Hi there, let me introduce myself: I’m a lecturer with one of the UK’s leading universities and have taught both undergraduates and postgraduates – as well as GCSE and A level – for over thirty years. During that time, I have probably encountered every problem, query and cause of stress that all students encounter from time to time and it has been my pleasure and privilege to help my students overcome their problems and achieve their goals.
I shall be contributing a regular blog to this site from now on with some of the questions I have come across answered for you so that you, too, can benefit from my years of teaching experience. I have also been through the process myself, of course, gaining A levels, a BA, MA and a Ph.D., so I know how it feels to be a student as well as a teacher!
So, check back in to the site regularly to see what queries I’m answering each time and why not send in anything you need to ask via the comments? Remember, I’m here to help you !
You can find more of my advice below.
Three things you should know if you’re just starting out at Uni Are you just starting out at uni? It can be a bit of a daunting experience so with that in mind, here are three things to help you get by. TIP 1: Introducing… Studentbeans! The ultimate student discount website. As the website says … Read more
Nearly all University degrees require students to prepare and deliver presentations. How well they go depends largely on the time spent preparing them. Badly prepared presentations usually don’t go well and will only capture the attention of your audience for all the wrong reasons. Follow these five tips to make your presentations run as smoothly … Read more
Some quick and easy essay proofreading tips Even the best of essays will lose marks if they are badly proofread, and it’s demoralising to get an academically sound essay back full basic corrections. Follow these five tips to make sure you get the best out of your essays. Plan Ahead As discussed in previous blogs, … Read more
Find out the differences between referencing and bibliographies I just want to go through a run down of the differences between referencing material used for your essays and what a bibliography actually does. It’s quite easy to remember the difference even though they both refer to a relatively similar process. Referencing takes place within your … Read more
Find out how reflective learning can help you What is reflective learning? Reflective learning is the process of deliberately carrying out ‘cycles of inquiry’. The word ‘cycle’ is used here to demonstrate the manner in which a reflective learner moves between action and reflection. Taking some action results in doing things differently and afterwards, the … Read more
Before you tackle your next essay, take a moment to read my guide to avoiding the simplest mistakes that so many students make, losing them valuable marks. Let’s kick off with the top 10 reasons students lose marks when they’re writing essays: In order to avoid going off on a tangent, you’ll need to decide … Read more
Footnotes and endnotes are other common referencing styles, both of which provide information on the sources either at the footer of the page (footnotes) or at the end of the essay (endnotes). Follow this simple guide to master the basics. Practice Using Footnotes/ Endnotes in Microsoft Word When using footnotes or endnotes, a number is … Read more
Although you may not have long to go before the exam, last minute revision can make a significant difference to your grade. Try to prioritise – what are the key things you need to know? Is there anything you’re struggling to remember? Check the final facts: use your revision tools/prompts Don’t try to learn new … Read more
The aim of this post is to help you develop and improve ideas for your essay using a range of elicitation techniques which will advance your thinking. Have a go at mind mapping and brainstorming – both are fun and both will help you generate the originality you need for a better essay grade. There … Read more
When you’re searching for information for your essays, you’ll come across many sources on the Internet that you might consider using. So how do you sift out the good quality material from the less good? This article provides you with guidance on both a quick way to evaluate the quality of source material, and also … Read more