Thinking Critically in College - by Louis Newman (Paperback)

About the Book

Finally, a college prep book that actually prepares students for college!

Almost
all first-year college students discover that college courses are more
academically challenging than they expected, and certainly harder than
classes in high school. Professors expect students not just to absorb
material, but to analyze and synthesize it, consider multiple
perspectives, evaluate conflicting evidence, and then apply what they've
learned in new contexts.

Thinking Critically in College explains how to do all this and more.

Louis
E. Newman draws on decades of experience as a professor at Carleton
College and Dean of Academic Advising and Associate Vice Provost for
Undergraduate Education at Stanford, offering the guidance you need to
succeed both in college and in life post-graduation. Unique among
college prep books, Thinking Critically in College builds on the
latest research in learning, spells out the key critical thinking skills
you need, shows you how to tackle actual college assignments, and
provides exercises throughout to reinforce the lessons.
Written in a personal, engaging style, Thinking Critically in College
explains how to do the work your professors will require--exactly the
preparation you need, no matter what your academic background.
Practical, accessible, comprehensive, and interactive, Thinking Critically in College is
the definitive guide, not only for those in college or headed there,
but for everyone who needs a refresher on thinking clearly.

Book Synopsis

Finally, a college prep book that actually prepares students for college!

Almost
all first-year college students discover that college courses are more
academically challenging than they expected, and certainly harder than
classes in high school. Professors expect students not just to absorb
material, but to analyze and synthesize it, consider multiple
perspectives, evaluate conflicting evidence, and then apply what they've
learned in new contexts.

Thinking Critically in College explains how to do all this and more.

Louis
E. Newman draws on decades of experience as a professor at Carleton
College and Dean of Academic Advising and Associate Vice Provost for
Undergraduate Education at Stanford, offering the guidance you need to
succeed both in college and in life post-graduation. Unique among
college prep books, Thinking Critically in College builds on the
latest research in learning, spells out the key critical thinking skills
you need, shows you how to tackle actual college assignments, and
provides exercises throughout to reinforce the lessons.
Written in a personal, engaging style, Thinking Critically in College
explains how to do the work your professors will require-exactly the
preparation you need, no matter what your academic background.
Practical, accessible, comprehensive, and interactive, Thinking Critically in College is
the definitive guide, not only for those in college or headed there,
but for everyone who needs a refresher on thinking clearly.

Review Quotes

"What college students need now is a manual to ensure they are
well-prepared to get the most out of the next four years. . . . Drawing
on his deep expertise and experience in the delivery of student support
services at the college level, Louis Newman has taken on the challenge
of writing this desperately needed book."
-Jacques Steinberg, New York Times bestselling author of The Gatekeepers: Inside the Admissions Process of a Premier College and The College Conversation: A Practical Companion for Parents to Guide Their Children Along the Path to Higher Education

"There
are more than a few 'how to do college' books, but none take a deep,
informative dive into what it takes for college students to thrive
academically and cultivate the habits of an educated mind. Newman offers
a treasure trove of helpful examples to illustrate how undergraduates
need to think and what they should do to effectively meet and benefit
from the range of learning challenges they will encounter during and
after college."
--George D. Kuh, Chancellor's Professor Emeritus of Higher Education, Indiana University

"Even
students who have taken college-prep and AP courses are unprepared for
the type of learning that will take place in college. Thinking Critically for College
is poised to help all students at all types of institutions develop the
dispositions and skills necessary for success in college."
--Lynn Pasquerella, President of Association of American Colleges and Universities (AAC&U)

"Thinking Critically for College
fills a substantial need in higher education resources. The research is
available, volumes have been written to support faculty in teaching
students so that enduring learning occurs, and there are a growing
number of how-to-learn courses in college. What's missing is a book that
speaks directly to our students as they launch their college careers. Thinking Critically for College is a needed resource and I can't think of anyone better positioned to write this book than Louis Newman."
--Susan Singer, Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost, Rollins College

"Thinking Critically for College details
and exemplifies the differences between high school and college.
Students who read this book before coming to college will have an
advantage over those who don't. The book is an excellent candidate for
colleges that assign 'summer reads, ' or for extended orientation
programs that have semester-long seminars or programming about the
transition to college. Faculty teaching introductory courses or seminars
designed for new students will want to assign this book. This unique
primer on the college experience offers one-stop-shopping to faculty and
students seeking practical advice about the transition to college."
--Lee Cuba, Professor of Sociology, Wellesley College; author of Practice for Life: Making Decisions in College

"Newman prepares incoming college students to get more out of their educations with this educational guide. . . . The author argues that the true value of attending college is the experience of learning new things, which will hopefully make the student a more thoughtful, versatile, and capable human being . . . Specifically, the author outlines the higher-order critical thinking skills that are essential for success in college and beyond. Newman refreshes skills related to reading, writing, quantitative reasoning, and research that students may have learned in high school but need updating for collegiate learning. He also offers sketches of various academic disciplines, providing samp

About the Author

Louis E. Newman is the former Dean of Academic Advising and Associate Vice Provost for Undergraduate Education at Stanford University. During his six years at Stanford, he grew the advising program, promoted a holistic approach to academic advising, and advocated for liberal education.

He is also the John M. and Elizabeth W. Musser Professor of Religious Studies, Emeritus, at Carleton College, where he taught for thirty-three years. During his tenure at Carleton, he also served as Associate Dean of the College and as Director of the Perlman Center for Learning and Teaching. In this role he functioned as the informal mentor to the faculty at Carleton, which is consistently rated by US News & World Report as #1 for undergraduate teaching.

Throughout his career, hundreds of students and colleagues have attested to the profound impact he had on their learning and their lives--as a gifted teacher and as a trusted advisor and mentor.

Louis Newman lives with his wife, Rabbi Amy Eilberg, in Los Altos, California.
For more information, visit ThinkingCritically.us