Essay Writing and Study Skills

As a university student and, most recently, as a lecturer and tutor at a leading Russell Group university, I was surprised by the lack of any formal training students had in study skills - in how to organise time productively; identify and seek out relevant books and journal articles; write, structure and develop an essay; approach a coursework project; read an academic text and review, evaluate and critique it etc.

These are actually pretty straightforward tasks, yet many universities simply assume that students know how to do these things. Hence, these skills are often not formally taught. One of my main reasons for tutoring is to help you become more confident in your abilities as a student by teaching you how best to study. This involves sitting down with you and identifying the ways in which you work most effectively and productively - and then drawing upon this to improve and fine-tune your study skills. As a lecturer and tutor I was passionate about helping my students succeed, and I want to help you apply your study skills to ensure you achieve the best marks you can.