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Getting ready for academic study
- Module introduction
- Diagnostic test
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What to expect
- What to expect: an introduction
- What do I want?
- How will I be taught?
- What's expected of me?
- Independent study
- Managing life as a student
- Managing anxieties
- What resources do I have?
- How can I prepare?
- Technology enhanced study
- Start developing your study skills
- Learn from other students
- Frequently asked questions
- Skills self-assessment
- Summary
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Developing your skills
- Developing your skills: an introduction
- Success as a student: what lecturers say
- What are study skills?
- The APT-S study skills framework
- Self: managing yourself for study
- Academic skills
- People skills
- Task management skills
- Resilience as a student
- Your current skills and qualities
- Using personal skills in academic study
- Study skills: my priorities
- Study skills: action plan
- Recording achievement
- Learn from other students
- Frequently asked questions
- Skills self-assessment
- Summary
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Studying effectively
- Studying effectively: an introduction
- Five study skills components
- Your skills and qualities
- How do we learn?
- Different kinds of intelligence
- How does learning happen?
- What kind of learner am I?
- Learn from other students
- Frequently asked questions
- Skills self-assessment
- Summary
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Strategies for learning
- Strategies for learning: an introduction
- SHAPE: Style, habit, attitude, preference and experience
- The C.R.E.A.M strategy
- Creative learning
- Reflective learning
- Effective learning
- Active learning
- Motivated learning
- Learn from other students
- Frequently asked questions
- Skills self-assessment
- Summary
- Module assessment
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Documents
- Current skills and qualities - a self-evaluation activity
- Effective learning - a checklist
- How well am I doing? - a self-evaluation
- Independent study - a worksheet
- Personalise your learning style - a worksheet
- Strategies for learning - Frequently Asked Questions
- Study skills - action plan
- Studying effectively - Frequently Asked Questions
- What to expect - Frequently Asked Questions
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Reading and note-making
- Module introduction
- Diagnostic test
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Reading effectively
- Reading effectively: an introduction
- Individual approaches to reading
- Reading efficiently
- Active reading strategies
- Varying your reading strategies
- Selecting what to read
- Using a reading list
- Check your reading speed
- Increase your reading speed
- Frequently asked questions
- Skills self-assessment
- Summary
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Making notes while reading
- Making notes while reading: an introduction
- Making notes
- How helpful are your notes?
- How do you make your notes now?
- Making better notes
- Linear notes
- Nuclear notes
- Pattern notes
- Making your notes memorable and useful
- Shortcuts in making notes
- Keeping your notes organised
- Learn from other students
- Frequently asked questions
- Skills self-assessment
- Summary
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Making notes during lectures
- Making notes during lectures: an introduction
- Preparing for lectures
- Using lecturers' notes
- Listening to lectures
- After the lecture
- Filing your notes
- Tips from other students
- Frequently asked questions
- Skills self-assessment
- Summary
- Module assessment
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Documents
- Abbreviations
- Activities to practise getting information quickly
- Audio for the 'Making notes during lectures' section
- Audio for the 'Making notes while reading' section
- Audio for the 'Reading effectively' section
- Lecture notes cover sheet
- Listening to lectures
- Making notes during lectures FAQ
- Making notes while reading FAQ
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More resources
- A collection of helpful resources compiled from the web.
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Critical thinking skills
- Module introduction
- Diagnostic test
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What is critical thinking?
- What is critical thinking? An introduction
- Critical thinking as a student
- Reading, listening and writing critically
- Benefits of critical thinking
- How do you currently think?
- Foundations for critical thinking
- Develop a detective-like mind
- Learn from your tutor
- Frequently asked questions
- Skills self-assessment
- Summary
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Critical reading and writing
- Critical reading and writing: an introduction
- What is an argument?
- What is the writer's position?
- Examining a line of reasoning
- What are the writer's propositions?
- Evaluating propositions
- Is there a logical progression?
- Identifying false premises
- Identifying flawed reasoning
- Drawing conclusions
- Implicit and explicit conclusions
- Critically reading your own writing
- What do other students do?
