This page focuses on the most useful and concise resources available on the topic of 'study skills.'
Referencing guide | University of Westminster. This includes links to Cite Them Right, workshops, and information about plagiarism.
Grammarly guide. The University has subscribed to Grammarly for Education for all Westminster students and Staff. You can upload documents to the web version to check spelling and grammar.
Process words in essay titles | Link words and phrases| Use of sentences and paragraphs (Word docs) Three short useful documents that accompany Chapter 11 of The Good Study Guide
Finding and evaluating sources (Word document - 1000 words - five-minute read) | James Thickins (excerpted from the document below) - This looks at results from Google and results from Google Scholar and explains the latter's advantages.
Reading, researching and writing for essays, dissertations and projects (Word Document - 3000 words) | James Thickins. This fills in the gaps in some of the other guides.
Proofing and editing your work | UCAS (PDF). Sound advice from UCAS (using the read-aloud function in Word etc is also a good way of proofreading your work).
See the Grammarly guide for more information about uploading your drafts to Grammarly.
'Plan assignments backwards from deadline'. Part of the time-management resources accompanying the best-selling Study Skills Handbook by Stella Cotterell.
Pomodoro Technique (video - 2 mins). It doesn't work for everyone, but some people like it and there is research that seems to support its use.
Find out more at: www.pomodorotechnique.com
The Cornell Note-Taking System. All you need is the four-minute video below.
'How to impress and how to distress markers' | Pete Greasley (PDF). Learn about the 12 or so things that lecturers look for when marking assignments.
Using your feedback | University of Portsmouth (webpage). Good clear advice on interpreting and acting on the comments that most regularly appear on assignments
The frameworks for higher education qualifications of UK degree-awarding bodies. Read the generic grading criteria in the appendix for an insight into how assignments are marked.
Write Better Essays (YouTube playlist, 30 minutes). A series of eleven videos in which Bryan Greetham, author of How to write better essays*,talks about essay writing. The production values are not the highest, but some good advice is here.
How to write an essay | Prospects (website). This is a 1500-word overview of how you might approach writing an essay.
'How to write an academic essay' [contemporary art] (ebook chapter)* in: How to write about contemporary art | Gilda Williams (pp. 113-130). To create a PDF, press the printer icon and print pages 113-130
Essay writing [film] (ebook chapter)* In: Film; the essential study guide, pp. 95-107*
What's the truth got to do with anything? (1 minute clip from The History Boys - Box of Broadcasts)
Study Skills Booklet | Hodder Education (PDF - 10,000 words). Although aimed at 'A' Level students, the advice is relevant for any level of study. Highly recommended.
Study Skills for Art, Design, and Media *(book). A good overview, including sections on practical assignments and essay writing. There are chapters specific to: Fashion design | Fine art | Graphic design and illustration | Contemporary applied arts | Media | Photography.
Model to generate critical thinking | Plymouth University (PDF). A two-page model aimed at helping develop critical thinking needed for most essay writing assignments.
What do lecturers value in their students (2-minute video). This brief video is part of a course on preparing for university on the Future Learn platform and gives an insight into what lecturers value in their students.
It has more impact on educational effectiveness to change learners than it does to change teachers | Graham Gibbs (webpage). A concise and fascinating account of how the best students differ from the rest.
Library guides and Academic Skills guides | University of Westminser
Reading at University: a guide for students (book) - is useful to scan this book
Learning Development - advice and support
PhD research
Research for creative practice
