Simplify Your Study: Effective Strategies for Coursework and Exams

contents
acknowledgements
introduction
	simplify your study
	the aim of study
	thinking differently
	the content of the book
	the value of preparation
	how to use the book
1 organisation and planning
	1.1 making an assessed work overview
		the aim
		why this can help you
		the strategy
		making a more detailed overview
	1.2 making a semester or academic year planner
		the aim
		why this can help you
		the strategy
	1.3 making and using a weekly planner
		the aim
		why this can help you
		the strategy
	1.4 creating effective study sessions
		the aim
		why this can help you
		the strategy
		monitoring your work sessions
2 reading
	2.1 reading: getting started
	2.2 the importance of focus in reading
	2.3 using indicators to read
	2.4 finding the information you need: skimming and scanning
		skimming
		scanning
		aids to scanning
	2.5 prereading by using other sources
	2.6 reading and visual disturbance
3 making notes
	3.1 making notes in spatial form (spatial note making)
		the aim
		why this can help you
		the strategy
		organising your spatial notes
		spatial note making, mind maps and mind mapping software
		examples of spatial note making
	3.2 drawing an understanding
	3.3 skeleton note making for lectures
	3.4 making notes with templates
		the aim
		why this can help you
		the strategy
	3.5 using a template: making notes for seminars
		what is a seminar?
		what are the aims of seminars?
		preparing for seminars
		a strategic approach to reading for seminars
		a template for making notes for seminars and in seminars
	3.6 using templates: taking notes from verbal communication
		a nursing student on placement: Maria’s table
		a medical student on placement: Rachel’s template
		meetings with a dissertation supervisor: Chang’s agenda template
	3.7 using a template: doing a critical review
		what is a critical review?
		taking notes for a critical review using the template
4 critical thinking for academic writing
	4.1 what is critical thinking?
		critical thinking as a conscious cognitive process
		critical thinking as a process that uses skills and strategies
		critical thinking as a process that changes the thinker
	4.2 critical thinking: practice, theory, research, policy
		the aim
		why this can help you
		the strategy
	4.3 critical thinking and spatial note making
	4.4 critical thinking: questions for description and discussion
		understanding what you need to do
		thinking about the information and ideas you read during research
	4.5 description and discussion in academic writing
		the aim
		why this can help you
		the strategy
		description in academic writing
		discussion in academic writing
		discussion and evidence in academic writing
5 academic writing
	5.1 what is academic writing?
		caution: the tone of academic writing
	5.2 academic writing: 15 points to consider
	5.3 the building blocks of academic writing
	5.4 learning words visually
		the aim
		why this can help you
		the strategy
	5.5 an easy way to write simple sentences
		the aim
		why this can help you
		the strategy
	5.6 building a paragraph with description and discussion
		the aim
		why this can help you
		the strategy
	5.7 the Paragraph Buster!
		the aim
		why this can help you
		the strategy
		conclusion paragraphs
		the aim of a paragraph
	5.8 using quotes in academic writing
		how to set out a quote in your writing
		introducing the quote
	5.9 plagiarism and how to avoid it
		what is plagiarism?
		what is common knowledge?
		plagiarism and discussion
		plagiarism detection software (PDS)
		checking for plagiarism before you submit your work
		paraphrasing: using your own syntax
		referencing your work
		footnotes and endnotes
6 producing essays
	6.1 what is an essay?
		the structure of essays
		the length of essays
		the content of essays: sentences and paragraphs
	6.2 producing essays: a 10 step strategy
		the aim
		why this can help you
		the strategy
		producing essays (a 10 step strategy): a visual overview of the strategy
	6.3 making a spatial breakdown of essay questions
		the aim
		why this can help you
		the strategy
	6.4 using a spatial overview during the research phase
		the aim
		why this can help you
		the strategy
	6.5 the order of content in essays
		the order of content in essays
	6.6 making an essay plan with aims
		the essay plan
	6.7 writing introductions and conclusions for essays
		what is a thesis statement?
		writing an essay introduction
		writing an essay conclusion
	6.8 grade your own essay
		the aim
		why this can help you
		the strategy
7 reflective writing
	7.1 reflective writing as part of reflective practice
		what is reflective writing?
		what is the aim of reflective practice and reflective writing?
		how can reflective writing help you improve your knowledge and skills?
		reflective writing and revealing weakness
		reflective writing and group work failures
		using academic references in reflective writing
		sources of evidence used in reflective writing
		practice and theory
	7.2 reflective writing: style and structure
		writing style of reflective writing
		the structure of reflective writing assignments
	7.3 a model and template for reflective writing
		a template for reflective writing
	7.4 models for reflective practice
		Rolfe (1993): a framework for reflective practice
		Kolb (1984): an experiential learning model (after Lewin)
		Atkins and Murphy (1994): a framework for reflection
		Johns (1995): a model of structured reflection
		Driscoll (2007): a model of structured reflection
	7.5 using Gibbs’ reflective cycle in coursework
		Gibbs’ reflective cycle (or Gibbs’ reflective model)
		a template for using Gibbs’ model
		the structure of a reflective coursework assignment using Gibbs’ model
		using a word count
		including academic references in your reflective writing
8 doing a dissertation
	8.1 dissertation types and length
		what is a dissertation?
		empirical dissertation
		systematic literature review
		theoretical dissertation
		the length of dissertations
	8.2 writing a research proposal and making a schedule
		the research proposal
		the research question and hypothesis, aims and objectives
		annotated reference list or annotated bibliography
		making a time schedule (using a Gantt chart)
	8.3 doing a dissertation: making a spatial overview
		the aim
		why this can help you
		the strategy
		working with a supervisor
		the research question
	8.4 the dissertation title and title page
	8.5 writing an abstract
		what is an abstract?
	8.6 dissertation introductions and conclusions
		the introduction
		the conclusion
	8.7 doing a literature review
		what is a literature review?
		what is the purpose of a literature review?
		your research question and the literature review
		taking notes for a literature review
		the structure of a literature review
		epistemology and ontology
		the literature review and other parts of the dissertation
		some criticisms to avoid
	8.8 writing a methodology
		methodology and method
	8.9 findings and the discussion of findings
		results or findings?
		findings: presentation and description
		the discussion of findings
		asking questions for discussion
	8.10 doing a systematic review
		what is a systematic review?
		breaking the systematic review into smaller tasks
		when do I analyse the papers?
	8.11 analysing research papers with templates
		using existing templates
		making your own template
	8.12 presenting your dissertation: a 4 step strategy
		the aim
		why this can help you
		the strategy
9 revision and examinations
	9.1 making an exam overview table
		the aim
		why this can help you
		the strategy
	9.2 the 3 step revision strategy
		the aim
		why this can help you
		the strategy
		the benefits of making spatial notes for revision
	9.3 making and using a revision planner
	9.4 multiple choice questions (MCQs)
		preparing and revising for MCQ exams
		an examination strategy for MCQ exams
		MCQs and visual disturbance
	9.5 short answer questions (SAQs)
		making revision notes for SAQs
		a template for descriptive questions
	9.6 the 4 step exam strategy for long answer questions (LAQs)
		the aim
		why this can help you
		the strategy
		preparing for and doing LAQs
	9.7 writing a gobbet for examinations
		what is a gobbet?
		templates for writing a gobbet
	9.8 open book examinations
		what is an open book exam?
		create an alphabetic and thematic index
		off campus or take home exams
		when you know the question or topic before the exam
	9.9 oral exams and dissertations
		what is an oral examination?
		preparing for an oral exam of your dissertation
list of resources available to download
bibliography
index