A Guide to College Reading - Chap. 4

          Before reading this topic I didn't know much about the subject. Now that I have read through the chapter, I'm grateful for gaining so much from this chapter, now, I'm able to expand my vocabulary and knowledge of unfamiliar words. I learned many things from reading this material, such as prefixes, roots, and suffixes. This chapter gave a very coherent example, such as:

                                                            Term: Trichromatic
                                              Prefix + Root + Suffix = New Word
                                           "tri" + "chrom" + "atic" = Trichromatic
                                 "tri" = three + "chrom" = color + "atic" = characteristic of
                                                                           =
                                                           having three colors 
                                The definition of trichromatic is "having three colors"

I also learned that the first step in using the prefix-root-suffix method is to become familiar with the most commonly used word parts. Before you begin to use word parts to figure out new words, there are a few things that one should know beforehand:
                          1. A word is built upon at least one root
                          2. Words can have more than one prefix, root, or suffix.
                          3. Words don't always have a prefix or suffix.
                          4. The spelling of roots may change as they are combined with suffixes.
                          5. Different prefixes, roots, or suffixes may have the same meaning.
                          6. You may identify a group of letters as a prefix or root byt that it does not carry the        
                              meaning of the prefix or root.

I enjoyed reading this chapter. Not only has it made me distinguish meaning from words, but also, it helps me expand my range of vocabulary. I will use the information I gained from this chapter for future references such as reading novels and articles in many of my other classes.

A Guide to College Reading- Chap. 3

          Before reading this topic I didn't know much about the subject. Even though I knew that there were many types of context clues, I didn't know that there just so happened to be different types of context clues. I want to know more about how you can use your punctuation to separate the meaning clue from the rest of the sentence. I learned from reading this material that, there are five different types of context clues.

  1) Definition

  2) Synonym 

3) Example

4) Contrast

 5) Inference

 The synonym clue is when the writer provides a synonym which is a word or a brief phrase close to its meaning. The example clue is when the writer helps explain or clarify a word by providing examples. The contrast clue is when you have to deal with an antonym-- meaning the word you are looking for's opposite. However, there are limitations of context clues, such that: context clues seldom lead to a complete definition and sometimes a sentence does not contain clues to a words meaning. A few things that I also learned is that a writer provides synonyms in order to give out a hint to the reader, also, such punctuation: commas, parentheses, and dashes, separates the meaning clue from the rest of the sentence. 

Conversational Dilemmas

          Before reading this article I knew much about the topic due to the fact that everyone has experienced a conversation dilemma before. I would like to know a way on possibly avoiding a conversational dilemma, and if not, then find ways to prevent it from happening. A few things that I learned from the article are that there area six categories of responses to conversational dilemmas. Such responses are: direct responses, indirect responses, deception, impression management, pleasing the other, and soliciting the others help. In the case study of ethics, "Cell Phone Subterfuge", I believe that it is ethical to stage fake phone calls. Majority of the time, staging a phone call is extremely useful, especially when one is in a dangerous situation.

Stop Asking Me About My Major

Before reading this article, I knew much about the subject.
I want to know more about ways to tell my parents that whichever career goal I decide to go with, I will be sticking with it. I agree when the author says, it's better than majoring in something that you like, rather than something you don't enjoy, because it is shown that once you take interest in your major, you will more likely be motivated more to do the course work. Through observation, I've seen my parents attempt to control my younger sister's college and career goals. Even though she is only sixteen years old, my parents are pushing her to stay in the medical field, and become an anesthesiologist or a neurologist. However, my sister is an excellent artist, and even though she highly takes interest in art, unfortunately, she won't be able to pursue it, due to the fact that my parents repetitively stated, "art will not take you far in life". Even though I feel guilty of just standing in the side lines watching this, I take note to myself that this won't ever happen to me.
I learned from reading this material that I'm not the only student who seems to have to switch their major due to their parents. I realized that I'm not alone, and there is a way to not make this situation happen. Even though it will take a lot of time and convincing, this will be worth it in the end.

What Your Mother Never Told You About College

          Before reading this article, I did not know much about the subject. Majority of my friends from high school went out of state or miles away from home, to attend college. Now that I've read this article, I see that what most of my alumni acquaintances have told me about college seemed to be true. It seemed a bit repetitive for me, having to hear it many times, "don't sit in the front or in back of the classroom, sit in the middle" and "get to know your professors that way they have a sense of who you are as an individual".

"You need to have a goal which you can actually write down on a piece of paper. If you do not have a goal, you may be lost throughout your college years."

          I do not agree with the above statement, due to the fact that many students whom enter college are undecided as to what they can see themselves doing in the near future. It is also common that students change their majors all the time, hence, changing their career goals in life. 

I learned from reading this material that one should take full advantage of the academic resources on campus. In order to strive and go beyond your fellow peers, do as much as you can and accept all help.

A Guide to College Reading-- Chap.1

          Before reading this topic, I knew much about the subject... The reason being was because 

prior to NYIT, I went to Bard High School Early College Queens, which so happened to contain two years of high school-- freshman and sophomore year-- and two years of college-- junior and senior 

year. During the college years, each student was able to reach up to a minimum of 60 college credits, 

hence, earning their associates degree. Due to the sudden rush into proceeding into the college courses 

when only 16 years old, many students felt trapped, as for myself. 

          Through personal experience, I know what is is like to have so many things due at once. 

However, I wasn't so good in managing my time so well. I want to know more about time management 

skills. and how I can separate my tasks and finish them in a quicker manner rather than procrastinating 

on it them. I learned from the reading this material that everyone has his or her own type of learning 

style. Such learning styles can be categorized into auditory learning and visual learning, etc. I also 

learned that my types of learning styles are: visual, applied, verbal, social, and pragmatic. Finally, I would like to know more about building comprehension skills, also, along with managing my time more wisely, therefore, I can set my high school years as a standard, and tell myself to never go below that standard again.