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Academic skills

Lunchtime workshops offered in the Autumn term only and are intended for undergraduate students. Booking is required. 

Critical evaluation of sources

Being able to critically evaluate the academic information you read in peer-reviewed articles, reviews and conference papers will help you save time while studying and assist you in writing clearer assignments. In this session you will discover why critical evaluation of sources is important, identify and utilise tips and tools to help you critically evaluate more effectively, and receive a brief introduction to evaluating statistics.

By the end of the session you will be able to:

understand what critical evaluation is and why it is important
identify and use strategies to help you critically evaluate more effectively

Preparing your first literature review

You will learn what a literature review is and get advice on how to prepare one, even if you have never done this type of writing before. Find out about effective reading strategies, selecting and evaluating suitable academic sources, and organising your literature review.

By the end of the session you will be able to:

identify the difference between the research and writing processes of a literature review
identify the key stages of preparing a literature review
understand the importance of effective source selection and evaluation
start planning the structure of a literature review

Strategies for note-taking

This workshop will prompt you to consider the purposes of note-taking and to self-assess your current habits. You will have an opportunity to practice one of three methods for note-taking from texts and lectures (linear, mind-mapping and Cornell) using hands-on exercises. We will also introduce apps available through Imperial and support you in developing an effective overall note-taking strategy.

By the end of the session you will be able to:

understand methods and strategies for taking notes from online lectures and reading texts
differentiate between three note-taking methods and choose one for your own academic practice
apply a note-taking method to a close reading of a short text
understand the benefits of using apps for note-taking

Effective revision for exams

Revision starts after every lecture and not only in preparation for exams. This hands-on, practical session is based on research on neurobiology of the brain. We will cover revision strategies, tools and current apps that can help you build on your strengths and use good practice.

By the end of this session you will be able to:

Critically evaluate your current practice for revising
Identify the assessment processes, conditions, and regulations relevant to your context
Try a selection of tools and apps for revising.