Date post: | 10-Aug-2015 |
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Writing Development CentreUniversity Library
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Dr Helen Webster, Dr Caroline CrowOn behalf of the Writing Development CentreRobinson Library
Revision Strategies
For enquiries about workshops, please email [email protected]
Writing Development CentreUniversity Library
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Slides are available online
Slideshare
http://www.slideshare.net/WDCNewcastle
Writing Development CentreUniversity Library
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The Revision Process
select
break
down
Learn
revisit
test
Practise
apply
synthesise
Organise
rework
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What is the purpose of exams?
What do exams test that other forms of assessment don’t?
Pair discussion: List three things which can best be tested by exams rather than other forms of assessment like coursework.
Writing Development CentreUniversity Library
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Knowledge
Understanding
Application
Analysis
Evaluation
Synthesis
ideas
connections
extensions
What do exams test?Bloom’s taxonomy (revised)
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The difference between an exam and a coursework answer
66
Writing Development CentreUniversity Library
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Organise your materials - The Overview
MODULE
Topic 1
Lectures 1-3Textbook ch 2, 4
Topic 2
Lectures 4, 5Textbook ch 8
Topic 3
Lectures 6-8Textbook ch 3, 5
• Do you need to learn all the topics?• Do you need to learn all the content of each topic?
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Selecting and breaking down your core working knowledge
Core Essentials
Useful to know
Nice to know
Redundant info for an exam
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Organise your material: Making connections, spotting overlaps
Subject 1
Subject 2
Subject 3
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Think about one of the modules you’re 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?
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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?
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Revising for Memory: process
Storing
Encoding Retrieving
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Revising for memory: Principles
Organise: Chunking
Encode: Mnemonics
Store: Repeating, Overlearning
Spacing
Retrieve: TestingNew contexts
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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 15, 2023
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Different Materials
April 15, 2023
Writing Development CentreUniversity Library
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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 you’ve learned your material, what can you do with it?
Writing Development CentreUniversity Library
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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 15, 2023
Writing Development CentreUniversity Library
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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 15, 2023
Writing Development CentreUniversity Library
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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 15, 2023
Writing Development CentreUniversity Library
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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 15, 2023
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Case Study One:
Matthew’s 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 can’t figure out where to start with his revision. What would you advise him?
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Case Study Two:
Laura’s 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. She’s done a lot of work for a particular module, but doesn’t feel like any of it is going in. She has struggled with this module all semester and doesn’t feel she understands the material. What would you advise her?
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Case study
What are the issues here? What are the causes? What advice would you give?
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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
Writing Development CentreUniversity Library
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The Writing Development CentreLevel 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/