Department of Economics University of Leicester 2010/11 SO’H Study Skills Tutorial Department of Economics University of Leicester 2010/11 SO’H

Study Skills Tutorial Aims:   To develop tactics for getting the most out of lectures To learn some tips for using text books To start to plan your use of time To answer any queries Getting the most out of lectures

Getting the most out of lectures Topic 1 Suppose you feel… The lecturer seems to dictate notes rather quickly, and you can’t write everything down  Should you  Learn to write shorthand Take a tape recorder to the lectures Just listen to the lecturer and make notes on the lecture later Write down only topic headings Interrupt with a question Ask the lecturer at the end to put his/her lecture notes on the web As your tutor to go through it all again at the next tutorial Do something else…(suggest what).

Getting the most out of lectures Topic 2  Suppose you feel… It is difficult to copy down economics diagrams in lectures. Should you Ask the lecturer to provide handouts of them Interrupt as the diagram is being drawn and ask the lecturer to go more slowly Look in the textbook to see if the diagrams are there Write down on the lecturer’s verbal description of how the curves intersect Re-draw the diagrams for yourself after the lecture Do something else…(suggest what).

Getting the most out of lectures Topic 3 Suppose you feel… You find the first part of the lecture boring, your attention wanders and 15 minutes later you realise you have no idea what the lecturer is talking about. Should you Get up and leave the lecture Ask your neighbour what the lecturer is saying Look out for the next heading the lecturer gives and try to pick up the lecture from there Look in the course outline to see what is scheduled for the day’s lecture Make notes only of what you understand Make notes only of what your don’t understand do something else…(suggest what).

Selecting and using books & papers Topic 4 Suppose… You are given a module outline that lists 12 books under the heading “Recommended Reading”. Should you Decide not to buy any of them, because 12 books is too many and the Library will have them all in stock. Look each book up in the Library catalogue and buy a copy of the books of which are there is only 1 copy in the Library Look further at the module outline to see if there is a “main recommendation”, and if so buy that book. Ask your tutor’s advice about which books to buy Decide to use your old ‘A’ level text instead Do something else…(suggest what).

Selecting and using books & papers Topic 5 Suppose… You work through a worked example in the recommended text, but get a different answer. Should you Feel sure your work is wrong, so immediately throw it away Mention this to your tutor at the next tutorial Save your work, and take it along to you’re your tutor at the next tutorial Immediately go to see the Lecturer who recommended the book Ask someone else in your tutorial group if they can do that question Do something else…(suggest what).

Selecting and using books & papers Topic 6 Suppose… You are set an assignment topic with a deadline in 2 weeks time. Should you Put it aside for 10 days, then read the module text before writing the assignment Immediately check the Library catalogue and reserve all the books on the reading list in the Short Load collection Try to assess which books and papers that are recommended for the module are most likely to be relevant Use the index of the main textbook to find other useful reading Read only papers (journal articles) since these are more likely to be up-to-date Do something else…(suggest what).

Time Management Topic 7 Suppose… Should you Your bus is late and you are not sure of the room where your 9.30 tutorial is being held. By 9.45 you have still not located the room. Should you Decide to go back to Hall, because its now too late to go in. Ask a porter or secretary where the room is and go in Spend your first 10 minutes in the tutorial copying up the notes of the lecture you missed Apologise for your late arrival, find where the class are on the tutorial worksheets and try to join in with the work being done Keep quiet because you realise you have not prepared properly for the tutorial Do something else…(suggest what).

Time Management Topic 8 Suppose… Should you You are offered a place in a sports team that trains on Monday afternoons, when you have a tutorial timetabled. Should you Decline the place in the team Accept the place only if you can train at another time Take up the place and miss the tutorials Discuss the situation with your Personal Tutor Ask at the Office if you could move to another tutorial group Do something else…(suggest what).

Time Management Topic 9 Suppose… Should you You find one of your modules difficult and by 5 weeks into the semester you have done little work for it. Should you Stop going to all lecturers so you can work continuously at the work for this module Ask another student taking the module for some help Ask your Personal Tutor for help Ignore the assignment that is due and decide to catch up immediately before the exams Buy the recommended text and start to work through it from the beginning Do something else…(suggest what).