How to Get the Most Out of Philosophy
Preface to Instructors (and Curious Students). Introduction. 1. Student Wisdom: Getting the Most Out of Yourself. What Am I Doing Here? Reality Check. The Need for Certification. How To Set and Achieve Realistic Goals. Time Management. Establish a Time Budget . Accepting What You Cannot Change. Changing What You Can. Avoiding False Comparisons. "Reach What You Cannot". A College Education Is Worth the Effort. A Special Note Of Encouragement for Part-Time Students. Student Wisdom Review. Cheerfully Paying the Bargain Price: Epictetus' Obulus. 2. Self-Respect & Academic Ethics. Campus Ethics. Plagiarism. Be Cool About Being Cool In School. The Biggest Avoidable Mistakes College Students Make. 3. How To Thrive In A Philosophy Class. Acquiring Informed Opinions. Special Features of Philosophy Courses. Relating to Your Professor. Conferences with Your Professor. Getting The Most Out of a Philosophy (or Any) Class. Deciding What Is Note-Worthy. Why Attendance Matters. 4. Reading Philosophy. Use Your Textbooks' Organizational Features. The Virtues of Owning and Annotating Your Own Text. Quick Tips for Reading Philosophy (& Anything Else). What to Do If Nothing Seems to Work. Beyond the Textbook. 5. Developing A Critical Attitude. What Is Uncritical Thinking? What Does Critical Thinking Require? Critical Thinking Practices That Pay Off in the Classroom?and Beyond. 6. Critical Writing. Three Critical Standards of Evidence. Basic Features of Good Critical Writing. Five Great Writing Tips. How to Pick a Topic. A Quick Guide to Getting Better Grades on Writing Assignments. Four Writing Samples for You to Grade. A Critical Look at the Four Sample Essays. Characteristics of Good and Bad Essays. A Simplified Style Guide for Excellent Papers. Citations. Constructing A List Of Works Cited. A Sample Works Cited. A Handy Checklist for Better Critical Writing. A Note About Technology and the Internet. A Note About "Distance Education." Conclusion. Appendix A: Test Taking. Appendix B: Letters of Recommendation.