Essex Preparation Programme

What you can expect from the University and what the University expects from you

This session will look at how your courses and modules are put together; who's who in your department; where to go to get specific support, and how to utilise it. It will also give you a brief introduction to the E-learning platforms you will use at Essex, and you will meet other students and have an opportunity to discuss your feelings about starting at university. 

Discussion skills

This session will look at your experience of discussions in an academic context,  and look at what you can expect in discussions at university level and what – in broad and simple terms – will be expected of you.   

Presentations and writing: similarities and differences

This session will explore how giving spoken presentations compares to writing essays, and how this comparison will help you to present effectively. 

Becoming critical thinkers

What critical thinking means varies from subject to subject, but it is also a skill we already use in our daily lives. In this session, we will look at the ways in which you are already a critical thinker, and some general strategies you can carry over into your studies.

Thinking critically

The idea of thinking critically can often be intimidating. However, ‘critical thinking’ is the name we give to a set of skills that you already use in your day-to-day life. Critical thinking is about deciding which information we can rely on; thinking about how we might use this information, and how it fits with what we already know; deciding what conclusions we can draw; and thinking about what questions we need to ask next.

In this workshop, we will practise applying these skills in some scenarios that we might encounter during our university studies, before asking: what does it mean to be a critical thinker in my discipline? 

Engaging with an academic text

Academic texts can be challenging, but developing reading skills will make the task less daunting. In this practical session, we will use a range of strategies to demonstrate how you can engage with an academic text and get the most out of your reading at university. 

Moving from reading into writing

Writing is usually the end-product of our reading. This session will consider how we use what we read in our essay writing. We will look at using notes and various techniques to prepare for writing.

What is academic integrity? 

This session provides an opportunity to explore academic integrity through discussion and establishes some basic principles

Academic integrity – a follow up

This session will build on the previous workshop, with content based on student questions and requests.

How is writing at university different?

This session is a general introduction to what academic writing looks like, with particular emphasis on evidence and the use of reliable academic sources. It uses Trump’s infamous claims for the curative powers of bleach as an example of a subjective, unsubstantiated claim and contrasts excerpts from two essays – a typical school-level essay and a university essay – showing how source material has been used to support argument in the latter.

Some aspects of academic writing 

This week's session focuses on different aspects of writing at university. It considers the importance of understanding the question and of creating well-structured and concisely written essays. There will also be plenty of time to ask any questions you may have about academic writing.