Product Description

This essential reference book has been written by experts and tested on students and will help any Higher Education student to focus their efforts, trouble-shoot any problems and thrive in their University studies. 

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #116869 in Books
• Published on: 2009-08-03
• Binding: Paperback
• 592 pages

Review

Featured in The Independent

"An essential reference manual for students" - The Student Zone, October 2006

From the Back Cover

The Smarter Study Skills Companion

Kathleen McMillan & Jonathan Weyers

Is there a secret to successful study? The answer is no! But there are some essential skills and smart strategies that will help you to improve your results at university.

Whether you are a new student, or you’re up against an assessment or exam revision deadline, this book will help you to succeed in all areas of your studies.

Using proven techniques and tips to help you focus your efforts and develop successful study skills and strategies, The Smarter Study Skills Companion provides practical answers to questions such as:

• What do lecturers expect from you in a tutorial?
• What’s the best way to plan an essay or dissertation?
• Where should you concentrate your efforts for maximum impact?

From Fresher’s Week to Graduation, this book is an essential practical resource for all students who want to improve their performance and succeed in their studies. The contents, design and structure of the book have been developed to ensure that:

• All key study skills are covered: essay writing, revision and exams, tutorials, dissertations and more
• Practical solutions are presented for the most common problems

• A common-sense, no-nonsense approach is offered using practical checklists and tips

This handbook has been written by experts and extensively tested on students to help you focus your efforts, troubleshoot your problems and thrive at university.

Kathleen McMillan and Jonathan Weyers work within the University of Dundee’s Learning Centre and Academic Affairs Office respectively and have each been teaching for over 25 years and now specialize in supporting academic skills across both the arts and sciences.

“Every aspect of university life is covered – my tip to other students is to have this book on their desk and use it – (it) has been a great help” Sarah Scott, Student

“I’m impressed with the range of content – it has been a great help and will be used for future revision and assignments” Rob Kelly, Student

About the Author

Jonathan Weyers and Kathleen McMillan both work at the University of Dundee. Both have been teaching and lecturing for over 25 years and latterly have specialised in the transferable skills area. They have a track record (including with us in the Practical Skills series) of collaborative writing and achievement in this area.

Customer Reviews

Some thoughts...
I'm in my 2nd year of study at university and I was sceptical of how much benefit I could get from a study skills text. The wide range of topics included in The Smarter Student though means that every aspect of university is covered and there were loads of tips that I wouldn't have thought of before. My tip to other students is to have this book on their desk and use it - this book has been a great help!

This book will make you a smarter student!
I really struggled through the first four or five months at university. I really had no concept of how to handle all of the pressure from university, let alone manage to attend all of it. This book was recommended to me by a friend and I haven't looked back since. I started using it straight away and in one module where I thought I would fail, I actually achieved a good grade.

This book is there for people just to dip in when they need a bit of help or guidence or you can read it cover to cover and become the ultimate fighting student (fighting on the academic battlefield of course)! It covers how to survive Fresher's Week - trust me when I say it's absolutely essential - I wish I'd had the book when I went to my Fresher's Week. But it covers a lot of ground in helping to understand your strengths when it comes to studying, where you might fall down and what you excel in. This book helps you make the most of your strengths and helps you to adjust your habits and practices on your weaknesses.

More than that, this book is written in such a way that you don't feel like an author is trying to hold your hand through university. It makes you feel like you've made all of the decisions and that you have supported yourself, perhaps with just a little guidence. It lets you stand on your own two feet.

I think this book is written for people who DON'T like skills guides with drawings and illustrations to photocopy. This book tells it like it is and expects you to do the best for yourself. I would recommend this book to everyone starting university for the first time, I would also recommend it to people who are at university and want to improve.

I've been through so many study guides and so many different formats but this book is the best there is.

Student Review
I'm a geography student in my second year at University and am impressed with the range of content that The Smarter Student provides. The sections on essay writing and revision are particularly useful. Having used the book for recent essays, it has definately been a great help and will be used for future revision and assignments