Study skills and more ' Jonathan Culpeper

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Study skills and more .Jonathan Culpeper

• Department of Linguistics and English Language

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Whats coming up?

• INTRO WEEK SLOT (7th October, 1-4pm, Cavendish
  L.T.)
• 1.00-1.20 Introduction and general advice
  (Jonathan)
• 1.20-1.50 Making lectures a success (Jane)
• 1.50-2.20 Making seminars a success (Elena)
• 15 minute break
• 2.35-3.05 Critical thinking I Being sceptical
  (Mark)
• 3.05-3.35 Finding information I Learning
  resources (Florencia)
• 3.35-4.00 Finding information II Library (Andrew
  H.)

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and more

• MID-AUTUMN TERM SLOT (WEEK 5, time and venue to
  be arranged) (2 hours)
• Writing your assignment (Veronika and Andrew H.)
• Critical thinking II Weighing evidence (Andrew
  W.)
• Reading and referencing sources (Dianne)
• Plagiarism (Kevin)
• - Evaluation (Jonathan)

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Introduction

• University vs. school
• Tips for degree success
• The broad experience
• Skills and PDP
• Your future

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University vs. school

• Key difference
• you are more responsible for what you learn!
• Learning events
• lectures, seminars ( participation), workshops,
  coursework, reading, seminar preparation and
  doing exercises
• (Who is responsible for what?)

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University vs. school contd.

• Will I be able to cope?
• We assume a somewhat varied background.
• People drop out because of lack of motivation or
  personal calamity, not ability.
• If you still feel insecure after an area has been
  covered, read about it and raise the issue with
  the tutor
• Ive done it all before
• No you havent! Just because you see a familiar
  topic area (e.g. accent), doesnt mean that the
  level of detail and the theoretical background
  are the same. We teach what we research you get
  the latest thinking. We also expect a different
  level of understanding from you.

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Tips for degree success!

• . or fast ways to lose marks!!!
• Dont attend all lectures and seminars
• Dont do seminar preparation
• Dont participate in seminars
• Dont do the course reading
• Dont hand coursework in on time (cf. penalty
  system)

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Tips for degree success!

• A key for success Time management!
• Devise a weekly schedule (to include lectures,
  seminars, etc., but also self-reading/study
  periods).
• Devise a plan for the completion of coursework
  (factor in time for calamities).
• The schedule/plan must (a) be realistic, and (b)
  include relaxation time.
• One other tip use tutors office hours.

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The broad experience

• Dont think that university is just about
  acquiring academic content on courses
• Your courses will help you acquire transferable
  skills communication skills, leadership and
  team-working skills, critical thinking, time
  management, ability to write essays/reports,
  analytical skills, oral presentation skills,
  etc.
• And there is much more outside courses join a
  club, learn a language, take up a sport, be
  active in your JCR, join the LUSU Volunteer
  Service, explore the area, etc.

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Skills and PDP

• The university will not provide you with a
  transcript of what you achieve outside academic
  courses
• You will need to demonstrate to employers why you
  are special.
• Get cracking with PDP!
• www.lupdp.lancs.ac.uk

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Your future

• Be warned leaving career planning to the 3rd
  year is too late!
• We have arranged for Elaine Davies, from the
  Careers Service, to give brief talks to first
  years within lecture slots but you should visit
  the Career Centre as well.
• The departmental careers officer is Francis
  Katamba.