How to Take This Course

This course consists of text material for you to read and three types of activities (the Pre- and Post-Test, in-text exercises, and end-of-chapter Review Questions) for you to complete. These activities are designed to reinforce the concepts brought out in the text portion of the course and to enable you to evaluate your progress.

Pre- and Post-Tests

Both a pre-test and a post-test are included in this course. Take the pre-test before you study any of the course material to determine your existing knowledge of the subject matter. To get instructions on taking the test and having it graded, please email [email protected], and you will receive an email back with details on taking your test and getting your grade. This email will also include instructions on taking your post-test, which you should do upon completion of the course material.

Certificate

Once you have taken your post-test, you will receive an email with your grade and a certificate if you have passed the course successfully (70% or higher). All tests are reviewed thoroughly by our instructors, and your grade and a certificate will be returned to you promptly.

The Text

The most important component of this course is the text, for it is here that the concepts and methods are first presented. Reading each chapter twice will increase the likelihood of your understanding the text fully.

We recommend that you work on this course in a systematic way. Only by reading the text and working through the exercises at a regular and steady pace will you get the most out of this course and retain what you have learned. In your first reading, concentrate on getting an overview of the chapter’s contents. Read the learning objectives at the beginning of each chapter first. They serve as guidelines to the major topics of the chapter and enumerate the skills you should master as you study the text. As you read the chapter, pay attention to the heading and subheadings. Find the general theme of the section and see how that theme relates to others. Don’t let yourself get bogged down with details during the first reading; simply concentrate on remembering and understanding the major themes.

In your second reading, look for the details that underlie the themes. Read the entire chapter carefully and methodically, underlining key points, working out the details of the examples, and making marginal notations as you go. Complete the exercises.

Exercises and Activities

Interspersed with the text in each chapter you will find exercises that take a variety of forms. In some cases, no specific or formal answers are provided. Where appropriate, suggested responses or commentary follow the exercises.

The Review Questions

After reading a chapter and before going on to the next, work through the review questions. By answering the questions and comparing your own answers to the answers provided, you will find it easier to grasp the major ideas of that chapter. If you perform these self-check exercises conscientiously, you will develop a framework in which to place material presented in later chapters.

Questions About Grading/Retaking the Test

If you have questions regarding the tests, the grading, or the courses itself, please email Self Study at [email protected].

If you fail the Post-Test, you have one year to retake the test for one year after the course’s purchase date.