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INTRODUCTION TO STUDY SKILLS

By Tharcisse MUSABYIMANA

RATIONALE OF THE COURSE UNIT

No two people study the same way, and there is little doubt that what works for one person may not work

for another. However, there are some general techniques that seem to produce good results. Everyone is

different, and for some students, studying and being motivated to learn comes naturally. Students

success in high school and college is dependent on their ability to study effectively and efficiently. he

results of poor study skills are wasted time, frustration, and low or failing grades. !t is your life, your

time, and your future. ime is precious and not to be squandered, no matter what you believe right now.

his strand is designed to help develop effective study skills. !t is not a magic formula for success in

preparing for tests, or written or oral assignments. Studying any material requires work" However, by

using some techniques, students can gain a valuable edge in understanding material, preparing for tests,

and, ultimately, learning. his course contains some techniques of successful students # students who

typically have high grades in high school and college regardless of the courses they take. So read on,

think about what you read, and prepare to become a successful student"

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

$y the end of the course unit, students should be able to%

&. E'plain the philosophy behind (study skills)

*. +ifferentiate studying at high school and studying at colleges and universities

. +emonstrate clear understanding of information skills

-. E'plain key features of academic reading

. +emonstrate sound understanding of areas of academic writing

/. E'plain plagiarism and ways to avoid it

0. E'hibit clear grasp of presentation skills

1. 2learly e'plain e'amination skills

CONTENTS

!. 3npacking the concept (Study Skills)

!!. Studying at 3niversity # $ecoming an (independent learner)!!!. ime management

!4. !nformation skills

5inding your way around the library

!ntroduction to computer 6internet7

3sing sub8ect information sources

Evaluating information sources

4. 9aking notes

4!. :cademic reading

;eading skills

Effective reading

4!!. :cademic writing

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4!!!. ;eferencing, bibliography and plagiarism

!=. >resentation skills

=. E'amination skills

=!. ;eflection ? (;eflective learner)

COURSE UNIT EXAMINATION

!n order to pass this course unit, one must fulfil the following requirements 6a7 attendance of all lectures

and class participation 6b7 a final written e'am at the end of the course unit 6c7 an individual research

paper@essay and 6d7 a group pro8ect@assignment. 5ailure to complete these required components might

result in a failure. Ather components, such as weekly readings, and meeting deadlines for academic work

submissions, are strongly recommended.

Disri!"i#$ #% &ar's

RE(UIREMENT )ERCENTAGE

2lass attendance &BC

!ndividual :ssignments@Essays *BC

Droup :ssignments@>ro8ects *BC

5inal E'am BC

TOTAL *++,

I&-#ra$ $#e

9issing any of the above components will imply a loss of the indicated mark. his is not negotiable

unless in the gravest of circumstances.

Essays@assignments will be marked for the overall coherence and structure of both form and content.

2onsideration will be on the logical links between the various parts of the essay@assignment, as well as

between the argument set forth in the essay and the sources used. : well#researched and written 6typed7

essay must argue a position and must have references 6books, articles, etc.7. he essay@assignment must

include properly used references 6in#te't and end#of#te't references and whenever needed footnotes7.

: further discussion on essays@assignments and topics and due dates, will be held in class during the

course of study.

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USEFUL RESOURCES

:llan, $ 6*BB7, Study Skills for $usiness and 9anagement students, 9ilton Feynes, Apen 3niversity

>ress.

2ameron, S. 6*BB07 he $usiness Students Handbook, -th ed., Harlow, >rentice Hall.

2ottrell, S. 6*BB7, Skills for Success% the >ersonal +evelopment >lanning Handbook, $asingstoke,>algrave.

2ottrell, S. 6*BB7, he Study Skills Handbook, *nd ed., $asingstoke, >algrave.

+rew, S. and $ingham, ;. 6*BB&7, he Student Skills Duide, *nd ed., :ldershot, Dower.

Diles, F. and Hedge, N. 6&-7, he 9anagers Dood Study Duide, 9ilton Feynes, Apen 3niversity

>ress.

9oon, G. 6*BBB7, earning Gournals, ondon, Fogan >age.

>eck, G. and 2oyle, 9. 6&7, he Students Duide to unctuation and Spelling,

$asingstoke, >algrave.

Salmon, D. 6*BBB7, Emoderating, ondon, Fogan >age.

3niversity of Hull 6*BB7, : Duide to Study Skills for !nternational Students *BB#*BB-, Hull,

!nternational Affice, 3niversity of Hull.