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Study Skills for University

ALL seminars focus on the requisites of academic learning and language study skills. Seminars provide strategies for making your transition into university life clearer and less stressful. Seminars will help you to develop study attitudes and techniques that will enhance your chances of becoming a more successful university student.

ALL seminars listed below form part of a ‘Study Skills’ developmental series. It is recommended that students undertake the whole series if possible.

• Seminar Room, Barr Smith Library, North Terrace campus (map)
• Suitable for undergraduate, honours and postgraduate coursework (PGCW) students
• Resources provided
• 50 minutes in duration
• Non-discipline specific
• No bookings necessary
• Please arrive on time

*  =  repeat seminars
See below table for brief seminar descriptions.

Seminar Descriptions

Time Management
Good time management is essential to success at university. Time management strategies allow you to spread your study load over the whole semester and avoid any last-minute rush, so you can cope more effectively when faced with many academic demands.

Avoiding Plagiarism
Learn the essential skill of avoiding plagiarism by understanding the essential characteristics of tertiary study and academic writing. This means that you should acknowledge other works related to the theme you are writing about, which would also add credibility to your work.

Referencing Correctly (Harvard)
At university you will be expected to read widely and to incorporate scholarly evidence in your assignments. The evidence you select is likely to come from a range of sources that must be acknowledged by using an accepted and subject-appropriate referencing system, such as Harvard style.

Seminar & Tutorial Presentations
A tutorial or seminar presentation is a common requirement in many university courses. Your oral presentation should fit comfortably into the allocated time limit and you should aim to speak fluently from bullet points. Being well prepared will help you to feel confident and ready.

Reading More Effectively
At university you will be expected to read extensively from a variety of sources, which can be time consuming. Learning how to read more effectively will not only save you time, but will also enhance your ability to comprehend the material and formulate your own ideas and conclusions.

Tutorial Participation
Tutorials provide the opportunity for discussion and interaction with your course tutor and other students. This session will assist you to be more prepared for tutorials so you will be better able to take part in, and contribute to, the learning experience.

Effective PowerPoints
Research suggests that presentations that incorporate visual elements are more interesting, persuasive and professional. PowerPoint can reinforce and enhance your approach, provided that it is used in a professional manner.

Turnitin
Turnitin is an electronic tool used to promote academic integrity at the university. This tool enables you, through your lecturers, to submit your writing and check the degree of originality of your text. Whilst effective to help identify cases of plagiarism, Turnitin is even more valuable when used as an educational tool.