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FOCUS on College and Career Success, 3rd Edition

Dr. Constance Staley, Dr. Steve Staley

  • Copyright 2018
  • {{checkPublicationMessage('Published', '2017-01-01T00:00:00+0000')}}
Starting At $77.95 See pricing and ISBN options
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FOCUS on College and Career Success 3rd Edition by Dr. Constance Staley/Dr. Steve Staley
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Overview

The third edition of FOCUS ON COLLEGE AND CAREER SUCCESS recognizes the varied experiences of today's students. Thoroughly researched, this resource covers the topics most important to success, incorporating professionalism, motivation, and self-discipline. It initiates a personal and informal conversation with readers, directly drawing them into discussions. Written by Steve and Constance Staley, two of the best-known names in the field of first-year student motivation, it increases the credibility of college success courses by providing tools that help students succeed. New for 2021: Empower your students to connect the dots between what they’re learning now and their current or future careers with “How Transferable Are Your Skills?” – a new MindTap activity that challenges students to identify how their personal and academic experiences can help them become career-ready.

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Meet the Authors

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Dr. Constance Staley

Constance Staley is a professor of communication and acting dean of the Graduate School at the University of Colorado, Colorado Springs, where she directed the First-Year Seminar Program for nearly 25 years. An award-winning teacher, Dr. Staley designs and teaches online courses (Professional Presentations), hybrid courses (Communication, Training and Consulting) and face-to-face courses (Conflict Management). Her works include a faculty training package, TEACHING COLLEGE SUCCESS, as well as the groundbreaking resource manual 50 WAYS TO LEAVE YOUR LECTERN. She also is the author of FOCUS ON COLLEGE SUCCESS and the co-author of FOCUS ON COLLEGE AND CAREER SUCCESS with Steve Staley. A well-known name in FYE circles, Dr. Staley is a leader in faculty development nationwide. During a three-year leave from the University of Colorado, she joined an East Coast Fortune 500 company to design and deliver its management and supervisory training. In addition, she represented the university as a Fulbright Scholar, teaching in the former Soviet Union. She earned a B.S. in education, an M.A. in linguistics and a Ph.D. in communication.

Dr. Steve Staley

Dr. Steve Staley is Professor of English and Humanities at Colorado Technical University, where in 2001 he originated, taught, and directed CTU's College Success course. Dr. Staley graduated from the U.S. Air Force Academy and earned his M.A. and Ph.D. in English from the University of Colorado. As Assistant Dean of Faculty and Professor of English at the U.S. Air Force Academy, Dr. Staley administered the Academy's successful Rhodes Scholarship program, directed faculty development, developed the First-Year Seminar "Interdisciplinary Education at the Academy" (IDEA) program, and originated a critically acclaimed course in "Physics and Literature." As a Professor of Strategy at the U.S. Naval War College, he also served as a Research Fellow with the United Nations International Peace Academy, authoring The United Nations and Naval Peacekeeping, and co-authoring with Dr. Constance Staley Communicating in Business and The Professions: The Inside Word. As Director of Advising at the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs, Dr. Staley helped develop the school's new First-Year Seminar program. Following a one-year Fulbright Fellowship teaching in Kyrgyzstan, he has served CTU for over 20 years as Dean of Academics, Director of Faculty Development, and Director of General Education.

What's New

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  • NEW - Emphasis on Developing Soft Skills. Employers are increasingly concerned that some students are graduating from college without having learned important "soft skills" such as teamwork, leadership, professionalism, and vital communication abilities such as writing and presentation skills. This area is addressed powerfully and effectively with a chapter-by-chapter feature entitled "Soft Skills Are hard."
  • NEW - Increased Content in Three Areas: financial literacy, alternative e-tools for presentations, and career planning.
  • NEW - Up-to-date technology: Staley's own engagement in the latest technologies comes through in her message to students. FOCUS now contains more infographics to capture students' attention and aid comprehension.
  • NEW - Life Hacks: Life hacks are brief pointers, often technology-based, to save readers time and help them increase productivity. These short tips are placed in the margins for quick discovery.
  • NEW - Revised Reality Checks: FOCUS prompts students to discover personal meaning in what they're learning by completing "Readiness Checks" at the beginning of chapters and revised "Reality Checks" at the end.

Features

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  • BUILD ESSENTIAL CAREER SKILLS that are vital to obtaining a job, such as interviewing, resume writing, and creating a job plan. The text helps students narrow their major to align with their interests.
  • EXPLORE UNIQUE ISSUES that career and technical college students face both inside and outside of the classroom, including juggling family, school, and work, and living/studying at home.
  • CHALLENGE CASES highlight students experiencing real-world challenges and opportunities, giving students the opportunity to relate to the chapter topics.
  • "ONLINE TECHKNOW" highlights important skills that students should be aware of in a completely online or hybrid course. Special circumstances of the online learning environment are discussed in an easy-to-read, bulleted format, applying chapter-level skills to the online learning environment (e.g., navigating an online discussion board, creating meaningful relationships with instructors and peers, and online test-taking tips).
  • "SHARPEN YOUR FOCUS" features examine the most common reasons why college students lose focus. A short exercise in each chapter provides a solution for students to use in the real world to avoid those focus pitfalls.
  • THOROUGH COVERAGE OF STUDY SKILLS is provided, with chapters covering time and money management, listening, note-taking, reading, studying, and test taking.

Table of Contents

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1. Getting the Right Start.
2. Building Dreams, Setting Goals.
3. Learning Styles and Studying.
4. Managing Your Time, Energy, and Money.
5. Thinking Critically and Creatively.
6. Learning Online.
7. Engaging, Listening, and Note-Taking in Class.
8. Reading, Writing, and Presenting.
9. Developing Memory, Taking Tests.
10. Building Relationships, Valuing Diversity.
11. Choosing a College Major and Career.
12. Creating Your Future.

Compare Buying Options

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Textbook Only Options

Traditional eBook and Print Options

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  • ISBN-10: 0357701879
  • ISBN-13: 9780357701874
  • RETAIL $77.95

  • ISBN-10: 1337097187
  • ISBN-13: 9781337097185
  • RETAIL $102.95

  • ISBN-10: 1337097160
  • ISBN-13: 9781337097161
  • RETAIL $134.95
Instructor Next Steps
Students: Buy now

Supplements

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Cengage provides a range of supplements that are updated in coordination with the main title selection. For more information about these supplements, contact your Learning Consultant.

FOR STUDENTS

FOCUS on College Success

ISBN: 9781337097161
The fifth edition of FOCUS ON COLLEGE SUCCESS recognizes the varied experiences of today's students and guides them to be more mindful, motivated, productive, and focused. The text's research-based approach builds a solid foundation, helping students to see the relevance of this course. Increased attention is given to diversity, mindfulness, resilience, grit, financial literacy, technology, and productivity, college-related "life hacks," alternative presentation e-tools, and the newest strategies in career planning. Many students today are distracted, over-optionalized, and over-obligated. FOCUS ON COLLEGE SUCCESS addresses these issues head-on, creating teachable moments — and concrete results — in every face-to-face or online learning experience. New for 2021: Empower your students to connect the dots between what they’re learning now and their current or future careers with “How Transferable Are Your Skills?” – a new MindTap activity that challenges students to identify how their personal and academic experiences can help them become career-ready.