FINAL PROJECT
THE STUDENT SUCCESS NEWSLETTER
Your final project will be a FOUR page Newsletter about what you have learned this
semester. THE PURPOSE of this activity is to have you detail what you learned this
semester in a creative, fun Newsletter format rather than a FORMAL Final Written
Comprehensive Exam with essay, multiple-choice questions. With this project, you can
work on it as the semester progresses and not have to be stressed at the end of the
semester.
So, you've never written a newsletter before? You've never imported graphics before?
You've never done layout and design before? You've never submitted a project like this
online before? GREAT!!!! That is why we are here... to learn new things and use those
things to help us grow! You and I can do this together.
For your newsletter, you will write brief articles on Change, Motivation, Self-Esteem,
Goal Setting, Learning Styles, Multiple Intelligences, Personality Typing, Reading, Time,
Money, College Resources, Listening, Note Taking, Studying, Testing Taking, Critical
Thinking, Creative Thinking, Diversity, Career Planning, and/or Overall Student Success.
Your NEWSLETTER CONTENT must include at least 10 topics of the 20 listed
above. You DO NOT have to write an article on every topic... just choose 10 of them.
For example, your newsletter might include brief articles on Change, Career Planning,
Money, Creative Thinking, Motivation, Goal Setting, Personality Typing, Time,
Listening and Test Taking.
Your NEWSLETTER ARTICLES can be brief, but should be thorough. You articles
will resemble newspaper articles that inform us about a topic. For example, if you choose
Listening on which to write one of your brief articles, you might talk about the difference
between listening and hearing, why it is important to listen, and a few tips on listening.
Your NEWSLETTER HEADING (Title, Author, etc...) must be bold and creative. You
will need to head the newsletter just like a newspaper or magazine or formal newsletter.
(See Example on Homepage)
The NAME OF YOUR NEWSLETTER is up to you. I want you to be creative in your
articles and your titles. For example, your NEWSLETTER might be called, The
Newcomer: A Newsletter for First Year Students. Your article on Listening might be
titled, Listening Aids in Student Success, or Change is a Way of Life for Students. I
would encourage you to look at newspapers or newsletters to help you get on your way.
Your newsletter must also contain a minimum of FIVE GRAPHICS. These graphics
should go along with the story you are writing about. For example, if you are writing an
article on Listening, you graphic (picture) might be of a group of people "listening" to a
speaker or each other.
Your GRADE will be determined by three criteria: One grade on content, spelling,
grammar, etc..., One grade for visual effects such as layout and graphics, and One
grade for overall effectiveness of the newsletter and how well you followed the
guidelines. Yes... you get THREE GRADES for this one project. It is major, but you
have an entire semester to work on it and I'm here to help you!!! We can do this and
you'll be so proud... and so will I !!!!
COLLEGE OF SOUTHERN NEVADA
Fall 2011
Volume 1, Issue 1
Beginning at DAY ONE . . .
the CHANGE of a lifetime . . .
“The greatest
reward of an
education is to be
able to face the
world with an
open mind.”
R.M. Sherfield
Professor at
College of Southern
Nevada
Chances are if you’re reading this
newsletter, you are interested in
attending college somewhere. As
you may have already noticed,
there will be many changes and
challenges that will arise as you
learn to adapt to the differences of
college life. The text, Cornerstone:
Your Foundation for Discovering
Your Potential, Learning Actively,
and Living Well has what they
refer to as basic truths that can aid
you as you adapt to these changes
and seek to make your college
experience a memorable one.
College is a Two-Way Street Not
only will you expect great things
from your college but your college
will expect great things from you.
Inside this Issue:
Change
1
College
Resources
2
Goal Setting
1
Learning Styles
2
Listening
3
Note Taking
3
Motivation
4
Reading
3
Test Taking
4
Time
2
but don’t be fooled into thinking
you won’t have to work, college
takes time.
You’re in Charge Here You get to
choose what you want to take and
when you want to take it but,
choose wisely. Make sure your
class load isn’t so heavy that you
find yourself swamped.
.com Will be One of Your Best
Friends The internet is an
amazing tool, learn to use it. Make
sure you know about the
technology that is out there and
learn how to apply it.
An Open Mind and Patience Can
be Two of Your Best Teachers You
will come in contact will people
that are different than you every
day, make the most of every
opportunity you have to meet
new people.
