How to Study contains around 1,000 practical tips, taking students at college or university from their first lectures through to their final exams and beyond.
The ideal companion for all students at college or university.
Contains around 1,000 practical tips, taking students from their first lectures through to their final exams and beyond.
Helps students to get through assessments, with suggestions about how to write essays, give presentations, prepare for and sit exams.
Gives advice on how to handle the ups and downs of being a student, including managing disappointments and getting out of trouble.
Helps students to get a job, with tips on creating a powerful CV, filling in job applications and succeeding at interview.
All the tips are written in a jargon-free, friendly style and are illustrated with humorous cartoons.
About This Book ix
Part I Managing Your Learning
Wanting to Learn 3
Needing to Learn 7
Learning by Doing 9
Learning from Feedback 12
Making Sense of Things - 'Digesting' 14
Taking Charge of Your Studies 16
Managing Your Time 19
Getting Started 23
Take Charge of Your Syllabus 27
Part II Lectures, Labs, Computers, Portfolios and so on
Don't Just Take Notes, Make Notes 33
Making the Most of Handout Materials 37
Keeping on Top of Practical Work 40
Using Print-based Open Learning Materials 43
Keeping on Top of Your Emails 47
Computer Conferencing 50
Getting to Know Your Word Processor 53
Making IT Training Work for You 58
Getting Your Reflections onto Paper 61
Building Your Portfolio 66
Part III Essays
Planning that Essay 73
Shaping that Essay 77
Drafting and Redrafting that Essay 80
'I've started, so I'll finish!' 84
Getting it Back - Marked! 87
Giving Due Credit 91
Part IV Presentations
Preparing Your Presentation 99
Preparing Your Visual Aids 103
Practising Your Presentation 106
Performing on the Day 109
Part V Ups and Downs
Peaks and Troughs 117
Managing Disappointments 121
Recovering from a Disappointment 127
Overcoming Problems 129
Getting out of Trouble! 133
Part VI Revision - Getting Your Act Together
What Will Your Exams Really Measure? 139
Making Your Own Question Bank 144
Using Your Question Bank 149
Putting Revision into Perspective 152
Planning Your Revision Timetable 155
Getting Started with Your Revision 158
Revision Processes 162
Some Final Tips on Last-minute Revision 166
Part VII Exams - Before, During and After!
Just Before an Exam 171
Those First Few Minutes 176
Answering Questions to Score Marks 181
Essays in Exams 186
Calculations and Problems 189
Towards the End of Each Exam 192
After an Exam 196
Open-book exams 200
'Seen' Written Exams 203
Multiple-choice Exams 206
Preparing for Your Re-sit 210
Part VIII Job Hunting
Writing Your Curriculum Vitae 217
Choosing and Using Your Referees 221
Application Forms 224
Writing a Letter of Application 229
Preparing for an Interview 232
Giving a Good Interview 236
After an Interview 239
Final Words 242
Further Reading 245
Index 246
