English Course

Study skills I
Semester I/2024
 Code of Conduct

• Be prompt
• Respect one another
• Avoid being tempted into illegal actions
• Submit assignment before closing date
• Raise constructive points
• Any enquiry, do it on class’s whatsApp page
• Dress decently
Contents overview

• Know the anatomy of your library

• Know how your library works
• Saving time in library research
• General principles for assignment research
• Library resources
• How to distinguish books from journals articles, and from
chapters in edited books (in reading list)?
• Online search
 Most students fall into various types of time traps
when conducting their library research:

 failure to understand the basic operating

Knowing the procedures of the library;

anatomy of your  uncertainty about the general layout of the library

library and

 inability to operate the information search

equipment.
Knowing how your library works

Whether you are incoming or latter year student, you will want to
know the geography of your library. Be certain to participate in
the orientation program and take at least one tour of your library.

Knowing the various departments/section and their functions will

help you to fulfil these tasks.
 • Set research goals for each trip to the library plus an
expected completion time.
• Try to use the library facilities at off-peak times to minimize
waiting in queues.
• Prior to arriving at the library, make a comprehensive list of
topics which need researching.
• If you are unfamiliar with the research topic, ask a librarian
for advice about general resources
• Avoid garrulous classmates while conducting your library
Save time in research.
• Before going to the bookshelves to look for your reference
library research sources, check the loan list to see which books are
unavailable.
• For books you deem to be crucial and which are out on loan,
place an urgent recall request.
• Use efficient reading techniques to skim and scan for
pertinent resource material.
• When taking notes, be brief and concise — get the important
nouns, forget prepositions and articles.
• Get to know your classmates so that you can share
resources. It is far more economical on everyone's time if you
can arrange to work as a syndicate on major projects.
 • As soon as you receive the assignment, get
started straightaway. Don't procrastinate!
• When in doubt about the interpretation of the
General research topic, clarify it with your instructor.

principles for • Establish a preliminary outline so that your early

reading and note-taking is targeted to a specific
assignment section of the project.

research • List your research goals before entering the

library.
• Use the library at off-peak times to avoid crowds
and queues.
• Share resources with your peers
• If you are uncertain about where to start your
library research, ask a librarian.
  Books

 Journals (containing articles)

Library resources
  Traditionally, a book has its TITLE in italics;

 A journal article has the title of the JOURNAL in

italics, and

 Where the article is a chapter in an edited book the

BOOK TITLE is in italics
How to distinguish books
1) Lodico, M. G., Spaulding, D. T. & Voegtle, K. H. (2010).
Methods in Educational Research: From theory to
from journals articles, and Practice (2nd Ed). Jossey-Bass.
2) Graves, S. (2010). Mentoring pre-service teacher: A
from chapters in edited case study. Australasian Journal of Early Childhood,
35(4), 14–
books (in reading list)? 20.https://doi.org/10.1177/183693911003500403
3) Shapiro, A. (2020). Constructivism and mentoring. In
B. J. Irby, J. N. Boswell, L. J. Searby, F. Kochan, R. Garza,
& N. Abdelrahman (Eds.), The Wiley International
Handbook of Mentoring: Paradigms, Practices,
Programs, and Possibilities (pp.65-78). John Wiley &
Sons.
  Title

 Author

On-line search  keywords

 References

1. Orr, F. (1992). Study skills for successful students. Allen

& Uniwin.
2. Donald, S. G., & Kneale, P. E. (2001). Study skills for language
students: A practical guide. OUP.