University Preparation Guide

Open access resources are resources that are available to everyone for free online. Links here will lead to sites where you can download textbooks or access journals related to UPRE.

Writing for Success by Tara Horkoff and Scott McLean

Writing for Success is a textbook that provides instruction in steps, builds writing, reading, and critical thinking, and combines comprehensive grammar review with an introduction to paragraph writing and composition.

Writing in College: From Competence to Excellence by Amy Guptill

Writing in College is a short textbook that explains the purposes behind college-level writing and offers advice for organization and expression.

The Word on College Reading and Writing by Monique Babin

Writing in College is a textbook which includes examples, exercises, and definitions for a wide variety of reading and writing-related topics that students will encounter in their college courses.

Blueprint for Success in College: Indispensable Study Skills and Time Management Strategies by Dave Dillon

Blueprint for Success in College is a student’s guide for classroom success. This textbook, designed to show how to be successful in college, focuses on study skills and time management.

University 101: Study, Strategize, and Succeed by Kwantlen Polytechnic University Learning Centres University 101

Kwantlen Polytechnic University Learning Centres University 101 is a textbook designed to help students create a foundation for post-secondary studies by learning how to learn. It contains exercises and skills that will support them in future learning.

Strategies for Academic Success by Liv Marken

Strategies for Academic Success is arranged to help students develop essential study skills and provide the information students need to succeed in university. It was built as a guide for first year arts and science students.

Purdue University Writing Lab

Purdue’s Academic Writing Lab provides a list of resources to help with university and college level writing. It covers different types of writing approaches, organizing an assignment, and sentence-level tips for clarity.

SFU’s Guide to Studying, and Exams

An SFU guide which provides students with resources to help them create good study habits and prepare for and write exams.

Help at Alexander College

AC provides one-on-one tutoring for all courses offered at the College through the Writing the Learning Center and personalized feedback on writing through WriteAway. The WLC provides information to students on academic skills, like help with Microsoft programs, note taking, and presentations, as well as basic computer help. Additionally, the WLC provides academic writing how-to guides and citation guides.