The Study Skills Handbook (Palgrave Study Skills)

Covering everything you need to know to succeed in college, this book helps you to develop the skills you need to improve your grades, build your confidence and plan the future you want. Its no-nonsense advice and practical activities will help you to identify those methods that work for you, making learning easier, faster and more enjoyable. Contents 7 Introducing "The Study Skills Handbook" 9 How to use 10 Where to begin 11 A new beginning... 14 Part A - Managing yourself for study 15 Understanding higher level study 23 Technology enhanced study 28 Managing life as a student 32 Managing anxieties 34 Students' experiences 35 Success as a student: what lecturers say 40 What are study skills? 44 Current skills and qualities 54 Monitoring skills development 59 Personal profiles 60 Turning academic skills into transferable and soft employment skills 62 Recording achievement 63 Developing a portfolio 64 Choices, skills and career developmc nt 65 What is intelligence? 69 What is 'learning'? 75 Six conditions for learning 77 What is my learning style? 80 Personalised use of technology for study 89 Creative problem-solving 99 Creative problem-solving: organise your approach 104 How well am I doing? 106 Reflective learning journals 107 Effective organisation: space and resources 111 Organisational skills on your computer 112 campus to sort out administrative b.ts and 115 Active learning 116 Emphasis on action! 117 Active learning strategies 118 Keeping motivated 120 Clarity of purpose: what I want from my study 122 Motivation: managing the challenge 125 Achieving goals 126 The C-R-E-A-M strategy 127 How well do I manage my time now? 130 Why time management matters to students 131 What students say 132 10 steps to effective time management 133 Current use of study time 137 Preferred use of study time 138 Where does the time go? 139 Set your priorities 142 Priority-setting 142 Priority organiser 143 Effective planning and diary-keeping 144 Make your planning work for you 145 Using 'To do' lists 146 Working backwards from deadlines 147 Ten time-saving strategies 151 Staying on task 155 Monitor your use of time 157 Part B - Academic skills 159 Defining your research task 164 Conducting an online search 167 Making notes 179 Note-making styles 180 Shortcuts in note-making 182 Making 183 Plagiarism 185 Writing out your references 189 Information gained from practical and laboratory work 193 Critical thinking when reading 197 Critical analytical thinking 204 Critical thinking when writing 205 Critical analytical writing vs. descriptive writing 206 Identifying critical and descriptive writing 207 Critical thinking when listening 209 Individual memory styles 212 Check your memory style 213 Using the brain 215 Stages of the memory process 218 Multiple encoding 221 'Chunking' information 225 Build your confidence with numbers 229 Can you trust numbers? 231 Using fractions 235 Understanding percentages 236 Using tables, charts and graphs 245 Interpreting graphs 246 Interpreting tables 247 Interpreting charts 248 Part C - People skills 251 Studying collaboratively 254 working do you value? Select / all that apply. 254 Self-evaluation: studying with other people 256 Speaking up 261 Study groups 265 Sharing work without cheating 266 Group projects 268 Managing a group project 269 How well do I contribute to seminars and groups? 277 Part D - Task management skills 279 Writing for the fearful 283 Developing your writing 284 Overcoming writer's block 286 Tricks for getting started 287 Students' solutions to writing blocks 288 Analysing the question 292 Academic keywords used in titles 293 Structuring your writing 296 Structuring an essay 298 Planning stages 300 Concept pyramids organise ideas 301 Concept pyramid for contrasting birds and mammals 302 Essay plans as pyramids 303 Writing drafts 305 Paragraphs 306 Writing paragraphs 307 Checking your paragraphs 308 Linking ideas together 309 Editing your draft 310 Editing final drafts 311 Presenting your writing 312 Lecturers' preferences 313 Stylistic conventions for academic writing 316 Being precise 318 Scientific approaches 320 Polar opposites in academic approaches 322 Different styles 323 Framework for an argumentative essay 326 What gets good marks? 331 Using feedback from tutors 332 Understanding and defining the task 348 the process 351 Choosing a topic 355 Research design and methods 359 Checklist for evaluating your questionnaire 362 Writing the report: conclusions, recommendations 369 Revision and exam preparation 380 Doing well in exams 385 Dealing with stress 387 Managing stress 388 Part E 391 Evaluating achievement 394 Planning your future 395 Planning towards a career 397 Develop your CV 400 Glossary - Terms useful to know in Higher Education 412 Answers to activities 415 References 423 Index 426 "If you are serious about succeeding with your studies, The Study Skills Handbook is for you! Stella Cottrell has helped hundreds of thousands of students to make learning easier, faster and more enjoyable. Recognising that we all have our own unique formula for success, her tried and trusted approach allows you to find the key to unlock your potential and develop the skills you need to improve your grades, build your confidence and plan for the future you want. This fully revised fourth edition features: • Chapters on all the core study skills - including research, critical thinking, academic writing, revision, team work and more • E-learning coverage throughout • Illustrations and a strong visual design - acting as memory joggers, reinforcing learning and making the book more accessible, fun and engaging • Lots of new material including brand new chapters on student success and time management " publisher website Publisher's description: Covering everything you need to know to succeed in college, this book helps you to develop the skills you need to improve your grades, build your confidence and plan the future you want. Its no-nonsense advice and practical activities will help you to identify those methods that work for you, making learning easier, faster and more enjoyable