Writing Centre Seminar
Meeting the University’s
Expectations for Study
Dr Jillian Schedneck
Writing Centre
Welcome!
Congratulations on joining the University of Adelaide student
body!
You’ve achieved a lot to get here.
I hope this talk will help fast track your
future study and give you key insights
into studying in Australia.
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University of Adelaide students
‘Studying at the University of Adelaide means being part of a rich
tradition of excellence in education and research, with worldclass academic staff and a vibrant student life.’
‘We are committed to producing graduates recognised
worldwide for their creativity, knowledge and skills, as well as
their culture and tolerance. Our graduates make an impact on
the world.’
http://www.adelaide.edu.au/uni/
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Outline
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A new approach to learning
Uni expectations
Managing your time
Avoiding plagiarism
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Independent study
• Be prepared for the different kind of work
• Be prepared for the different pace
The University of Adelaide
Slide 6
Independent study
• Be prepared for a different teaching and learning environment:
• Lectures, tutorials, practicals, workshops, seminars,
independent work
• Large student numbers, anonymity
• Check this glossary of terms:
http://www.adelaide.edu.au/study/glossary/
• Take responsibility for your own learning
• Make the effort to develop social relationships
The University of Adelaide
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A new approach to learning: Becoming an
independent learner
Dependent ‘reactive’ learner
Independent ‘proactive’ learner
Requires the university to set the agenda
Provides much more of their own structure
Needs/wants to be told what to do all the time
Takes ownership of and responsibility for their
own learning
Expects rewards/punishments
Seek and uses feedback to improve in the future
Assumes learning equates to presence in class
Recognises that learning involves more than
mere presence
Blames their poor performance on the system or
others
Works on strategies to improve their future
performance
Expects that they will be helped without having to Seeks held at all stages and not only in problem
ask
areas
.
Adapted from Wallace, Schirato, & Bright, 1999, p.39
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A new approach: Transitioning to Australian
university
As you move into a new ‘culture’, you will all face unfamiliar
places and people, and plenty of ‘independence’.
The transition process involves:
• adapting to new teaching and learning styles
• engaging with coordinators, lecturers, tutors and other
students
• balancing social and academic responsibilities
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Student Testimonial 1
When I finished Year 12 I had no idea what I
wanted to do. I changed my uni preferences
four times and I was still unsure which uni I
wanted to go to and whether I actually
wanted to go at all… Once I decided to start, I
never looked back.
Oliver (Science)
The University of Adelaide
Slide 10
Student Testimonial 2
Once you begin your first week of lectures,
tutorials and practicals, the culture shock
begins! University is completely different to
high school. The new demands, expectations
and independence can take a while to adjust
to, but don't be intimidated by these.
Sean (Bachelor of Engineering)
The University of Adelaide
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Student Testimonial 3
...university is not just about study, it's also
about mixing with different people from other
cultures. For me it's about learning how to
handle different situations in life rather than
just about study. Try to enjoy your time
because university years are the best years.
Wilson (International Student)
The University of Adelaide
Slide 12
Expectations
• Attend all required course meetings and arrive on time
• Participate when appropriate by paying active attention
and speaking up during discussions
• Make sure you’ve done your reading and tried to
understand the course content, and ask a question when
you don’t understand
• Talk to your peers
• Send appropriate*
emails to your tutors
and lecturers
*appropriate address, good
grammar, polite, not
demanding
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Expectations
• Possess academic integrity; avoid plagiarism and write in
your own voice (using your own words)
• Submit assignments on time
• Participate in group assignments and support your group
members
• Think, read, write and speak critically (ask questions of
what you are learning, rather than passively accepting
information)
• Be active in your learning (rather than only memorising
and repeating)
• Seek help when you need it from the many resources
available at this university
• Be passionate about your studies!
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Another expectation: checking My Uni
Every course of study has an online presence
Access university information any time
Content includes:
Course Information
Lecture Notes
Announcements
Calendar
Assessment Tasks
Schedules / Timetables
Tutorial Questions
Quizzes & Past Exams
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Another expectation: Uni email
Check your uni email
at least once a day.
Use the Academic
Skills Resources course
in MyUni.
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In your lectures
Take notes BUT
• Don’t try to write everything
down.
• Don’t simply copy the PowerPoint
slides.
• Do listen before you start to write.