- Frequently asked questions
- Skills self-assessment
- Summary
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Evaluating evidence
- Evaluating evidence: an introduction
- Finding and evaluating evidence
- Evaluating sources of evidence
- Checking for bias
- Evaluating statistics and numbers
- Evaluating samples
- Persuasive language
- Emotive language
- Does the evidence support the conclusion?
- Tips from other students
- Frequently asked questions
- Skills self-assessment
- Summary
- Module assessment
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Documents
- Assess your thinking skills
- Audio for the 'Critical thinking and writing' section
- Audio for the 'Evaluating evidence' section
- Critical analytical thinking: A checklist
- Critical reading and writing FAQs
- Drawing tentative conclusions
- Structuring a line of reasoning: words and phrases
- What is critical thinking? FAQs
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More resources
- A collection of helpful resources compiled from the web.
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Writing skills
- Module introduction
- Diagnostic test
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Academic writing
- Academic writing: An introduction
- Types of academic writing
- The benefits of academic writing
- Features of academic writing
- A framework for academic writing
- Assignment titles
- Getting started
- Frequently asked questions
- Skills self-assessment
- Summary
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Planning your writing
- Planning your writing: an introduction
- Developing a plan
- Organising your information
- Structuring your essay
- Spatial planning
- Concept pyramids
- Linear plans
- What do other students do?
- Frequently asked questions
- Skills self-assessment
- Summary
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Developing your writing
- Developing your writing: an introduction
- Writing drafts
- Writer's block?
- Using paragraphs
- Paragraphs in practice
- Linking ideas together
- Editing and refining
- Style matters
- Learn from another student
- When is an assignment finished?
- Frequently asked questions
- Skills self-assessment
- Summary
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Improving your writing
- Improving your writing: an introduction
- Aim higher
- Enjoying the challenge
- Understanding what is expected
- What gets good marks?
- Setting high standards and expectations
- Managing your time
- Checking and fine-tuning
- Evaluating work objectively
- Using tutors' feedback
- Frequently asked questions
- Skills self-assessment
- Summary
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Writing for different subjects
- Writing for different subjects: an introduction
- Writing styles
- Subjectivity and objectivity
- Recognising subjectivity and objectivity
- Scientific and non-scientific approaches
- Academic writing styles
- Personal writing
- Argumentative writing
- Evaluative writing
- Comparing and contrasting
- Descriptive writing
- Critical writing
- Frequently asked questions
- Skills self-assessment
- Summary
- Module assessment
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Documents
- Academic keywords in titles
- Academic writing FAQs
- Audio for the 'Academic writing' section
- Audio for the 'Developing your writing' section
- Audio for the 'Improving your writing' section
- Audio for the 'Writing for different subjects' section
- Checking your paragraphs
- Developing your writing FAQs
- Editing checklist
- Evaluating your work
- Framework for a compare and contrast essay
- Framework for an argumentative essay
- Improving your writing FAQs
- Planning your writing FAQs
- Polar opposites in academic approaches
- Priority organiser
- The scientific model
- Working backwards from deadlines
- Writing for different subjects FAQs
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More resources
- A collection of helpful resources compiled from the web.
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Referencing and understanding plagiarism
- Module introduction
- Diagnostic test
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Referencing
- Referencing: an introduction
- Citations and references
- Why are citations needed?
- Guidelines for writing references
- What to include in a reference
- Recording source details
- Ways of using sources in your writing
- Introducing cited sources
- Writing your reference list
- Matching citations to references
- Learn from other students
- Frequently asked questions
- Skills self-assessment
- Summary
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Understanding plagiarism
- Understanding plagiarism: an introduction
- What is plagiarism?
- How to avoid plagiarism
- Quoting without plagiarising
- Choosing how much to quote
- Using or plagiarising?
- Ways of using other writers' texts
- Tutors' attitude to plagiarism
- Avoiding plagiarism while working with other students
- Collaborating or copying?
