Many students find the 'step up' from school or college work to university study a challenge. The same is frequently true for those returning to study after time spent in the workplace. If you find yourself in either of these situations then this is the book for you. Straightforward and sympathetic, this accessible handbook will help you to develop the essential skills in three of the core aspects of university study: reading, writing and reasoning.
Drawing on a wealth of experience of working with students in a variety of settings, Gavin Fairbairn and Christopher Winch have completely revised and updated this best selling text. It is packed with practical advice, examples and exercises that will be invaluable for all students and assist in developing effective reading practices, high quality academic writing and critical thinking skills.
The new edition contains:
- Expanded coverage on plagiarism and how to avoid it
- Additional guidance on structuring writing
- Suggestions for overcoming writer's block
- Tasks designed to reflect on key issues and practice skills
- Guidance for tutors on how to help students
Introduction: Reading and writing; talking and thinking
Part 1 Reading as a Student
- Finding meaning in written texts
- Cultural literacy
- Thinking about what, why, when, where and how you read
- Approaching reading in different ways and at different levels
- SQ3R: Survey, question, read, recite, review (Beard 1990)
- Taking notes about what you have read
Part 2 Writing as a student
- The purpose of essays and other written tasks
- The writing process
- Getting your writing right: punctuation, grammar and spelling
- Getting your writing right: citation and referencing
- Getting your writing right: thinking about style
Part 3 Developing arguments in your writing
- Influencing the beliefs of others
- Arguments of a different kind
- Analysing and evaluating arguments
- Postscript
Gavin Fairbairn is Professor of Ethics and Language at Leeds Metropolitan University, UK. He has published widely and his books include "Reading at University" (Open University Press, 2001) and "Becoming an Author" (Open University Press, 2006).
Christopher Winch is Professor Educational Philosophy and Policy and Head of Department in the Department of Education and Professional Studies, King's College, London, UK. He has published widely in philosophy, linguistics and education.
A concise and useful guide, which provides an overview of the skills necessary to good reviewing ... Dealing clearly with traditional sources such as books and journals alongside recent developments such as wikis, blogs, and other online material, this handbook provides students with not only the basics, but guidance on the evolving issues in research dissemination and literature reviewing.
- Daniel Zahra, Student, University of Plymouth, UK