This chapter looks at the many worries you have about being a student, your learning style and engaging with the support available to help you get organised and manage your studies.

Listen to the Chapter 1 podcast from Monica Gribben here

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Activity 1.1 Your worry - identifying, mapping, scaling

Activity 1.2 Re-shaping your worries

Activity 1.3 Visual, auditory or tactile learner – or simply a bit of everything?

Activity 1.4 Styled learning

Activity 1.5 What’s needed in your study bag?

Activity 1.6 Your w.w.w. study space

Activity 1.7 Time it, plan it

Activity 1.8 Mirroring Janus – worst and best

This chapter looks at the ‘tomorrow never comes’ habit by taking you through the Five Step Getting into Gear Process involved in facing your procrastination habits and in breaking the mould.

Listen to the Chapter 2 podcast from Monica Gribben here

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Activity 2.1 Defining your goals

Activity 2.2 Name it to change it!

Activity 2.3 Scaling

Activity 2.4 So what’s really stopping you?

Activity 2.5 Mirroring Janus

Activity 2.6 Advertising you

Activity 2.7 Name it, colour it!

Activity 2.8 Scale your feeling

Activity 2.9 Traffic light, all systems go!

Activity 2.10 Complete your procrastination Mapping Man

This chapter deals with the before, during and after processes involved in dealing with lecture material. It presents strategies to improve your note-taking skills, and helps you connect old knowledge with new so you can make the most of your lectures.

Listen to the Chapter 3 podcast from Monica Gribben here

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Activity 3.1 – Your notes

Activity 3.3 – Connections

Appendix 3 – Answers to Activity 3.3

This chapter helps you to understand your assignment so your response is considered, balanced and answers the question set. It looks at the key asking words in the task set, what they mean and what you need to do next. If you’ve a clear understanding of what you need to do, you’ll be sure to do well.

Listen to the Chapter 4 podcast from Monica Gribben here

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Activity 4.1 Question - from word to meaning

Activity 4.2 Question - breaking down the bits to understand the whole

Activity 4.3 The Meaning Wheel

Activity 4.4 Question – from word to what to do next

Activity 4.5 Brainstorming

This chapter looks at the processes involved in gathering information from the library and online resources. It takes you through the searching, finding and using stages of effectively sourcing what you need for your assignments, and tells you how to avoid plagiarism.

Listen to the Chapter 5 podcast from Monica Gribben here

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Activity 5.1 Library Treasure Hunt

Activity 5.2 Summarising and paraphrasing

This chapter helps you to understand what’s meant by critical thinking, and to put it into practice in your assignments.

Listen to the Chapter 6 podcast from Monica Gribben here

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Activity 6.1 Your thought pot

Activity 6.2 Comparing thought pots

Activity 6.3 Dissecting the lecture

Activity 6.4 Core and fingertips critical thinking skills

Activity 6.5 Critical thinking wall

This chapter helps you understand the processes involved in writing your assignment. It deals with practical points such as structure and academic language, and suggests ways of dealing with writer’s block, so you can progress from your first draft to finished product.

Listen to the Chapter 7 podcast from Monica Gribben here

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Activity 7.1 Reversals – note it!

Activity 7.2 Reversals

Activity 7.3 SWOT It

Activity 7.4 How much do you know?

Activity 7.5 Goals

Activity 7.6 Think free, write free

Activity 7.7 Personalised block buster cards

Activity 7.8 Unlock the block

Activity 7.9 First draft checklist

Activity 7.10 Second draft checklist

Activity 7.11 Final edit checklist

This chapter looks at the Honours Dissertation Project. Using the Dissertation Diamond, it helps you understand the DRWR processes involved in producing a gem of a final year paper, from initial conception to finished product.

Listen to the Chapter 8 podcast from Monica Gribben here

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Activity 8.1 Scaling

Activity 8.2 Key costs

Activity 8.3 Noted deadlines

Activity 8.4 Sticker or Drifter

Activity 8.5 Data collection timeline

Activity 8.6 The What’s?

This chapter looks at the art of referencing your work. It explains plagiarism and how to avoid this by following the MRTR four-step process: Managing, Recording, Thinking, Referencing.

Listen to the Chapter 9 podcast from Monica Gribben here

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Activity 9.1 MRTR

Activity 9.2 The ‘W’ Questions

Activity 9.3 Practise your referencing skills

Activity 9.4 In-text citations

This chapter looks at exams: how to deal with things before your exams and on the exam day. It helps you organise your revision, giving you techniques for dealing with different exams. It looks at exam stress and how to switch off after your exams.

Listen to the Chapter 10 podcast from Monica Gribben here

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Activity 10.1 Note your support

Activity 10.2 Colour those triggers and add your own

Activity 10.4 Your bigger picture

Activity 10.5 Revision hours

Activity 10.6 Final check

Activity 10.7 Switch on or switch off

Table 10.1 - Your revision notes

This chapter looks at Oral Presentations. Using the Presentation Pyramid, it takes you through the steps involved in good oral presentation preparation and delivery, from initial planning to the live presentation.

Listen to the Chapter 11 podcast from Monica Gribben here

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Activity 11.2 Pyramid Planning

Activity 11.3 Engaging Pyramids

Activity 11.4 Anticipating Pyramids

Activity 11.5 It’s all in the timing

Activity 11.6 Checklist

This chapter looks at making the most of your academic feedback so you can become an independent learner. The Consider, Assess and Practise (CAP) feedback process will help you progress in your academic knowledge, develop a deeper understanding of your subject area and acquire the skills needed to demonstrate that knowledge and understanding in your assignments.

Listen to the Chapter 12 podcast from Monica Gribben here

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Activity 12.1 Remove the Person, keep the Ally

Activity 12.2 Consider the feedback

Activity 12.3 From message to feedback

Activity 12.4 From feedback to strategy

Activity 12.5 From strategy to action

Activity 12.6 Looking back to feed forward