Academic Skills Workshops in the Resource Centre 2010-11

A general word about workshop times

Workshops run in the Student Resource Centre throughout the academic year. Whilst they are in progress, the room is generally closed to other users. In order that this causes least disruption, every effort is made to arrange the workshops take place outside the times when the room is usually open to all (typically lunchtimes 1-2pm, or wednesday afternoons). Please be patient if you find the room temporarily closed for this purpose.

The workshops are intended to ensure that you have an introduction to a range of academic skills and conventions. As far as possible they are timetabled to support the particular stage of term and the needs associated with your various coursework.

Note that there are also repeats of some 1st term workshops early in the 2nd term.

Timetable: What to Expect and When?

Academic And Writing Support For International Students
(in Sociology & Human Rights)

ATTEND ALL if possible

A series of subject-specific academic and language support classes over the autumn term, run jointly by the International Academy (IA, formerly English language Teaching Centre) and Sociology. The classes provide an informal introduction to the academic culture of the department and university: learning environments, expectations and conventions, in addition to extensive, practical language and writing support.

AUTUMN WK 4 WED 26th OCT 2-4 pm
  WK 5 WED 2nd NOV 2-4 pm
  WK 6 WED 9th NOV 2-4 pm
  WK 7 WED 16th NOV 2-4 pm
  WK 8 WED 23rd NOV 2-4 pm
  WK 9 WED 30th NOV 2-4 pm
  WK 10 WED 7th DEC 2-4 pm
  WK 11 WED 14th DEC 2-4 pm
SPRING WK 16 WED 18th JAN 2-4 pm
  WK 17 WED 25th JAN 2-4 pm
  WK 18 WED 1st FEB 2-4 pm
  WK 19 WED 8th FEB 2-4 pm

Sourcing And Resourcing

Sourcing and extending reading material; making full use of the library; using alternative sources (newspapers, documentaries etc); managing study time and planning for essay deadlines. Becoming an independent learner...

AUTUMN WK 4 TUES 25th OCT 1-2 pm
  WK 5 THURS 3rd NOV 1-2 pm
 
SPRING WK 17 THURS 26th JAN 1-2 pm

Essay-Writing Intro I - Principles and conventions

Intro to basic essay-writing skills: Question analysis, reading & note-taking, planning, structuring argument, paragraphing, signposting, introductions & conclusions, editing.

AUTUMN WK 6 TUES 8th NOV 1-2 pm
    THURS 10th NOV 1-2 pm
 
SPRING WK 18 THURS 2nd FEB 1-2 pm

Essay-Writing Intro II - Citation and referencing

Intro to basic research conventions & good practice supporting essay-writing: citation and referencing (texts, video, newspapers, web pages); understanding plagiarism and how to avoid it; critical use of the Internet as a research tool.

AUTUMN WK 7 MON 14th NOV 1-2 pm
  WK 8 TUES 22nd NOV 1-2 pm
       
SPRING WK 19 TUES 7th FEB 1-2 pm
       

Presentation Skills

Preparation, timing and rehearsal; use of equipment, overheads and handouts; taking questions and managing discussion; dealing with nerves; posture and voice projection etc.

AUTUMN WK 6 MON 7th NOV 1-2 pm
 
SPRING WK 17 TUES 24TH JAN 1-2 pm
 

SC111 Journal Workshops

Overview of the requirements of the journal; getting started, choosing structure and topic; presentation, use of supporting materials, sources of on-going support

AUTUMN WK 11 TUES 13th DEC 1-2 pm
    WEDS 14th DEC 1-2 pm
    THURS 15th DEC 1-2 pm
 
SPRING WK 17 MON 23rd JAN 1-2 pm
  WK 18 TUES 31st JAN 1-2 pm

Effective Revision And Exam Survival

Effective revision strategies; time-tabling; managing anxiety; essay-writing criteria in the exam context; approaching the exam itself: exam priorities (what can be compromised and what not); common exam mistakes; making use of past exam papers and sample scripts.

SPRING WK 25 TUES 20th MAR 1-2 pm
 
SUMMER WK 30 THURS 26th APR 1-2 pm
  WK 31 TUES 1st MAY 1-2 pm

Exam Anxiety Workshops

These are run by the University Student Support Office and are open to all students (not Sociology alone). Details available from the Student Support Office in the summer term.

FINALLY, don't stress alone, individual support is always available in the Resource Centre (see Rowena in 5A307/315 or email: rowena), and/or from Personal Tutors.

One-to-one and small group tuition (2 or 3) are available for the following:

  • Word-processing, essay layout and presentation
  • Accessing and managing email
  • Introduction to the Internet

Just call in to arrange a time (or contact Rowena Macaulay, Student Support services Officer (email rowena@, or tel. 97-3743, or simply drop-in)

Last modified on 16 January 2012