This is Not High School College by
no means is as constricting as
high school might have been but,
don’t take it as a ticket to do
whatever you want to. Take it
seriously; it will determine your
future.
Freedom is Seldom Free College
will be much more liberating than
was high school
your GOAL SETTING process has begun . . .
Everyone has goals. For you it
might be attending college,
earning a degree and going on to
work in a chosen profession. Or,
they might focus on personal
health, service in your community,
or your finances. Throughout
college goal setting can become a
major influencing factor that can
help you
succeed. Write your goals down
and look at them often and make
sure that your goals are things
you really want to achieve. With
each goal you write down make
sure the following elements are
included; Make sure your goal has
a starting date and a target date
for completion. Make sure
you include action steps detailing
how you will achieve your goal.
Include a narrative of how your
goal will improve your life.
Include
reasons
why
you
personally deserve the goal.
Finally, sign your goal sheet, make
it a personal binding document to
yourself.
Page 2
Beginning at DAY ONE . . .
the COLLEGE RESOURCES that are here for
you . . .
Lucky for you there are many people at the
college who are ready and willing to aid you
as you begin a new chapter of your life. For
just about every problematic situation you
will be confronted with, there is someone on
your campus that can help you. When you’re
struggling in a class, check out tutorial
services offered by your college and turn to
your professor to clear up the confusion. The
CSN campuses offer
tutoring assistance in a variety of different
ways, take advantage of them. When you’re
looking at getting involved with the school
activities, the Student Government is there to
help. Computer labs and libraries are
available to help you in your studies, and
disability resource centers can help you cope
with challenges that might stand in the way of
a gratifying college experience. However, one
of the
greatest resources that will be available to you
during your college career is the assistance of
an academic advisor. Meet with your advisor
often, establish a relationship and work
together towards achieving your educational
dreams. Make the most of your resources.
it’s your TIME, what will you do with it
...
Procrastination is one of the worst habits you
can get into in your college career; don’t let it
happen to you. Work towards establishing a
schedule that will allow you to accomplish all
that you will be required to do. In working
towards establishing an
effective schedule don’t ever think that you
are not the planning type or that you have too
much to plan effectively. It might be a slow
process at the start but learning effective time
management is something that will aid you
for the remainder of your life. Keep the
following tips in mind as you plan how to
manage your time more effectively.
--Make a list each night of the things to be
accomplished on the following day.
--Categorize your to-do list by priority, things
you must do, things need to do, and things you
would like to do.
--Within each category rank each item in order
of importance.
--Plan your schedule around those things that
are most important in the list you have
created.
Set a goal to make time management a priority
in your college career, it will make all the
difference.
overcoming your TEST TAKING fears . . .
Unlike high school, much of your college
grades will depend on tests and quizzes that
you take throughout the course of the
semester. For some, test taking is not a
problem and that’s good. But, you might be
one who suffers from some form of test taking
anxiety. Remember, you are not alone; many
others suffer from the same thing. The
following list provides you with
some helpful strategies that can help you
overcome your test anxieties and work your
way towards the grades you want.
--Make sure you get plenty of rest the night
before a test.
--Make sure you eat a hearty breakfast the day
of the test so your brain has plenty of “fuel” to
run off of.
--Never cram for a test, study daily so you feel
prepared when the test comes. Doing this can
relieve a great amount of stress.
--Ask your professor for information about
what the exam will cover.
--When studying make a list of possible
questions the professor could ask.
--When taking the test answer the questions
you know first, they may help you answer
others that you are unsure of.
--When taking the test, make sure you read all
of the directions carefully; ask your professor if
you are unsure of what is asked.
--Always believe in yourself.
“I know the price of success: dedication, hard work, and
constant devotion to the things you want to see happen.”
Frank Lloyd Wright
A Newsletter to guide you through the changes and challenges of college
Page
Page
2 3
sharpening your NOTE TAKING skills . . .
Pages and pages of notes await you in your
college career so, here are some tips that will
help you improve your ability to take good
notes.
T is for translating—this step involves
reviewing your notes from class. Rewrite your
notes making sure you understand the
concepts discussed.
THE L-STAR SYSTEM OF NOTE TAKING
L is for listening—the first and foremost
ability that will help you improve your note
taking is to listen.
A is for analyzing—make sure you understand
what the information in your notes means and
why it is important. Use supplemental
materials to aid you.
S is for setting it down—writing notes during
class can be difficult, make sure you get all the
important information.
