How to Study

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

"Phil Race has a rare talent for expressing profound wisdom and sound advice in words which his readers find easy to understand and in suggestions which they can and do readily follow to good effect. He does this, again, in his new book – which is not so much a book as a rich library of booklets within one volume. These should guide any student reader through all the different and difficult demands which the university experience generates. ... he has linked chains of advice points into splendid plans of attack for use in dealing with each new challenge. I especially liked the plans for essay writing and coping with examinations, because they contained so much that I wish I had been told as a student, expressed in terms I wish I could have passed on to my own students." John Cowan, Emeritus Professor of Learning Development, the Open University

"I was very disorganised at university so a lot of what is in How to Study left me wincing. It is spot on. Taking control of learning and taking responsibility can be the hardest parts of successful university study. Phil Race shows what is possible with forward planning. Not everyone needs all the tips but all of us I suspect could have done with some of them. And every little helps." Sally Hunt, General Secretary, AUT

"I believe that this is an excellent resource which would, I am sure, be of benefit to all students trying to cope with the demands of higher education." Graham Henderson, Vice Chancellor, University of Teesside

This book is much more than a manual. It is a self-help guide to students of all ages and can be used either by dipping in and out, or reading it, as I did, systematically from cover to cover. I wish I had had a book like this when I was a student and would certainly recommend it to anyone." Susan Bassnett, pro-Vice Chancellor, University of Warwick

"A very readable and enjoyable study guide" Karen Monaghan, BSc (Hons) Psychology - 3rd Year, Glasgow Caledonian University & BPS/SMG Member's Liaison Officer 2002/3 - 2003/4

Featured in The Bookseller's 'Back to School' issue, Friday June 13 2003

Phil Race is Professor in the Educational Development Unit at the University of Glamorgan. He has spent many years working with both lecturers and students to develop their study and transferrable skills.

How to Study is the ideal companion for all students at college or university. It contains around 1,000 practical tips, taking students from their first lectures through to their final exams and beyond.

The book covers a wide range of concerns including:

• Getting through assessments – how to write essays, give presentations, prepare for and sit exams.
• Handling the ups and downs of being a student – how to manage disappointments and get out of trouble.
• Getting a job – how to create a CV, write job applications and succeed at interview.

All the tips are written in a jargon-free, friendly style and are illustrated with humorous cartoons.

How to Study helps students to use their study time wisely, productively and efficiently, so that they still have time to enjoy the rest of student life.