Preface Chapter 1 Studying: a life changing experienceDifference patterns of work and studyAuditing your support networkUnderstanding your learning styleUsing your workplace as a source of learningFinding a place and time to studyTime managementBarriers to learningManaging morale and motivationReferences / further reading Chapter 2 Personal Development PlanningReflective WritingPersonal Development Planning (PDP)Producing a Professional Development PortfolioReferences / Further reading Chapter 3 Strategies for supporting learningUsing the Learning Resources CentreReading effectivelyMaking notes and effective summaries of textsIdentifying key points from lecturesLearning in tutorials, groups and seminarsLooking at available support for improving basic skillsReferences / Further reading Chapter 4 Using technology to enhance your learningUsing the internet and electronic resourcesThe importance of anti-virus software and backupsLearning online in the virtual classroomDeveloping your information technology skills Chapter 5 Preparing for researchPreliminary issuesGaining access to workplace dataThe research processDetermining what to researchEthical considerationsReviewing the literatureEnsuring validity and reliabilityChoosing your research sampleReferences / Further reading Chapter 6 Data collection, analysis and presentationChoosing an appropriate methodologyQualitative data collection methodsQuantitative data collection methodsAnalysing qualitative dataAnalysing quantitative dataPresenting the findingsDrawing conclusions from the dataReferences / Further reading Chapter 7 Quotations, citations and bibliographiesWhy you need to cite your sourcesQuotation in the textHow to cite work in the textUsing and citing electronic materialFootnotes and endnotesCompiling a bibliographyElectronic bibliographic managementHow to avoid plagiarismReferences / Further Reading Chapter 8 Techniques for academic writingExpectations of academic writingUnderstanding generic assessment criteria and marking schemes Managing the writing process for producing assignmentsPreparing for your first essayWriting for academic purposes some practical guidanceThe process of writing your essayWriting reports and dissertationsReferences / Further reading Chapter 9 Developing Oral Presentation SkillsWhy develop presentation skillsParticipating in seminars and tutorialsHow to plan an effective presentationUsing audio visual aidsUsing PowerPoint and other technologyMaking your presentation Group presentationsReferences / Further reading Chapter 10 Coping with exams and revisionStress managementDrawing up a revision timetablePlanning an examination strategyThe night before the examThe day of the examDuring the examReferences / Further reading Chapter 11 After your degree: looking to the futureUsing your careers serviceAuditing your personal experiencesWriting a professional CVCompleting your applicationReferences / Further reading BibliographyGlossaryIndex