1. Department of Economics University of Leicester 2010/11 SO’H
Study Skills Tutorial
Department of Economics
University of Leicester
2010/11 SO’H

2. Study Skills Tutorial Aims:
To develop tactics for getting the most out of lectures
To learn some tips for using text books
To start to plan your use of time
To answer any queries
Getting the most out of lectures

3. Getting the most out of lectures
Topic 1
Suppose you feel…
The lecturer seems to dictate notes rather quickly, and you can’t write everything down
 Should you
 Learn to write shorthand
Take a tape recorder to the lectures
Just listen to the lecturer and make notes on the lecture later
Write down only topic headings
Interrupt with a question
Ask the lecturer at the end to put his/her lecture notes on the web
As your tutor to go through it all again at the next tutorial
Do something else…(suggest what).

4. Getting the most out of lectures
Topic 2 
Suppose you feel…
It is difficult to copy down economics diagrams in lectures.
Should you
Ask the lecturer to provide handouts of them
Interrupt as the diagram is being drawn and ask the lecturer to go more slowly
Look in the textbook to see if the diagrams are there
Write down on the lecturer’s verbal description of how the curves intersect
Re-draw the diagrams for yourself after the lecture
Do something else…(suggest what).

5. Getting the most out of lectures
Topic 3
Suppose you feel…
You find the first part of the lecture boring, your attention wanders and 15 minutes later you realise you have no idea what the lecturer is talking about.
Should you
Get up and leave the lecture
Ask your neighbour what the lecturer is saying
Look out for the next heading the lecturer gives and try to pick up the lecture from there
Look in the course outline to see what is scheduled for the day’s lecture
Make notes only of what you understand
Make notes only of what your don’t understand
do something else…(suggest what).

6. Selecting and using books & papers
Topic 4
Suppose…
You are given a module outline that lists 12 books under the heading “Recommended Reading”.
Should you
Decide not to buy any of them, because 12 books is too many and the Library will have them all in stock.
Look each book up in the Library catalogue and buy a copy of the books of which are there is only 1 copy in the Library
Look further at the module outline to see if there is a “main recommendation”, and if so buy that book.
Ask your tutor’s advice about which books to buy
Decide to use your old ‘A’ level text instead
Do something else…(suggest what).

7. Selecting and using books & papers
Topic 5
Suppose…
You work through a worked example in the recommended text, but get a different answer.
Should you
Feel sure your work is wrong, so immediately throw it away
Mention this to your tutor at the next tutorial
Save your work, and take it along to you’re your tutor at the next tutorial
Immediately go to see the Lecturer who recommended the book
Ask someone else in your tutorial group if they can do that question
Do something else…(suggest what).

8. Selecting and using books & papers
Topic 6
Suppose…
You are set an assignment topic with a deadline in 2 weeks time.
Should you
Put it aside for 10 days, then read the module text before writing the assignment
Immediately check the Library catalogue and reserve all the books on the reading list in the Short Load collection
Try to assess which books and papers that are recommended for the module are most likely to be relevant
Use the index of the main textbook to find other useful reading
Read only papers (journal articles) since these are more likely to be up-to-date
Do something else…(suggest what).

9. Time Management Topic 7 Suppose… Should you
Your bus is late and you are not sure of the room where your 9.30 tutorial is being held. By 9.45 you have still not located the room.
Should you
Decide to go back to Hall, because its now too late to go in.
Ask a porter or secretary where the room is and go in
Spend your first 10 minutes in the tutorial copying up the notes of the lecture you missed
Apologise for your late arrival, find where the class are on the tutorial worksheets and try to join in with the work being done
Keep quiet because you realise you have not prepared properly for the tutorial
Do something else…(suggest what).

10. Time Management Topic 8 Suppose… Should you
You are offered a place in a sports team that trains on Monday afternoons, when you have a tutorial timetabled.
Should you
Decline the place in the team
Accept the place only if you can train at another time
Take up the place and miss the tutorials
Discuss the situation with your Personal Tutor
Ask at the Office if you could move to another tutorial group
Do something else…(suggest what).

11. Time Management Topic 9 Suppose… Should you
You find one of your modules difficult and by 5 weeks into the semester you have done little work for it.
Should you
Stop going to all lecturers so you can work continuously at the work for this module
Ask another student taking the module for some help
Ask your Personal Tutor for help
Ignore the assignment that is due and decide to catch up immediately before the exams
Buy the recommended text and start to work through it from the beginning
Do something else…(suggest what).