International Student Welcome Programme

1. International Student Welcome Programme Top Tips for Undergraduate Students – How to Succeed in Your Studies

2. Exercise – where are you from?

3. Congratulations!

4. Keeping Your Studies on Track

5. All Resources For This Presentation http://pd.nottingham.ac.uk/eng/ Induction/International-Students2

6. Autumn Semester 26 September 2011 – 28 January 2012 Spring Semester 30 January 2012 – 22 June 2012 Summer term 30 April – 22 June 2012 Autumn term 26 September – 16 December 2011 Spring term 16 January - 30 March 2012 Semesters and Terms

7. Levels of learning • Level 0 – Foundation year. Preparatory year, designed to give you the basics in the subject. • Level 1 – Qualifying stage. Usually year 1. To help you develop basic knowledge and introduce fundamental concepts and techniques. • Level 2 – Principally second year. It builds next stage of students knowledge. You learn more advanced concepts.

8. Levels of learning • Level 3 – Wide range of study skills employed and developed, often with emphasis on student centred and student-initiated learning. • Level 4 – Principally for fourth year students (some programmes) and students already with a first degree in an appropriate subject.

9. Degree Structure - UG • Modules 10 or 20 credits • 120 credits per year – (no more than 70 credits per semester) 360 in total • http://www.nottingham.ac.uk/quality-manual/QAstructures/UNQF.htm • Resources • UG handbook / module handbooks • Module enrolment – student responsibility – open 26 Sept – 4 Oct. Use Module Entry Forms • http://www.nottingham.ac.uk/timetable/html/ModuleEnrolment/Home.php

10. Marks - Undergraduate • I = 70% +    • II-1 = 60% - 69%     • II-2 = 50% - 59%     • III = 40% - 49%     • Pass = 40% +

11. QUIZ

12. Question How different are you expecting studying at Nottingham to be from your previous experiences? 1→→→→ →→→ 5 →→→→→→→10 Not very different →→→ Very different

13. Top Tips For: Getting the Most Out of UK Teaching Methods • Lectures http://www.palgrave.com/skills4study/studyskills/learning/learning.asp • Seminars • Tutorials • Practicals http://www.palgrave.com/skills4study/studentlife/international/speaking.asp • Supervision http://www.prepareforsuccess.org.uk/

14. Personal Tutoring • All Undergraduate students will be allocated a personal tutor • But not one each! • Each School has own practice • Check in Quality Manual for general rules.

15. Independent Study • Learning to become an independent learner http://www.palgrave.com/skills4study/studyskills/learning/independent.asp • Expectations of ‘rote learning’ • Demonstrating independent thought (backed-up by evidence)

16. Developing your Critical Thinking • Critical thinking is the process of applying reasoned and disciplined thinking to your subject. • To do well in your studies you need to think critically about the things you have read, seen and heard. • Critical thinking is essential for high grades. • You can learn to become a critical thinker.

17. Developing your Critical Thinking Bring together the different sources of information Take in the information Develop arguments, and draw conclusions, Understand the key points and arguments Compare similarities and differences between the ideas you are taking in Use the understanding you have gained in assignments and projects

18. Developing your Academic Writing • Academic writing is clearly defined by having a clear purpose, either an exam question to answer or a research project to report on.  Most academic writing in English is linear. • It starts at the beginning and finishes at the end, with every part contributing to the main line of argument, without digression or repetition. • What ever kind of writing your are producing, you, the writer, is responsible for making your line of argument clear and presenting it in an orderly fashion so that the reader can follow.

19. Developing your Academic Writing Understanding the Question It is important to have a clear understanding of what you are being asked to write: • Analyse - Separate down into its component parts and show how they interrelate with each other • Annotate - Put notes on (usually a diagram) • Assess - Estimate the value of, looking at both the positive and negative attributes • Comment - To make critical or explanatory notes/observations http://www.lboro.ac.uk/library/skills/Advice/WhatQuest.pdf

20. Developing your Academic Writing Academic writing is a difficult skill for all students to acquire…so… • Attend a workshop • Talk with your lecturer • Practice writing • Write first, revise later • Learn from good writers • Talk about writing with other students • Use your PC to improve your writing • Learn from textbooks • Learn new words • Use new words

21. Developing your Academic Writing – citing and referencing References should include the following • The author or editor • Year of Publication (in round brackets) • The title • The edition if other than first • The place of publication • The publisher’s name • E.g. Kittel, C. (2005) Introduction to solid state physics. 8th ed. New York: Wiley

22. Developing your Academic Writing – Avoiding Plagiarism • 2.2.1 It is an academic offence to present someone else’s work as being one’s own. (The University of Nottingham, Quality Manual) • It is important to understand that even though you may not mean to plagiarise, it would not be right that you are given credit for work that is not your own, even if it was done in error. • It is possible to be in violation of the university's rules on plagiarism because you have been careless or inadequate in the way you have cited your sources. • To avoid the confusion of appearing to have plagiarised, it is better to make sure you have understood the conventions expected in citing the words and work of other people.

23. Plagiarism Test • Good site to test your understanding • http://www.indiana.edu/~istd/plagiarism_test.html

24. Assessment – understanding feedback Lecturer feedback will usually tell you, • How good the assignment was • Whether it achieved what the lecturer wanted. • What could have been improved

25. Assessment – Understanding feedback Translation: The word adequate means good enough. The marker is saying that what you have written is fine but not great. The marker is also suggesting that you may not have read enough texts. “You have given an adequate introduction to this topic based on your reading.” “You write in a clear, academic style, following the conventions in almost every respect” “Your summary of the various sources is through. Ideally you would integrate these more, rather than referring to the various people one by one in each section. Translation: Academic style = University writing, in almost every respect = most of the time Translation: You need to change your academic writing style a little and bring together summaries of sources otherwise the assignment becomes too long winded.

26. General Advice • If you don’t understand – ask your tutor, lecturer, supervisor or Director of Studies • Expect to have to work hard to understand and respond to new academic expectations • Use the on-line materials on the handout to get to grips with all aspects of your work