This eBook is downloaded from www.net is a blog with an aim of helping people, especially students, who cannot afford to buy some costly books from the market. For more Free eBooks and educational material visit www.net Uploaded By $am$exy98 theBooks The Good Study Guide Andrew Northedge Author: Andrew Northedge Project Managers: Penny Bennett, Susan Lowe Course Manager: Corinne De Souza Course Co-ordinator: Maureen Richards Production Team: Composition: Diane Hopwood Editor: Kathleen Calder Design: Vicki McCulloch, Glen Darby Graphics: Jon Owen Production Assistants: Elizabeth Rowell-Tinsley, Kathryn Smith, Linda Cambourne-Paynter Open University Worldwide This publication forms part of an Open University course K100 Understanding Health and Social Care. Details of this and other Open University courses can be obtained from the Student Registration and Enquiry Service, PO Box 625, Milton Keynes, MK7 6YG, United Kingdom: tel. +44 (0)1908 653231, e-mail general-enquiries@open.uk Alternatively, you may visit the Open University website at http://www.uk where you can learn more about the wide range of courses and packs offered at all levels by The Open University.
To purchase a selection of Open University course materials visit www.uk, or contact Open University Worldwide, Michael Young Building, Walton Hall, Milton Keynes MK7 6AA,United Kingdom for a brochure. +44 (0)1908 858785; fax +44 (0)1908 858787; e-mail ouwenq@open.uk The Open University Walton Hall, Milton Keynes MK7 6AA First published 2005. Reprinted 2005 Copyright 2005 The Open University All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, transmitted or utilised in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without written permission from the publisher or a licence from the Copyright Licensing Agency Ltd.
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Except as permitted above you undertake not to copy, store in any medium (including electronic storage or use in a website), distribute, transmit or re-transmit, broadcast, modify or of The Open University or in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988. Edited and designed by The Open University. Kindle version created by Open University Worldwide/RTH. PREFACE PART 1 STUDYING INTELLIGENTLY CHAPTER 1 INVESTING IN YOURSELF 1.1 Who this book is for 1.2 How this book works 1.3 Investing in your own development 1.4 The challenge of studying 1.5 What does it take to be a skilful student? 1.6 Being a reflective learner 1.7 Thinking about how you learn References CHAPTER 2 TAKING CONTROL OF YOUR STUDIES 2.1 Taking responsibility for your own learning 2.2 Managing the work 2.4 Managing your study circumstances 2.5 Managing your morale 2.6 Being a successful self-manager References CHAPTER 3 USING A COMPUTER TO STUDY 3.1 Studying in the ICT age 3.3 Useful things you can do with a word-processor 3.7 Conclusion References CHAPTER 4 UNDERSTANDING HOW YOU LEARN 4.1 Developing ideas about learning 4.2 What does learning mean? 4.3 Why do they write that way? 4.4 Reading, listening, speaking and Writing 4.5 Becoming knowledgeable References PART 2 THE ESSENTIAL SKILLS CHAPTER 5 READING 5.1 Reading is easy, isn't it? 5.2 The experience of reading 5.3 Getting round obstacles 5.4 How quickly should you read? 5.7 Are you a good reader? 5.8 Conclusion References CHAPTER 6 MAKING NOTES 6.1 Thinking on paper 6.3 Supporting your memory 6.6 Making notes strategically Reference CHAPTER 7 LEARNING THROUGH TALK 7.1 Talk in higher learning 7.2 Learning through group discussion 7.4 Listening to talk References CHAPTER 8 WORKING WITH NUMBERS AND CHARTS 8.1 Numbers and studying 8.2 Living with numbers 8.3 Describing the world 8.4 Describing with tables 8.5 Describing with graphs and charts 8.6 Using numbers intelligently 8.7 Review References CHAPTER 9 RESEARCHING ONLINE 9.1 A world of information at your Fingertips 9.4 Misuse of online information 9.5 Conclusion References CHAPTER 10 WRITING THE WAY 'THEY' WANT 10.1 Getting to grips with writing 10.2 What are you meant to write? 10.3 Argument and structure 10.5 Strong, clear writing 10.6 Using your own and other people's words 10.7 The academic way of writing 10.8 What is a good essay? 10.9 Review References CHAPTER 11 MANAGING THE WRITING PROCESS 11.1 The challenge of writing 11.2 Stages in the writing process 11.3 Expressing ideas in writing 11.4 Making your essay flow 11.5 The experience of writing 11.6 Taking control of writing References CHAPTER 12 PREPARING FOR EXAMINATIONS 12.1 The positive side of exams 12.2 Myths about exams 12.3 What to avoid 12.4 Revising for exams 12.5 Getting 'geared-up' just before the exam 12.6 Working out your tactics for the exam 12.7 Will you do yourself justice in the exam? POSTSCRIPT APPENDIX ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS NEXT STEPS PREFACE This second edition of The Good Study Guide is much more than an update of the original.