- Guidelines for collaborative work
- Frequently asked questions
- Skills self-assessment
- Summary
- Module assessment
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Documents
- Audio for the 'Referencing' section
- Audio for the 'Understanding plagiarism'
- Guidelines for collaborating
- Guidelines for using the Harvard referencing system
- Guidelines for using the Vancouver referencing system
- Plagiarism FAQs
- Referencing FAQs
- Review your current skills with this checklist
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Groupwork and presentations
- Module introduction
- Diagnostic test
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Working with others
- Working with others: an introduction
- Situations and benefits
- Ways of working with others
- Tasks that can be shared
- In your own words
- Listening skills
- Making your point
- Helping the group to work
- Dealing with difficult moments
- Learn from other students
- Frequently asked questions
- Skills self-assessment
- Summary
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Presentation skills
- Presentation skills: an introduction
- The value of presentations
- Your potential as a presenter
- The first attempt
- Know your audience
- Practice and preparation
- Visual aids
- Overcoming nerves
- Giving the talk
- Making a successful presentation
- Learn from other students
- Frequently asked questions
- Skills self-assessment
- Summary
- Module assessment
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Documents
- Getting the most out of discussions - an info sheet
- How effective am I at giving a talk? - a self-evaluation activity
- How well do I contribute to groups and seminars - a self-evaluation activity
- Imaging techniques - a worksheet
- Presentation skills - Frequently Asked Questions
- Working with others - Frequently Asked Questions
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More resources
- A collection of helpful resources compiled from the web.
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Exam skills
- Module introduction
- Diagnostic test
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Performing well in exams
- Performing well in exams: an introduction
- The key to success
- The benefits of exams
- Exam myths and realities
- Peak performance
- How do I feel about exams?
- Taking charge of your attitude
- Managing exam stress
- How do other students manage exams?
- Frequently asked questions
- Skills self-assessment
- Summary
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Revision
- Revision: an introduction
- Revision strategies
- How much is enough?
- Know your exam
- Train your brain
- Preparation through past exam papers
- Practise using past exam papers
- Revising with others
- Revision timetables
- Avoiding common mistakes
- Last-minute revision
- Your revision action plan
- How do other students revise?
- Frequently asked questions
- Skills self-assessment
- Summary
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Sitting an exam
- Sitting an exam: an introduction
- Take control
- The day of the exam
- Selecting exam questions
- Managing your time
- Creating a positive impression
- Short-answer and technical questions
- Exam essays
- Interpreting exam essay questions
- The importance of critical analysis
- Avoiding common mistakes
- How do other students approach exams?
- Frequently asked questions
- Skills self-assessment
- Summary
- Module assessment
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Documents
- A brief guide to the types of things you can discuss in a revision group
- A glossary of terms and definitions to help you to understand what the examiner expects of you
- A planning checklist which can help you to organise your preparations on the day of your exams
- A planning checklist which can help you to plan the day before an exam
- A self-reflection activity which may help you to explore your attitude to exams
- A worksheet that will allow you to reflect on your performance when working through past exam papers
- A worksheet that will help you to explore how your memory works for you
- A worksheet that will introduce you to a variety of approaches that can help to make revision enjoyable and interesting
- An action plan that will introduce you to techniques that may help you to manage your stress levels
- Audio for the 'Revision' section
- Audio for the 'Sitting an exam' section
- Common revision mistakes and solutions
- Notes to help you to understand what examiners look for when marking essays
- Performing well in exams FAQs
- Revision FAQs
- Sitting an exam FAQs
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More resources
- A collection of helpful resources compiled from the web.
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Research principles
- Module introduction
- Diagnostic test
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Managing information for study
- Managing information for study: an introduction
- What is meant by research?
- Purpose and challenge
- Checklist: do I have the right skills?
- Managing information for academic study
- Defining your research task
- Making the most of the library
- Finding information: getting started
- Conducting an online search
- Using material of suitable quality and content
- Identifying and selecting relevant information
- Learn from other students
- Frequently asked questions
- Skills self-assessment
- Summary
- Practise selecting relevant information
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Principles of good research
- Principles of good research: an introduction
- What makes good research?
