1st Edition

How to Get a First The Essential Guide to Academic Success

By Thomas Dixon Copyright 2004
    184 Pages
    by Routledge

    192 Pages
    by Routledge

    In this informative guide, Thomas Dixon argues that you do not have to be a genius to get a first at university. He sets out to de-mystify first-class degrees in the arts, humanities and social sciences, clearly articulating the difference between the excellent and the merely competent in undergraduate work.

    This concise, no-nonsense guidebook will give prospective and current students advice on teaching and learning styles that prevail in university and on how to manage their two most important resources - their time and their lecturers. In an accessible and entertaining style, the author looks at subjects such as:

    • making the transition from school to university
    • developing transferable skills
    • making use of lectures and seminars
    • using libraries and the Internet
    • note-taking, essays, seminars and presentations
    • common mistakes to avoid
    • writing with clarity and style
    • revision and examinations.

    Illustrated with many examples from a range of academic disciplines, How to Get a First is an all-purpose guide to success in academic life. Visit the companion website www.getafirst.com

    1. Introduction  2. Taking Aim: The Task and the Resources  3. Lectures, Classes and Seminars  4. Libraries and Reading Lists  5. Reading and Taking Notes from Books and Articles  6. Using the Internet  7. Planning Essays, Presentations and Dissertations  8. Giving a Presentation  9. Writing Essays and Dissertation I: The Basics  10. Writing Essays and Dissertations II: Arguing with Style  11. Revision and Exams  12. How to Get a First

    Biography

    Thomas Dixon has taught at the Universities of Cambridge and London, and is now a Lecturer in History at Lancaster University.

    '[How to Get a First] is the title of an excellent guide by Thomas Dixon ... it is a compilation of what he wishes he had known before he went to university.' - The Daily Telegraph

    'This is not some sort of get rich (top grades) quick scheme but a collection of good advice.' - Physical Sciences Educational Reviews