The whole book has been rethought and substantially rewritten. Piecemeal updating was never an option, given the book's use of integrated examples and the critical importance of coherence in the advice. Since nothing less than a complete overhaul was feasible, I have taken the opportunity not only to bring the book up to date, fifteen years on, but to strengthen it and widen its relevance. Purpose The Good Study Guide retains its primary purpose as a guide for students with a serious interest in long-term development of their learning and study skills.
It is not a source of quick fixes and instant remedies. It assumes a willingness to invest time in working on exercises and reflecting on them. It is a thoughtful, theoretically grounded, exploration of the nature of studying and, at the same time, a practical guide to reflective experimentation with techniques, drawing as it does on many years of exploring skills with students. Changes The first edition of The Good Study Guide reached an audience far broader than the part-time, adult, distance-learning students for whom it was written.
Consequently, this new edition has been recast to address the needs of all students aspiring to study beyond school-level. It has also been restructured to reflect the sweeping changes in university study over a decade and a half. Thus it now has five more chapters than before and has been organised into two parts. So, with the updating of case material and consequent reworking of all the study exercises, this is a long way towards being a new book.
However, the basic strategy and underlying assumptions about the nature of learning remain. Part 1: Studying intelligently The first part of The Good Study Guide addresses the broad strategic aspects of successful study and consists of four new chapters. Three of these address one of the key changes of the past decade, the relocating of study skills from their former status on the periphery as 'remedial' activities for beginners, to the mainstream under the new marque 'learning skills'. Developing skills as a learner is now recognised as essential preparation for life in the twenty-first century.
This is reflected in the title of Chapter 1: 'Investing in yourself'. These skills are not simply practical, but also strategic, requiring a capacity for self-management; hence Chapter 2: 'Taking control of your studies'. They are also 'reflective' skills, which depend on self-knowledge, self-analysis and an understanding of the learning process; thus Chapter 4: 'Understanding how you learn'. This chapter includes an introduction to the principles of critical-analytical reading and writing, reflecting growing recognition of the importance of supported entry into academic discourse for an increasingly diverse student body.
The other key change of recent times is the revolution in study practices brought about by computing and the internet. This is addressed in Chapter 3: 'Using a computer to study'. Students are often aware of only a few of the many ways they could use a computer to support their studies. This chapter, influenced by my own experiences of designing and teaching online courses, encourages students to explore and experiment.
Meanwhile, the rest of the book has been reworked to reflect changes to basic study activities brought about by word-processing, global access to online information, electronic information storage, and the like. And The Good Study Guide is now accompanied by a website to which students are directed for resources. Part 2: The essential skills The second part gets down to the practical business of developing skills in the core activities of studying. As in the original edition, readers are asked to undertake genuine study activities, most of them based around a single text.
Though the former article on the growth of shopping centres remains remarkably relevant, it has been replaced by a new one: 'The Secrets of Happiness' by Richard Layard (2003). Generally the content of the original chapters remains, however, 'Making notes' has been separated off from 'Reading', to give it wider relevance and to allow exploration of electronic note making. Also, the chapter formerly titled 'Other modes of learning' has been recast under the title 'Learning through talk', with extensive new material on group discussions and making presentations. In 'Working with numbers and charts', as well as updating the data, students are introduced to online data sources.
Then there is a new chapter, 'Researching online', introducing the basics of searching for online resources. The two chapters on writing remain the longest and perhaps the most important, since the acquisition of an academic writing voice and the ability to assemble material and present it in the form of an argument is in many ways the culmination of the transition into competent academic practice. Retitled, as 'Writing the way 'they' want' and 'Managing the writing process', they retain the same broad division into the 'what' and 'how' of academic writing. However, the first has been completely reorganised to make the treatment more transparent and accessible.
Both take advantage of resources on the Good Study Guide website (www.uk), to simplify exercises that were previously rather cumbersome. The final chapter, 'Preparing for an exam', is the least changed, though again there is reworking. Notes Level I have assumed that many readers will be starting studies at post-school level. However, students in the later years of schooling may find the book useful preparation for the switch to higher level studies.
Equally students who have progressed beyond the entry stages of a degree will find much to reflect on. I can say that, many years on from student days, working on the book has reminded me of skills I needed to hone. Assumptions about computing I have assumed that all readers will have at least some access to a computer and to the internet. Many will already be using a computer for routine study tasks, while others will be looking for advice on ways in which they might profitably switch to computer-based working.
The Good Study Guide website This book has an accompanying website (www. This is intended to be used as a kind of service centre. At various points in the book, readers are prompted to download resources in order to work on them in activities. Updating of references The internet has made the task of keeping references up to date much more challenging.
We will post an annually updated list of references on the website. Terms used Because the original Good Study Guide was used in schools, colleges and campus universities, I have dropped the use of specific Open University terminology and adopted more general terms. However, one or two are somewhat awkward.