- Research design
- Fitness for purpose
- Objectivity and subjectivity
- Quantitative and qualitative approaches
- Validity
- Checklist: my subject discipline
- Attention to process and detail
- Journal articles: methodology and methods
- Good research assignments
- Learn from other students
- Frequently asked questions
- Skills self-assessment
- Summary
- Practise identifying objectivity and subjectivity
- Module assessment
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Projects, dissertations and reports
- Module introduction
- Diagnostic test
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Research projects
- Research projects: an introduction
- What are research projects?
- Why are research projects set?
- Case studies
- Dissertations
- Managing projects and dissertations
- Choosing your subject
- Dissertation action plan
- Learn from other students
- Frequently asked questions
- Skills self-assessment
- Summary
- Practise choosing an appropriate topic
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Conducting your research
- Conducting your research: an introduction
- Literature search
- The research hypothesis
- Literature review
- Research design
- Designing questionnaires
- Quantitative questions
- Qualitative questions
- Preparing for research interviews
- Conducting a research interview
- Presenting and analysing data
- Learn form other students
- Frequently asked questions
- Skills self-assessment
- Summary
- Practise evaluating questions for strengths and weaknesses
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Reporting your findings
- Reporting your findings: an introduction
- Reports
- What should my report include?
- The opening section
- Methodology and results
- Discussion and analysis
- Conclusions and recommendations
- Abstracts and summaries
- Presentation and style
- Structuring a case study
- Writing style
- Project and dissertation checklist
- Learn from other students
- Frequently asked questions
- Skills self-assessment
- Summary
- Module assessment
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Employability and personal development
- Module introduction
- Diagnostic test
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Create your own horizons
- Create your own horizons: an introduction
- Personal development planning
- Different view of success
- Your attitude to success
- What do I want to achieve?
- Motivation
- What motivates me?
- Making the most of your opportunities
- What type of job do I want?
- Learn from students
- FAQs
- Personal development self-assessment
- Summary
- Practise prioritising what you want
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Planning your future
- Planning your future: an introduction
- Career planning
- What do employers want?
- Employability skills
- What have I got to offer?
- Transferable skills
- Recording your reflections
- What information do employers want?
- Portfolios and progress files
- Resource bank
- Learn from other students
- FAQs
- Personal development self-assessment
- Summary
- Practise building a personal profile
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Successful job applications
- Successful job applications: an introduction
- Understanding the application process
- Curriculum vitae
- Writing a CV
- Competence-based applications
- Personal statements
- Covering letters and emails
- Preparing for interviews
- During the interview
- Answering questions
- After the interview
- Assessment centres
- Learn from other students
- FAQs
- Personal development self-assessment
- Summary
- Practise answering interview questions
- Module assessment
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Confidence with numbers
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Confidence with numbers
- Map overview
- Confidence with numbers: an introduction
- What do I need to know?
- Can you trust numbers?
- Questioning numbers and statistics
- Rounding up and down
- Fractions
- Using fractions
- Understanding percentages
- Calculating percentages from fractions
- What are 'averages'?
- Calculating averages: the mean ('equal share')
- Calculating averages: the median ('the middle number')
- Calculating averages: the mode (most frequent)
- Using tables, charts and graphs
- Interpreting graphs
- Learn from other students
- Frequently asked questions
- Skills self-assessment
- Summary
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Confidence with numbers
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Time management
- Module introduction
- Diagnostic test
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Planning and prioritising
- Planning and prioritising: an introduction
- Why time management matters to students
- Ten steps to effective time management
- How much time should I study for?
- How should I use my study time?
- Where does the time go?
- Set your priorities
- Effective planning and diary-keeping
- Make your planning work for you
- Using a 'To do' list
- Working backwards from deadlines
- Learn from other students
- Skills self-assessment
- Summary
- Practise prioritising your tasks
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Time management techniques
- Time management techniques: an introduction
- Using time blocks
- Apply time management techniques
- Manage online study
- Managing procrastination and distraction
- Getting down to study
- Ten time-saving strategies
- Identifying and managing distractions
- Staying on task
- Activate your time management strategy
- Learn from other students
- Frequently asked questions
- Skills self-assessment
- Summary
- Practise staying on task
- Module assessment