R is for remembering—study the information
in your notes often, commit it to memory and
you will succeed.
Throughout your college experience you will
be exposed to the ups and downs of college
lectures. Some professor’s lectures will be fun,
interesting, and easy to listen to. However,
you might come across a professor or two in
your college career that will be difficult to
listen to for one reason or another. One of the
greatest habits you can learn to develop as
you begin your college experience is to
become a good listener. Almost 70% of our
day is devoted to communication and
of that 70% listening situations make up 53%.
True listening involves more than just your
ears. When listening, you should seek to
involve your ears, eyes, heart and your
attention. Doing so will help you filter out
personal distractions and will lead to the
ability to listen well. The Cornerstone text
defines listening on three different levels.
First—listening with a purpose, second—
listening objectivity, and
third—listening
constructively.
sometimes LISTENING is the
answer . . .
if you didn’t like READING
Q before
is for question—remember
. . . the questions
Who? What? Where? When? and Why? as
You will have to learn to love reading in
college for, much of your classes will involve
pages and pages and pages of reading. The
following method will help you as you strive
to read with a purpose and seek to
understand the material.
THE SQ3R METHOD OF READING
S is for scan—before you read each chapter
scan ahead for titles, pictures, and charts that
might be important later on.
you read. As you scan make up questions
about the material and look for the answers
as you read.
R is for read—make sure you actually read
the material, never mistake scanning for
reading.
R is for recite—it is important that you
understand what you have just read. It
might help to sit down with a fellow
student and discuss the material to make
sure you really understand it.
R is for review—read it once and then, read
it again. Rereading the material can provide
you with the opportunity to make sure you
really understand it.
--Listening with a purpose allows you to
recognize the purpose for which you are
listening. You begin to recognize the situation
and what you will be listening for.
--Listening objectively allows you to listen
without involving your own opinions, bias, and
prejudice. Learn to see the speaker’s point of
view and your listening will improve.
--Listening constructively helps you to begin to
apply the information you are presented with in
your own life, it personalizes it.
“Success is
focusing the full
power of all you
are and all that you
have to offer on
what you have a
burning desire to
achieve.”
W.
Peterson
The importance of LEARNING STYLES and your
education . . .
Have you ever wondered why you learn
better in some classes and not so good in
others? Each of us has a specific learning style
that, when we know about and understand,
can help us to make it through those classes
that might be a little more difficult to master.
Knowing and understanding the style in
which you learn best will aid you greatly
throughout your college experience by
helping you understand techniques that will
help you better understand the material you
are required to master. When you are faced
with one of those classes in which you find it
difficult to learn, knowing how to apply
the material in your studying so you can
understand it will help you get the grades you
are striving to achieve. The following are the
three types of learning. Many tests are
available online that will help you determine
which learning style you are. Know it and
apply it as you go through college, you won’t
be sorry.
Visual or Eye Smart Learners Those who are
visual tend to learn information best when it
is presented in the form of charts, graphs, and
pictures that they can relate to. Visual
learners should include a variety of visual aids
in their notes to help them learn and better
understand material.
Auditory or Ear Smart Learners Auditory
learners learn best when verbal instructions
are given. Often they would rather listen to
professor’s lecture than read the text material.
If you are an auditory learner it might help you
to record your lectures and repeatedly listen
to them as you study the material.
Tactile or Action Smart Learners Tactile
learners enjoy learning in a hands-on
environment. If you are a tactile learner make
sure to take lots of notes during class to help
you stay focused. Using more physical
methods of studying such as acting out the
information may be helpful.
finding the MOTIVATION you
need . . .
The Cornerstone text provides a list of
pointers that will increase your motivation
some of which are listed below. Staying
motivated as you begin and continue through
your college years will be vital to your
success. Stay motivated and never give up on
the goals you have set for yourself.
Surround yourself with positive people By
surrounding yourself with positive people
you will be better able to keep each other
motivated. Positive people will always bring
out the best in you.
Overcome your fears Being afraid of
something can often keep you from achieving
it, learn to overcome your fears for they may
keep you from reaching the goals you have set
for yourself.
Put failure into perspective Thomas Edison
failed multiple times before developing the
light bulb that has greatly enriched the lives
of millions today. Learn from your
failures, use them to help you succeed. You
will feel a much greater accomplishment at
having achieved or even tried than you will if
you just give up.
