Academic Support Services

General Help with Academic Skills

Support for Writing a Thesis Paper
Reading Effectively
Other Quantitative Skills Centers
Quantitative Skills Assessment and Improvement
Books
Individual Help
GRE Test Prep
General Approaches to Problem Solving
 General Learning Guides and Life Strategies

Support for Writing a Thesis Paper

Reading Effectively

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Other Quantitative Skills Centers

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Quantitative Skills Assessment and Improvement

  • Are You Prepared?
    Portland Community College website that contains self-tests you can use to identify your level of math skills mastery from arithmetic through calculus.
  • General Learning Resources
    University of Texas at Austin Learning Center learning resources on the following topics:
         Life Skills: Motivation & Procrastination, Physiology, Time Management,
         Writing, Anxiety & Stress Management
         Strategic Learning: Concentration, Learning, Memory, Note Taking,
         Reading, Speed Reading, Test Taking
         Math Handouts: Calculus, Algebra, Trigonometry
  • Algebra Review
    Bryn Mawr College
  • Online math problem generator
    CSU-Dominguez Hills Math Review for Introductory Chemistry
  • Success in Mathematics
    Saint Louis University Department of Mathematics and Computer Science website about how to succeed when studying math (with available PDF download)
  • Math Links
    Math games for amusement or assistance

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Books

These books are designed specifically for self-instruction and are available for on-site use in the Quantitative Skills Center resource library. Most are also available in either the Reed library or through Summit.

  • Forgotten Algebra by Barbara Lee Bleau. Great self-guided course for students who either have forgotten their algebra or never really got it the
    first time around. Chapters are arranged by topic.
  • Mathematics: A Second Chance. This book was published in Britain so has some slightly unfamiliar vocabulary in places, but is otherwise
    excellent in taking the student from arithmetic to calculus in a straightforward way with plenty of practice problems.
  • Quick Calculus by Daniel Kleppner and Norman Ramsey. Co-authored by a Nobel-prizewinner in physics, this is a quick review or first run-
    through of integral and differential calculus. While not a replacement for a true first course in calculus, it may be a helpful refresher for
    students taking classes in other subjects where calculus is used.
  • Calculus Made Easy by Silvanus Thompson. A classic text that uses an intuitive approach to the explanation of calculus concepts.
    Recommended to me by a recent Reed econ alumnus who claims that for the first time he feels he can actually grasp calculus.

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Individual Help

If you are looking to improve your math skills, please contact Ryland Bell in the Dorothy Johansen House, phone: 503/517-7670.  Ryland can help you set up an individualized skills development program with weekly or occasional follow-up.

For support with reading more effectively and improving your writing process, contact Julie Maxfield: 503/517-7722.  Julie can meet with you every week, every assignment, or every semester to help identify reading and writing strategies for academic success.

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GRE Test Prep

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General Approaches to Problem Solving

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General Learning Guides and Life Strategies

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