rhythmic, interpersonal, intrapersonal, and naturalistic.
multiple-choice question A test question that provides a number of possible answers, often between three and five. The answer choices are usually numbered (1, 2, 3, 4, …) or lettered (a, b, c, d, …), and the test taker selects the correct or best one.
multitasking Doing more than one thing at a time, requiring that you divide your time and attention among tasks.
musical/rhythmic learner An individual who likes to sing or play an instrument and is good at remembering melodies and noticing pitches and rhythms. One of the eight intelligences described by the theory of multiple intelligences.
naturalistic learner An individual who likes to be outside and is good at preservation, conservation, and organizing a living area. One of the eight intelligences described by the theory of multiple intelligences.
need-based scholarship A scholarship based on both talent and financial need.
online test A test that is administered online.
open-book or open-note test A test during which you are permitted to refer to your book or notes.
optimism Looking for the “bright side” of any problem or difficulty and being confident that things will work out for the best.
overextended Having too much to do given the resources available to you.
outline format A method for organizing notes that uses Roman numerals to represent key ideas and then transitions to using uppercase letters, then numbers, and then lowercase letters to represent other ideas relating to each key idea.
paragraph format A method for organizing notes that consists of writing summary paragraphs on what you are reading.
peer review A process by which experts in a field read and evaluate the articles in a journal before it is published.
perceiving types Individuals who are flexible and can comfortably adapt to change. They tend to delay decisions to keep their options open to gather more information. One of the personality preferences described by the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator.
periodical A resource that is published multiple times a year, such as a magazine.
plagiarism The act of taking another person’s idea or work and presenting it as your own. This gross academic misconduct can result in suspension or expulsion, and even the revocation of the violator’s college degree.
preface A brief overview from the author explaining why the book was written, the material it covers, and it's organizational structure.
prejudice A preconceived judgment or opinion of someone that is not based on facts or knowledge, such as prejudging someone based entirely on his or her skin color.
previewing Taking a first look at your assigned reading before you really tackle the content.
prewriting The first stage of the writing process, during which you write things down as they come to mind—based on both the information you found through your research and your own ideas—without consciously trying to organize your thoughts, find exactly the right words, or think about structure.
primary sources The original research or documentation on a topic, usually referenced either at the end of a chapter or at the back of a book.
prioritize A time management strategy that entails putting your tasks, goals, and values in order of importance.
problem solving Approaching challenges step by step and not giving up in the face of obstacles.
procedural memory An aspect of long-term memory that refers to knowing how to do something, such as solving a mathematical problem or playing a musical instrument.
procrastination The habit of delaying something that needs your immediate attention.
punctuality Being on time.
race A term that refers to biological characteristics shared by groups of people, including skin tone, hair texture and color, and facial features.
read/write learner A person who prefers to learn information displayed as words. One of the preferences described by the VARK Learning Styles Inventory.
reality testing Ensuring that your feelings are appropriate by checking against external, objective criteria.
reflective observation A learner’s ability to reflect on his or her experiences from many perspectives. One of the four stages of the Kolb Inventory of Learning Styles.
religion A specific set of beliefs and practices generally agreed on by a number of persons or groups.
research A process of steps used to collect and analyze information to increase understanding of a topic or issue. Those steps include asking questions, collecting and analyzing data related to those questions, and presenting one or more answers.
resilience The ability to adapt to and bounce back from life’s hardships and difficulties.
reviewing The final step in active textbook reading. Reviewing involves looking through your assigned reading again.
review sheet A list of key terms and ideas developed from your notes. It is valuable as a study aid.
revision The third and final stage of the writing process, which involves polishing your work until it clearly explains what you want to communicate and is ready for your audience.
rhymes or songs Mnemonic technique used to aid memory.
scholarly article Articles written by experts in their fields, such as researchers, librarians, or professors, and then assessed and edited by other experts in a process called peer review.
scholarly journals Published collections of original, peer-reviewed research articles written by experts or researchers in a particular academic discipline.
scholarship Money awarded by a college or another institution to support your education. Scholarships do not have to be repaid.
self-actualization Being satisfied and comfortable with what you have achieved in school, work, and your personal life.
semantic memory An aspect of long-term memory that involves remembering facts and meanings without regard to where and when you learned those things.
sensing types Individuals who are practical, factual, realistic, and down-to-earth. Relatively traditional and conventional, they can be very precise, steady, patient, and effective with routine and details. One of the personality preferences described by the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator.
service-learning Unpaid volunteer service that is embedded in courses across the curriculum (a high-impact practice).
sex One’s biological makeup, typically categorized as male or female.
short-term memory How many items you are able to perceive at one time. Memory that disappears in less than 30 seconds (sometimes faster) unless the items are moved to long-term memory.
social sciences Academic disciplines that examine human aspects of the world, such as sociology, psychology, anthropology, economics, political science, and history.
social responsibility The establishment of a personal link with a group or community and cooperation with other members toward shared goals.
stacks The areas in libraries containing shelves that are full of books available for checkout.
stereotype A generalization—usually exaggerated or oversimplified, and often offensive—that is used to describe or distinguish a group.
stress tolerance Recognizing the causes of stress and responding in appropriate ways; staying strong under pressure.
summary A section at the end of a textbook chapter that sums up a larger section of material and highlights the most important ideas.
summary paragraphs Two or three sentences that sum up a larger section of material.
Supplemental Instruction (SI) Classes that provide further opportunity to discuss the information presented in lectures.
syllabus A formal statement of course requirements and procedures or a course outline that an instructor provides to all students on the first day of class.
synthesis The process of combining separate information and ideas to formulate a more complete understanding. Includes collecting, organizing, creating, and composing. Also, a level of learning on Bloom’s Taxonomy.
take-home test Tests taken outside class, for which you can refer to your textbook, notes, and other resources.
thesis statement A short statement that clearly defines the purpose of a paper.
thinking types Individuals who are logical, rational, and analytical. They reason well and tend to be critical and objective without being swayed by their own or other people’s feelings. One of the personality preferences described by the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator.
transcript Your official academic record; it shows your major, when you took particular courses, your grades for each course, and your overall GPA.
transferable skills General skills that apply to or transfer to a variety of settings. Examples include solid oral and listening abilities, leadership skills, critical-thinking skills, and problem-solving skills.
true/false question A test question that asks students to determine whether a statement is correct or not.
undergraduate research A program that gives you the opportunity to participate in systematic investigation and research working one-on-one with a faculty member.
variable expense An expense that may change over time.
verbal/linguistic learner An individual who likes to read, write, and tell stories and is good at memorizing information. One of the eight intelligences described by the theory of multiple intelligences.
visualization A memory technique used to associate words, concepts, or stories with visual images.
visual learner A person who prefers to learn by reading words on a printed page or by looking at pictures, charts, graphs, symbols, video, and other visual means. One of the preferences described by the VARK Learning Styles Inventory.
visual/spatial learner An individual who likes to draw and play with machines and is good at puzzles and reading maps and charts. One of the eight intelligences described by the theory of multiple intelligences.
vocabulary A set of words in a particular language or field of knowledge.
wellness A catchall term for taking care of your mind, body, and spirit that includes keeping fit, making healthy choices, achieving balance, and reducing stress in positive ways.
work-study award A form of federal financial aid that covers a portion of college costs in return for on-campus employment.
writing-intensive courses Courses across the curriculum that engage students in multiple forms of writing for different audiences. This textbook offers various writing activities that make your first-year seminar a writing-intensive course (a high-impact practice).