Essential Study Skills
Printer-friendly versionTaking Notes
The resource outlines the three most effective methods for writing lecture notes with helpful illustrations.
A short, concise guide to taking study, research and lecture notes, providing advice on identifying the main points of a source or a lecture, developing good notetaking habits, and selecting the best notetaking method.
Stacks
Participating in Class Discussions
Advice on preparing for class participation, from understanding the assigned topic, preparing for discussion, making informed comments, and asking thoughtful questions.
An excellent guide to developing oral communication skills, with the emphasis on the ability to converse, to discuss, to argue persuasively, and to speak in public. This book will help you to become a good listener, express yourself clearly and persuasively, ask thoughtful questions in lectures and tutorials, contribute effectively to class discussions, prepare talks or presentations, and perform well in interviews.
Conducting Academic Research
An annotated bibliography to the major resources on each stage of conducting university level research, including consulting reference sources, locating books and journal articles, and evaluating different types of publications to the topic of your research.
Writing Well
The University of Toronto Writing Centres provide a number of advice files on developing academic research and writing skills, including instructions on writing essays for specific disciplines in the humanities, social sciences, and the sciences. This resource outlines the major differences and expectations between high-school level and university-level writing.
The guide provides into the marking process, provides instruction on incorporating critical analysis, perspectives, and arguments. It also gives advice on avoiding plagiarism.
The first part of the book, "Process and Skills" outlines each stage of the writing process, from selecting appropriate sources to re-writing and proofreading. The second part, "Elements of Writing," covers key areas for improving writing skills.
Thinking Critically
Practical advice on assessing the arguments of others and making your own effective arguments, with information on approaching an essay or discussion question and offering counter-claims.
Presenting
A detailed guide to the preparation and delivery of both individual and group presentations: understanding the elements of engaged and effective presentations, developing content and structure, designing presentation slides, and answering questions from your audience.
Designing a Research Poster
This chapter from Presenting Your Research: Conferences, Symposiums, Poster Presentations and Beyond outlines the structure and organization of research poster presentation sessions at conferences and symposia and provides advice on considering the size, design, use and colour and branding of posters in the sciences and humanities.
Preparing for an Exam
Advice on managing your time, improving memory, controlling anxiety, and approaching different types of tests and exams.
Printed in October 25, 2021