Writing Centre Seminar
Writing and Study Skills Seminar
How to Get the Most Out
of Your Courses
Rosie Gronthos
Writing Centre
Welcome
I hope this talk will help you to get the most
from your readings, tutorials and lectures by
providing you with useful strategies to take
efficient notes and manage assignment
deadlines.
University of Adelaide
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Outline
• Manage your time to meet assignment
deadlines
• Participating in tutorials
• How to take efficient and accurate notes?
• How to get the most from your readings?
• Useful Learning Guides
• Maths Learning Centre
University of Adelaide
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Managing your time
At the start of the semester
The University of Adelaide Planning Calendar
http://www.adelaide.edu.au/student/dates/academic/
Download print version of the 2015 Academic Year Dates (pdf).
http://www.adelaide.edu.au/governance/principal_dates/
2015%20calendar.pdf
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Plan the semester
For each course you are enrolled in:
• Write due dates and percentages for each
assignment
• Note any other commitments
• Mark important dates besides your
assessment due dates
• Keep your planner close to where you study
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On a weekly basis
• Add your contact time onto your planner
• Add non-negotiable commitments
Can see blocks of time you have available in
a week to fit in your non-contact time.
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At the start of each week
• Overview your commitments
Allow for free time, rest and social
activities
• Try to schedule one hour blocks for tasks
• Break down major assessment tasks into
manageable ‘bits’
• Use small amounts of time for less demanding
tasks
• Allow enough time for your preparation
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How to manage assignment
deadlines?
• Use extensions only for emergencies
• Go through the correct procedure to
obtain an extension
• Always contact the lecturer as soon as
possible
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What is a tutorial for?
• To discuss the concepts in the course in
more detail and how they apply in various
situations.
• To have more interaction with each other
and the teaching staff than in a lecture.
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What might happen in a tutorial?
This is different in different courses and
with different tutors. You might:
• watch the tutor present examples
• have a large-group discussion of readings
• work in small groups on problems or
discussion questions
• take turns presenting to the class.
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Prepare for tutorials
• Check your course information guide or
course home page to find prior readings
for each session
• Complete any activities you may have been
asked to do in preparation
• Review your notes from the week’s lecture
• Write any questions or comments
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Participating in tutorials
• Be an active participant
• Ask any questions relating to the lecture or
readings at the start of the tutorial
• Ask any questions about the assessment
process or tasks
• Be proactive in the discussion
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Participating in tutorials
• Aim to say at least one thing in every
tutorial
• Come with some comments/questions
prepared
• Listen respectfully when others speak
• Take accurate and efficient notes
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Note taking
Before the lecture
• Access lecture notes on MyUni if they are
available
• Do the set reading
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During the lecture
• Sit where you can hear and see the material
clearly
• Put the date, name of the course and topic at the
top of your notes
• Number the pages of your notes
• Do not try to copy exactly what the lecturer says
• Keep to the main ideas, concepts and terms
• Look for cues from the lecturer on what is
important to note
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During the lecture
• Develop an abbreviation system that
works for you
• Use diagrams or graphs to summarise
information
• Attend lectures and use effective noting
taking skills
• Engage critically with the lecture material
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After the lecture
• Review your notes
• Talk to students or ask the tutor if you are
unsure
• Store your notes in a clearly marked folder
or organised in efficient manner
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Making notes from readings
• Clearly head notes with the course and
topic
• Note full bibliographic details
• Try to write a one sentence thesis
statement
• Keep your notes to the main point or key
ideas
• Try to write the points in your own words
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Making notes from readings
• Note any page numbers for direct quotes
• Leave space for critical comments
• Store notes in an orderly and easily accessible
way
Be selective when making notes from
your readings.
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Useful Learning Guides
•
•
•
•
•
•
Making Notes
Note-taking Abbreviations
Managing Your Time
Participating in Tutorials
Active Listening
Mind Mapping
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Maths Learning Centre
Drop-in service
• 10am to 4pm weekdays
• Sit down and one of the staff will come to you
• Any mathematical component in any course
• Level 3 Hub Central
Web resources
• Worksheets to revise assumed knowledge
• Recordings of revision lectures for particular courses
• www.adelaide.edu.au/mathslearning/
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To sum up
• Manage assignment deadlines by using a
semester planning calendar
• Be an active participant in tutorials
• Use effective noting taking skills during
lectures
• Be selective when making notes from
readings
• Take accurate notes by finding a method
that works best for you
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For further thoughts
Thank you. Are there any questions?
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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