Reading, Writing and Reasoning
Daniel Zahra, Student, University of Plymouth, UK
What do you have to do to achieve success in your university studies?
Many students find the 'step up' from school or college work to university study a challenge. The same is frequently true for those returning to study after time spent in the workplace. If you find yourself in either of these situations then this is the book for you. Straightforward and sympathetic, this accessible handbook will help you to develop the essential skills in three of the core aspects of university study: reading, writing and reasoning.
Drawing on a wealth of experience of working with students in a variety of settings, Gavin Fairbairn and Christopher Winch have completely revised and updated this best selling text. It is packed with practical advice, examples and exercises that will be invaluable for all students and assist in developing effective reading practices, high quality academic writing and critical thinking skills.
The new edition contains:
- Expanded coverage on plagiarism and how to avoid it
- Additional guidance on structuring writing
- Suggestions for overcoming writer’s block
- Tasks designed to reflect on key issues and practice skills
- Guidance for tutors on how to help students
Part 1 Reading as a Student
Finding meaning in written texts
Cultural literacy
Thinking about what, why, when, where and how you read
Approaching reading in different ways and at different levels
SQ3R: Survey, question, read, recite, review (Beard 1990)
Taking notes about what you have read
Part 2 Writing as a student
The purpose of essays and other written tasks
The writing process
Getting your writing right: punctuation, grammar and spelling
Getting your writing right: citation and referencing
Getting your writing right: thinking about style
Part 3 Developing arguments in your writing
Influencing the beliefs of others
Arguments of a different kind
Analysing and evaluating arguments
Postscript
