STUDYING IN THE UK. Erika Delbecque, Study Advice. Study Advice & Maths Support. Study Advice Erika Delbecque

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1 Study Advice & Maths Support STUDYING IN THE UK Erika Delbecque, Study Advice 1 Copyright University of Reading

2 PLAN FOR THIS SESSION UK university education Effective study skills Critical thinking Independent study Academic writing 2

3 If something has been written by your lecturer, or a respected scholar, you can assume it s correct TRUE FALSE PARTLY TRUE 3

4 Lecture notes are the most important source for coursework TRUE FALSE PARTLY TRUE 4

5 1. UK UNIVERSITY EDUCATION Aimed at developing critical thinking Question and challenge authoritative views rather than repeat them Develop your own learning Find, select and evaluate reading Work independently Manage your workload 5

6 2. EFFECTIVE STUDY SKILLS Referencing Editing Time management Critical thinking Presenting Concentration Notetaking Analysis Literature searching Proofreading Reading Prioritisation Motivation Planning Academic writing Revising 6

7 3. INDEPENDENT LEARNING Take responsibility for your own learning Organise your own study time Plan ahead Term plan Weekly schedule 7

8 MAKING A TERM PLAN 8

9 MAKING A WEEKLY STUDY TIMETABLE Include lectures and seminars, other regular commitments, mark times for studying 9

10 USING YOUR TIME EFFICIENTLY Work at best time of day Identify and tackle time wasters Have deadlines for starting & finishing tasks Think about what you want from your reading before you start Plan before you write Use in-between times Ask for help Develop your study practices 10

11 4. CRITICAL THINKING 11

12 4. CRITICAL THINKING Be sceptical, evaluate and assess everything you read Ask yourself questions such as: What is the central argument? Is it defensible? Why and how has the author arrived at this conclusion? Is the evidence persuasive? Do these findings confirm or conflict with other findings? What methodology has this author used and why? 12

13 5. ACADEMIC WRITING Academic integrity: key values of accuracy, honesty, fairness, responsibility, respect Give a citation whenever you refer to an idea that you derived from reading Use quotation marks for direct quotes Use your department s referencing style 13

14 Constructing an argument for an essay involves linking together ideas that you have read in books and other source material TRUE FALSE PARTLY TRUE 14

15 5. ACADEMIC WRITING A good piece of academic writing: Answers the question Has a clear message Is structured in a clear and coherent way Shows a critical approach Is underpinned by evidence throughout Is referenced correctly 15

16 5. ACADEMIC WRITING Edit Generate ideas Understand the question fully Draft Research, read, make notes Proofread and submit Plan 16

17 SUMMARY To excel at university you need: To develop effective study skills To take responsibility for your own learning To plan and be organised To develop a critical approach To write clear, coherent, analytical and well-referenced texts 17

18 HOW CAN STUDY ADVICE HELP? studyadvice@reading.ac.uk Room G18, URS building Online study guides Online video tutorials Drop-in quick queries Workshops Individual advice sessions 18

19 ANY QUESTIONS? 19