Writing Development Centre University Library facebook.com/NUlibraries @ncl_wdc Dr Helen Webster, Dr Caroline Crow On behalf of the Writing Development Centre Robinson Library Revision Strategies For enquiries about workshops, please email [email protected]
1. Writing Development Centre University Library
facebook.com/NUlibraries @ncl_wdc Dr Helen Webster, Dr Caroline
Crow On behalf of the Writing Development Centre Robinson Library
Revision Strategies For enquiries about workshops, please email
[email protected]
2. Writing Development Centre University Library
facebook.com/NUlibraries @ncl_wdc The Revision Process select break
down Learn revisit test Practise apply synthesise Organise
rework
3. Writing Development Centre University Library
facebook.com/NUlibraries @ncl_wdc What is the purpose of exams?
What do exams test that other forms of assessment dont? Pair
discussion: List three things which can best be tested by exams
rather than other forms of assessment like coursework.
4. Writing Development Centre University Library
facebook.com/NUlibraries @ncl_wdc Knowledge Understanding
Application Analysis Evaluation Synthesis ideas connections
extensions What do exams test? Blooms taxonomy (revised)
5. Writing Development Centre University Library
facebook.com/NUlibraries @ncl_wdc The difference between an exam
and a coursework answer 55
6. Writing Development Centre University Library
facebook.com/NUlibraries @ncl_wdc Think about one of the modules
youre revising for (and the exam paper you brought). If you were
only allowed to take ten core pieces of knowledge into the exam,
what would they be? What should be in your store cupboard?
7. Writing Development Centre University Library
facebook.com/NUlibraries @ncl_wdc Revising for Memory: process
Storing Encoding Retrieving
8. Writing Development Centre University Library
facebook.com/NUlibraries @ncl_wdc Revising for memory: Principles
Organise: Chunking Encode: Mnemonics Store: Repeating, Overlearning
Spacing Retrieve: Testing New contexts
9. Writing Development Centre University Library
facebook.com/NUlibraries @ncl_wdc Mnemonic strategies How do you
learn something? List all the strategies you use Compare with the
person next to you Remove duplicates What does this tell you about
your learning preferences? What new strategy might you try?
10. Writing Development Centre University Library
facebook.com/NUlibraries @ncl_wdc Revising for Memory: Practices
and Preferences Pictures and visualisations Acronyms and word
association Narratives and stories Chunking (into groups of 3-5),
numbering and categorising Personal associations The locus method
Sound: music, rhythm and rhyme April 29, 2015
11. Writing Development Centre University Library
facebook.com/NUlibraries @ncl_wdc Different Materials April 29,
2015
12. Writing Development Centre University Library
facebook.com/NUlibraries @ncl_wdc Revising for higher skills:
typical examiners reports The forcing of prepared answers on
ill-fitting questions substituted too often for fresh and
thoughtful adaptation. Some candidates still regurgitate prepared
answers regardless of the issue they are asked to address and this
was reflected in lower marks. Candidates would do well to remember
that this is a test of the ability to write and manage an argument.
Now youve learned your material, what can you do with it?
13. Writing Development Centre University Library
facebook.com/NUlibraries @ncl_wdc Revising for higher skills:
Analyse the exam paper you brought with you. What type of thinking
do the questions typically require? Are they looking for a single
right answer, or a range of possible right answers focussing on
your reasoning? How might you practise using your learning in this
way? April 29, 2015
14. Writing Development Centre University Library
facebook.com/NUlibraries @ncl_wdc Revising for Understanding:
Active Learning 4 Essential principles: Select and prioritise (your
working knowledge!) Reduce and expand Apply material to questions,
test your ability to explain it Re-work material into another form
Text to bullet points, bullet points to mind-map, mindmap to index
cards, index cards to table, table to voice recording, recording to
diagram etc April 29, 2015
15. Writing Development Centre University Library
facebook.com/NUlibraries @ncl_wdc Revising for higher skills: Write
your own exam paper Make up a question in the style of those on
your exam paper. What are you mainly going to test? Apply it for
different purposes, imagine different uses Analyse it, break it
down, see how parts relate to one another Synthesise it with
another source or topic Evaluate it possible approaches, solutions
etc April 29, 2015
16. Writing Development Centre University Library
facebook.com/NUlibraries @ncl_wdc Where to start? Revision
Resources Lecture handouts Your lecture notes Main textbooks and
alternative ones Your coursework Notes from additional reading
Course handbook Past papers Past external examiners reports Model
answers The Internet April 29, 2015
17. Writing Development Centre University Library
facebook.com/NUlibraries @ncl_wdc Organise your materials - The
Overview MODULE Topic 1 Lectures 1-3 Textbook ch 2, 4 Topic 2
Lectures 4, 5 Textbook ch 8 Topic 3 Lectures 6-8 Textbook ch 3,
5
18. Writing Development Centre University Library
facebook.com/NUlibraries @ncl_wdc Organise your materials: detailed
break down Topic 1 A B CD E
19. Writing Development Centre University Library
facebook.com/NUlibraries @ncl_wdc Organise your material: Making
connections Subject 1 Subject 2 Subject 3
20. Writing Development Centre University Library
facebook.com/NUlibraries @ncl_wdc Realistic Time management Keep
working sessions short take frequent breaks Do not aim to work
excessive hours per day, or much out of your usual routine Change
topic frequently and revisit topics regularly Get an early night
before an exam! April 29, 2015
21. Writing Development Centre University Library
facebook.com/NUlibraries @ncl_wdc Case Study One: Matthews exams
start in two weeks time. He also has a dissertation deadline two
days before his exams begin. He still has his final chapter and a
conclusion to write. He is really worried about fitting effective
revision around his other work. He feels overwhelmed by his
workload and cant figure out where to start with his revision. What
would you advise him?
22. Writing Development Centre University Library
facebook.com/NUlibraries @ncl_wdc Case Study Two: Lauras exams
start in ten days time. She has started her revision early, as her
marks are currently borderline 2:1 to 1st and really needs this
exam to push her over that grade boundary. Shes done a lot of work
for a particular module, but doesnt feel like any of it is going
in. She has struggled with this module all semester and doesnt feel
she understands the material. What would you advise her?
23. Writing Development Centre University Library
facebook.com/NUlibraries @ncl_wdc Case study What are the issues
here? What are the causes? What advice would you give?
24. Writing Development Centre University Library
facebook.com/NUlibraries @ncl_wdc The Writing Development Centre
Understanding assignment types, questions, instructions and marking
criteria Critical thinking, critiquing and reviewing literature
Note-taking from lectures and reading Planning and structuring
writing (incl. paragraphing) Academic writing style (incl.
fundamentals of grammar) Understanding and using feedback to
improve your work Referencing, citing and avoiding plagiarism
Managing time, work and writing (incl. writers block and
procrastination) Exams and Revision Managing research projects,
dissertations and theses Presentations and posters Learning
effectively in lectures, seminars, classes, labs etc
25. Writing Development Centre University Library
facebook.com/NUlibraries @ncl_wdc The Writing Development Centre
Level 2, Robinson Library Our team offers: - One-to-one tutorials
on study skills and all stages and types of academic writing - A
programme of workshops on aspects of study and academic writing -
Online resources You can book appointments and workshops with us
online: http://www.ncl.ac.uk/students/wdc/