If the lecturer is too fast
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Write down questions to find out or ask later
Try to follow the structure of the talk
Prepare before the lecture
Talk to other students about the course
Check the course guide to help answer questions
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After the lecture
• Do any assigned reading
• Write down a summary of what you learned
• Discuss the lecture with a friend
• Look for possible
exam questions
Lecture
• Revise your notes
100
90
before the next lecture
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
1 hour
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24 hours
7 days
1 month
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A good approach to reading
Note
1. Look quickly to get a general idea
Predict
2. Read the useful sections in more detail
Scan
3. Write down important information
Skim
4. Look for specific words and information
Analyse
5. Look at the title and work out the content
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Taking a critical approach
Your approach should always be critical
Ask yourself:
– Why am I reading this?
– How does it (potentially) relate to my research focus/question?
– What specific questions do I expect to be answered?
– What extra unexpected points did I find?
• Be prepared to be surprised!
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Group work
Example group activity:
Write a policy report about whether
or not the burqua should be banned
in Australia.
There are resources for group work
in the Writing Centre and within
the Academic Skills Resources
course.
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Managing Your Time: Ask Yourself
What are your priorities?
How long does it take to get to Uni?
Could you use that time to study (e.g. on the bus)?
• If you are sick, you can ask for an extension.
• Don’t let work build up!
• Read tips about time management in UniThrive
http://www.adelaide.edu.au/uni-thrive/
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Managing your time
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Attending your required course meetings
Preparing for courses
Completing assignments
Meeting peers for group assignments
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Eating well
Getting enough sleep
Exercising
Seeing sights around Adelaide and Australia
Having fun with new friends
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Managing your time: assignments
Kinds of assignments:
• Essay
• Report
• Article review
• Literature review
• Lab report
• Case study
• Reflective journal
• Oral presentation
What is the best way to handle time management for a research assignment
due in three weeks?
Sample essay assignment:
Discuss some of the new sustainable energy technologies for Australia.
What if this was a presentation?
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As you write your assignments: think about
academic integrity
What is academic integrity?
• Acknowledging sources through correct referencing
• Writing in your own voice (making it clear whose ideas are
being expressed—yours or a source’s)
There are many resources about
how to reference well and have
academic integrity:
Writing Centre Learning Guides
Academic Skills Resources
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Avoiding plagiarism
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Kinds of plagiarism
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Plagiarism of authorship
Word for word plagiarism
Paraphrasing plagiarism
Plagiarism of ideas
Overuse of quotation
The University of Adelaide Policy on Academic Honesty (2011)
http://www.adelaide.edu.au/policies/230/
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Reasons for plagiarism:
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Laziness, poor time management strategies
Lack of English language resources
Wanting to show respect for the sources
Lack confidence in your ideas
Giving up / not knowing what else to do
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Avoiding plagiarism: take good notes
• Take notes effectively:
– Know the difference between your own
summaries of sources and direct quotes from a
source
• Don’t just highlight
Write down notes in your notebook or
straight into a Word document
– Write down your ideas and the source’s
ideas in your own words
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Use three categories of notes
1. Direct quotes from a source
(include quotation marks + page number)
2. Your version of the author’s point
(include the page number and your initials)
3. Your own comments on what you read
(add your initials to these notes)
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More tips to avoid plagiarism
• Avoid stringing together quotes and paraphrases.
– Express your ideas in your own, simple language.
– Your tutors and markers will appreciate this much more than what you
would produce by stringing together the words of others.
• Write in English. Avoid writing in your native language and
translating to English.
• Use Turnitin—a text matching software.
http://www.adelaide.edu.au/writingcentre/plagiarism/
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Common pitfalls: What to avoid
You might have trouble adjusting to university if you:
• Don’t ask for help
• Only want to memorise and not apply knowledge or think
critically
• Wait until the last minute to start your assignments
• Avoid speaking in English outside of class
• Remain insecure about participating in tutorials
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How to get the most out of your classes and
assignments
• Be confident in your language abilities
• Assume that your Australian peers are friendly and helpful
• Put in the hours necessary to complete most of your reading
and all of your assignments
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How to get the most out of your classes and
assignments
• Make sure you grasp the KEY CONCEPTS for each week in
each of your courses
• Follow assignment instructions carefully—complete them
step by step
• Ask your tutor questions if you are unsure about any
assignment instructions
• Ask for extension if you need it. Be honest with your tutor.
• Use the university resources to help you
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Writing Centre Learning Guide
recommendations
Learning at University
Group Work
Managing Your Time
Making Notes
Avoiding Plagiarism
Practical Study Habits
http://www.adelaide.edu.au/writingcentre/learning_guides/
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Writing Centre Details
WEB:
FACEBOOK:
EMAIL:
PHONE:
VISIT:
www.adelaide.edu.au/writingcentre
www.facebook.com/WritingCentreUofA
writingcentre@adelaide.edu.au
8313 3021
Level 3 Hub Central, 10am-4pm Mon-Fri