Academic Research

Characteristics of Academic Research

"If we knew what it was we were doing, it would not be called research, would it?"

                                                                    Albert Einstein.

Easy referencing using word.

Harvard Referencing.

 

                Once you begin your Academic life you will absolutely need the research skills, not only as students, but also for you lifelong learning. Therefore, good and effective research need using our ability to synthesize and analyze information to create something entirely new, whether it is a paper, lab report, or presentation.

               As a student, we must reference our research, in order to not be accused by plagiarism. First of all, plagiarism is copying sentences or paragraphs word-for-word from a source without proper citation, putting someone else's words, thoughts, ideas into your own words (paraphrasing) but failing to cite your source with a proper citation, piecing together texts from one or more sources without appropriate citation, copying or submiting whole parts of computer files without acknowledging their sources, copying or submiting the whole or a part of another student's work. Whenever you quote, paraphrase, summarise or copy someone else's opinions, theories or data,  you have to reference the sources of information and ideas you have used in an assignment, it may include books, journals, items from the internet, tables, illustrations, graphs or diagrams.

First, references allows the reader to locate your sources independently. Second, it allows you, the authors, to find the original source easily, it also shows that you have read widely and used quality sources. And finaly Acknowledges the intellectual property of another's work and therefore avoids plagiarism."Plagiarism can have disastrous consequences for students"(Samantha Dhann, 2001).

            By and large, students have to be aware of the importance of referencing, while there are many referencing rules and conventions under the Harvard system.

By Hajar Darrazi.

References:

Dhann,S. (2001). Referencing - The Harvard System. Available at: http://education.exeter.ac.uk/dll/studyskills/harvard_referencing.htm. Last accessed [13th May 2012].

Mike,W. (2008). Harvard Referencing with Mike Webb (Part One). Available online at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E7Laol_ALeU. Last accessed [13th May 2012].

Unknown. (2012). How to: Begin Basic Academic Research. Available at: http://www.onlineuniversities.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/research-sm.jpeg. Last accessed [13th May 2012].

Unknown. (2011). Easy Referencing Using Word 2010 . Available at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FRjKD2HQPGg&feature=related. Last accessed [3th May 2012].

Unknown. (2012). How to: Begin Basic Academic Research. Available at: http://www.onlineuniversities.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/research-sm.jpeg. Last accessed [13th May 2012].

Note taking (Listening / Reading skills).

Notes.

Note Taking using Mind Maps.

SQ4R Method.

                    Taking notes means writing down a summary of spoken or written text. It is particularly used in courses at the secondary and higher education. It is particularly used in courses at the secondary and higher education. Taking notes, making use of noun phrases, shorter, relies heavily on abbreviations

                     Note taking is extremely important, we do not take notes in order to obey a teacher, to please him/her or avoid reprimand. Take notes to assimilate ideas take notes, is understanding, not
only copy.Once we talk about taking notes, you immediately think to take notes from an oral source, but it is worth recalling that the notes can come from four different sources:

1. From oral (courses, meetings ...)
2. From his own mental source (memory, thinking)
3. From a direct observation of reality.
4. From a writing (papers, magazines, books, journals ...)

                    By and large, the notes are a personal thing, each one of us has its own abbreviations, its own signs.It is therefore difficult to copy notes from a classmate especially since the notes are not the course. Take notes in a way you understand it.

K eep
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S mart &
S imple

By Hajar Darrazi.

References:

Dustin,M. (2005). Taking Notes that Work. Available at: http://assets.lifehack.org/wp-content/files/2007/09/20070907-notebook.png?4c9b33. Last accessed [13th May 2012].

Unknown. (2011). Reading Textbooks using SQ4R. Available at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UafJRBvaOEo. Last accessed [13th May 2012].

Unknown. (2008). Note Taking using Mind Maps. Available at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gRzmKQ-OEKY. Last accessed [13th May 2012].

Problem solving and critical thinking skills.

Problem solving and critical thinking

Problem solving through creativity

Critical thinking

             Critical thinking is important for students progress through University to graduate education,

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

References :

 

Unknown. (2003). illustration of critical thinking strategy glowing light . Available online at: http://www.shutterstock.com/pic-47844694/stock-photo-background-concept-wordcloud-illustration-of-critical-thinking-strategy-glowing-light.html. Last accessed [10th May 2012].

Qualia, S. (2009). Critical Thinking. Available at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6OLPL5p0fMg&feature=relmfu. Last accessed [10th May 2012].



What is study skills ?

Study skills

First video: Study skills.

Second video

Third video

Fourth video

              Study skills is an approach applied to learning. It's also a good stategy for adequate and effective knowledge study. Moreover, it is increasingly taught at Hight School and University level. There are a lot of books and websites that are available, from works on specific techniques such as Tony Buzan's books on mind-mapping, to general guides to successful study such as those by Stella Cottrell.

            

              Dr. Bob Kizlik (2012) states that " effective study skills must be practiced in order for you to improve ". Therefore, practice,pracrice and practice is the way to improve our strategies of study. Effective study skills are not only about developing good study habits but they deal with techniques of mastering life long learning skills, as Dr. Kizlik mentioned in his article "practice doesn't make perfect; perfect practice makes perfect." To be an achiever, you should always bare this saying in mind. Before starting doing an assignment, writing a paper, giving a presentation, listening to a lecture, attending a semminar, doing a project, reading a book or an articale, there are a set of skills that the students should master to make the most of these tasks and meet his/her learning objectives. In addition to this, time managment is one of the crucial skills that I have aquired in the study skills course. In order to meet deadlines, invest less efforts, and guarantee the quality of the tasks a student fulfill, a mastery of time managment skills is required. To put it differently, students should keep a schedule to organise their time and evaluate the way they spend it.

              By and large, you are the one who is responsible for your own education and learning. it is evident that each one of us has a unique learning style. Therefore, we manage our studies in different ways. However, the ones who seccussed in meeting their goals are the ones who work smart, not hard.

                                                                    By Hajar Darrazi.
                
                          
References

Straub, S. (2010). Students Study Skills . Available at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UQtU8eONZcg. Last accessed [7th May 2012].
Unknown. (2011). How to Get the Most Out of Studying. Available at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RH95h36NChI. Last accessed [7th May 2012].

Unknown. (2010). Study Skills. Available at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DTwxi_EJtbQ. Last accessed [7th May 2012].

Unknown. (2010). Study Skills Overview. Available at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vb8kHl1A-LM. Last accessed: [7th May 2012].

Robinsh. (June 5, 2011 ). Tips to Improve Study Skills. Available at: http://www.digmlm.com/wp-content/uploads/1280400437_107395176_1-Pictures-of-MBBS-in-Abroad-Study-MBBS-in-Ukraine-MCI-Recognised-Medical-Colleges-1280400437.jpg. Last accessed [07/05/2012].

Kizlik, R. (2012). Effective Study Skills . Available at:'' http://www.adprima.com/studyout.htm''. Last accessed [9th May 2012].