Identify what you value in life Knowing what
you value most in life can help you set your
goals in accordance with the life you want to
lead. You will be more motivated to
accomplish a goal you have set if you know
how it can improve your life and how it
connects to your values.
Take pride in your name and character After
all is said and done the two things that will
define you will be the name you have left
behind and the character that will be
associated with it. Make certain that you are
doing all in your power to make both a good
impression for others. Be the type of person
that others can look to for motivation in their
own lives and you will find the personal
motivation you need to keep doing your best.
Strengthen your Self-Esteem Everything in
your life is affected by your own self-esteem.
In order to achieve the highest level of
motivation you must understand you and the
potential that lies within you. Having high
self-esteem will help you as you set goals and
strive to accomplish them, it will help you
become the very best that you can be.
FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE COLLEGE
OF SOUTHERN NEVADA VISIT WWW.CSN.EDU
“Many of life's
failures are
people who did
not realize how
close they were
to success when
they gave up.”
Thomas A. Edison
The Starter
CCSN’s Newsletter for Entering Students
Volume 1 Number 1 Spring, 2007 Edelweiss Cadiz, editor
Change is Inevitable for Incoming
Students
Students that enter college for
the first time know that they will have
life-altering experiences. Besides
changes in
appearance, a
student will
develop in
attitude,
values,
judgment, and
character.
Change can
bring about
new people, cultures, ideas, and
experiences. A great way to deal with
change is to know that it happens
everyday and to prepare for it.
The following tips can help a person
adjust to change in the future:
• Be optimistic about change
• Explore campus resources
• Ask professor or classmates
questions about things that are
unclear, adjust study habits for
harder assignments
• Join clubs or a study group to
make friends
It is up to the person to accept or
reject changes but keep in mind that
change is a part of life.
Motivation: Key to Success
Being motivated is a process.
You become motivated by experiencing
one small success after another as
confidence builds, and slowly, you try
bigger and more challenging things. A
dream or a problem can motivate a
person. Having one of these is the first
step for
motivatio
n. The
other part
is an
action
plan. A
formula for motivation is:
Desire + Courage + Goals + Discipline =
Motivation
There are 5 developmental
stages of a motivated person:
• Stage 1: Recognizes desire.
• Stage 2 Faces fears.
• Stage 3: Moves further out of
comfort zone.
• Stage 4: Becomes a goal setter
in all aspects of life.
• Stage 5: Becomes highly
disciplined.
To stay motivated, be committed,
face your fears, have the initiative to
start, form good habits, and discipline
yourself.
Motivation
can only be
controlled
by one’s
self, no one
else. When
you know
that your
discipline,
work habits, and grades are improving,
feel free to reward yourself.
•
Goal-Setting Takes Commitment
Everyone has created goals but
some were not achieved. The first step
to reach a goal is to have commitment
to overcome obstacles to accomplish it.
After you have made the commitment,
write your goals and steps to achieve
strict deadlines. Realize that you could
fail sometimes but try again. You need
to have a strong commitment to success
so there are fewer chances of you
quitting. Attainable goals are
reasonable, believable, measurable and
concrete, adaptable to changes in your
life, controllable, and desirable.
Money-Management Can Save You
A Lot!
Many college students don’t
budget. In 2001, 1.3 million credit card
holders declared bankruptcy. Credit
card debt now averages $8,562 per
household with an average interest rate
of 14.71%. For more information about
credit cards, refer to pages 120-122.
To be financially secure, you need to
have a budget and learn to live within
your financial means. To budget,
determine how much money you earn
monthly and make a chart of your
sources of
income
and each
of its
amounts,
then
determine
how much
is spent in a month. A chart can be
found on pages 118-119 in Cornerstone.
To cut your expenses:
• control impulse buying
•
•
•
Carpool, use public
transportation, or walk to classes
Eat out less often and make your
own meals
Use coupons and buy during
sales
Get rid of unnecessary things
Listening: A Vital Tool
Good listening skills are
important for students to possess.
Listening
helps you
to
understan
d
materials,
take
precise
notes, participate in discussions, and
communicate with others. Listening
takes practice and is learned. Hearing
on the other hand is not learned but it is
automatic and involuntary. To improve
listening skills, consider these tips:
• Avoid prejudging
• Don’t talk when a person is
talking
• Leave your emotions elsewhere
• Listen for key words, phrases,
and hints
• Listen with your ears, eyes,
undivided attention, and your
heart
• Be open-minded
• Look at the speaker’s actions
Obtaining listening skills is
beneficial at school, work, and many
other places.
Self-Esteem: Loving Yourself
Self-esteem is our perspective
and how we feel about ourselves. It is
the source of joys, productivity, and our
ability to have great relationships.
People who love themselves could
easily love other people. The foundation
of personal happiness and success are
built from self-esteem and selfunderstanding. Self-esteem is
developed through many experiences
and relationships with people. Studies
show that “socially uncertain college
students had lower levels of self-esteem
as well as higher levels of depression,
stress, and loneliness.”
People who have a healthy selfesteem usually have the following
characteristics: a sense of security,
identity, belonging, purpose, and
personal competence. These
characteristics are key for a person to
approach life with confidence, maintain
self-direction, and achieve great
accomplishments.
Tips to increase self-esteem:
• Take control of your own life.
• Get used to the idea that you are
responsible for yourself.
• Don’t allow friends and family to
tear you down.
• Control what you tell yourself.
• Take carefully assessed risks
often.
• Don’t compare yourself to others.
• Put your achievements where
you can see them daily.
• Keep your promises and be loyal
to others and yourself.
• Win with grace and lose with
dignity.
• Set goals and keep a high level
of motivation.
Learning Styles Suit Everyone
Rita Dunn defines learning styles
as “the way in which each learner
begins to concentrate on, process, and
retain new and difficult information.”
Learning styles are involved in hearing,
seeing, and touching. The Learning
Evaluation and Assessment Directory
can be taken on pages 184-185 on
Cornerstone.
The three types of learning styles
are Visual, Auditory, and Tactile. A
Visual person learns best by seeing
information. They think in pictures, like
visual instructions, and prefer to read a
text. An Auditory person learns best by
hearing information. They like verbal
instructions, enjoy talking, and talks out
problems. A Tactile person learns best
by touching or doing. They like handson approaches to learning, take notes,
learn best while moving and cannot
concentrate when sitting or reading.
Critical Thinking Important in
Everyday Life
Critical thinking is thinking about
something from many angles. It involves
searching,
plotting, asking
associations,
explaining,
analyzing,
probing for many
angles, justifying,
scrutinizing,
making decisions, solving problems, and
investigating. Critical thinking is
important for relationships, goal setting,
finances, decision marking, problem
solving, environmental issues, and civic
duties. Developing critical thinking
involves:
• restraining emotions
• looking at things differently
• analyzing information
• asking questions, solving
problems
• distinguishing fact from opinion
• seeking truth in arguments
• persuasion
Critical thinking can help a person’s
academic and personal success.
Creative Thinking: Ideas and
Thoughts in a New-Light
Creative thinking means that you
examined a situation and developed a
new way of explaining information, or
using an item. It means you have
opened your mind to possibilities.
Creative thinking involves: compassion,
courage, truth, dreams, risk taking,
innovation, competition, individuality,
thinking, curiosity, and perseverance.
The following are strategies for
creative thinking:
• Understand that the creative
process isn’t an organized
process.
• Don’t be afraid to ask any
questions.
• Take risks because greatness
was never achieved by playing it
safe.
• Play and think like a child to hone
your sense of adventure and
exploration.
• Force yourself to do something
old in a new way.
Creative thinking can be
challenging and this is perfectly fine,
although when you have achieved to
think creatively, the benefits are
wonderful.
Career Planning For the Future
Many ask themselves if they
should be what others want them to be
or what they themselves want to be.
Career decisions should be well thought
out, well planned, and carefully
executed. Other people can help you
decide on a career
but you are the
only one in charge
of where you are
headed. Answering
the following
questions will help
you decide on a
career:
• What is your
personality type?
• What are your interests?
• Do you enjoy physical or mental
work?
• Do you want to make a lot of
money?
• Where do you want to live?
• Do you want to travel?
• How do you like to dress?
• What motivated you?
• What do you value?
• What are your skills?
• Do you like routine?
• Are you a leader?
The following are steps to make your
career decisions:
1. Dream
2. Talk to your advisor
3. Use electives to find your
interests or career
opportunities
4. Go to the career center
5. Read about careers and
majors
6. Job shadow the profession
you are interested in
7. Join preprofessional
organizations
8. Get a part-time job in a
career that you might want
to pursue
9. Try to get a summer
practicum or internship.
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