Research Paper on Study Skills
Life as a student is hectic, balancing university time, study time, work as well as fitting in social & recreational activities is a delicate operation. I have learned in order to be successful there has to be some degree of organisation. The purpose of this research paper is to outline my approach to study in higher education, i.e. the techniques I used to ensure I meet all my personal, social and academic goals while I am in this hectic period of my life.
Objectives of research paper:
Objectives of research paper:
- To outline the time management techniques I have used in higher education to achieve my goals;
- To outline the research techniques I used to produce my discussion article;
- To outline the communications techniques I used when delivering my presentation;
- To outline the study skills techniques I used to produce my discussion article.
Time Management
For me the most important resource to organise is time. I have discovered if I can do this I give myself a much better chance of fulfilling my goals. For me Lakein sums it up best.
“Time is life. It is irreversible and irreplaceable. To waste your time is to waste your life, but to master your time is to master your life and make the most of it.” (A. Lakein, 1984, p1).
__________________________________________________________For me the most important resource to organise is time. I have discovered if I can do this I give myself a much better chance of fulfilling my goals. For me Lakein sums it up best.
“Time is life. It is irreversible and irreplaceable. To waste your time is to waste your life, but to master your time is to master your life and make the most of it.” (A. Lakein, 1984, p1).
__________________________________________________________
Higher Education Time Management Technique
I have employed many techniques to aid me in my quest to ‘master’ time. Many of which have developed through trial and error.
My three main techniques are:
At the beginning of the year I purchased my first ever diary as I anticipation the need for organisation. This would be my academic diary, (see appendix 1 for sample pages). This diary has proved invaluable.
Throughout my whole school life I never used a diary, this meant I was constantly missing work, which in turn meant I was often behind my peers. It has been amazing the difference it has made, as I now know if I can complete all the tasks in my diary I can never fall behind.
Timetabling
Keeping a diary of academic work was one thing, however as I have mentioned I had other commitments that were suffered due to improper scheduling. During week two I began reading the Business and Professional Development Study Skills book. An empty timetable was given as well as tips for organising time such as “study at the same time everyday” and “Make use of free hours during the day” (Wendy Triffitt, 2002). (see appendix 2 for full tips provided). This prompted me to create my own time – table. First I gave time to essential activities such as eating and sleeping. Then I blocked in university, study and work time; finally I made time for recreational activities such as going to the gym. (see fig 1.0). However I quickly realised that this was not an accomplishable schedule. It was far too packed and inflexible.
Scheduling
A. Lakeins (1984) ideas on scheduling were very useful at this point, it is important that you organise time, not let time organise you. A schedule that is too rigid can end up dictating the whole day without allowing the most important activities to get completed. In addition Lakien believed that planning for a day in the evening and morning were the best ways to organise your time. This was a key piece of advice for me. From week three I began to make “To – Do Lists” every evening of everything that needed to be done the next day. (see appendix 3) Then each morning I would take about five minuets to evaluate each item remaining on the list using the ‘ABC Priority System’ (see A. Lakein, 1984, p25). I tried making sure all (if there were any) of the ‘A’ items were complete by the end of the day. Obviously not everything on the list was able to get done. The items remaining on the list would then be put into the next days ‘to – do list’ and re evaluated the next morning. In addition I created a revised timetable (see fig 1.1) with many gaps to accommodate any ‘A’ items on my list and allow for flexibility.
How It Has Helped
How Has It Helped In General
The methods that I have discussed have allowed me to make the most out of my time in university as well as sufficiently fulfil many of my personal goals. The combined effect of using these time management techniques as well as a feasible amount of responsibility and self-control (i.e. resisting the temptation to get too far sidetracked) have meant I am able to do more with my time, I am rarely late in handing in assignments and I am usually aware of an upcoming test or assessment so I am able to revise in good time. In addition I am rarely late for work and I have still been able to find time to enjoy my social life.
How Has It Helped Me Produce My Article
Completing my newspaper article in good time can serve as an example of how I have utilised my time management techniques to achieve a goal. Firstly, when I received the assignment I wrote in my diary under the ‘Business and Professional Development section “Complete Article”. This was entered into all subsequent weeks up until November 30th. Obviously completing the article involved a lot of stages, there was planning, research etc. I broke these individual sections down into mini tasks using my list. Firstly I had to plan the article. Therefore in the every day in the first week I wrote on my list “Plan Article”. (note it only accredited with a ‘C’ rating as at that time it was not a vital activity.) Using this method of time management allowed me to be aware of the imminent hand in date, however, it allowed me to complete other tasks that were perhaps more important first.
How it helped me Produce My Presentation
My time management techniques helped me produce my presentation in the same way as they helped me produce my article. I was fully aware of the date I had to give my presentation as well as other activities I had to do. This enabled me to effectively allocate my time to producing and rehearsing the talk.
What I Would Do Differently
I wouldn’t do too many things differently as I have found techniques that works for me, however there is one regret that I have, due to the fact that I only started to use many of these techniques in weeks 2 to 4. I feel if I had employed some sort of time management in the first few weeks I would be in a better situation at the moment. Saying that however, I appreciate that this may not have been possible due to two facts; many of my techniques have developed through ‘trial and error’ and that I do accept that it the first few weeks were needed to ‘settle in’.
Although I personally wouldn’t do too many things differently I can appreciate other ways of doing things. Especially Wendy Triffitt’s views (2002), that a weekly review of all work done in a module should take place at the weekend. In addition she believes that study periods should be planned to follow classes, (see appendix 2). This is something I may well look into doing next term.
I can also appreciate the views of Roger Black (1987, chapter 10) who believes a diary should be “A notebook for every area of your life, whether home or work related”. My current diary is nowhere near that complicated nor would I feel comfortable in having every activity I do dictated to me by a diary. However it may be worth extending the content of my diary from just academic activities to appointments and social obligations etc.
Research
According to K. Semons (1991) while making an analogy with the “you are what you eat” phrase, states “you are what you read” (K. Semons, 1991, p 83), this is why he believes research is vital to a successful piece of work. I share his opinion as I have found projects and essays, etc, which I have researched meticulously for have been a lot better than those that I haven’t.
Types Of Research
There were four main types of research that I considered for my article: -
The first source of information I considered was books, however I quickly realised that these possessed one big flaw. As I had to produce an article on up to date issues, I needed all my sources to be as up to date as possible. The books in the Nottingham Trent University weren’t outdated but they were defiantly not as up to date as I would have liked. This is why I only used one book, “Business Information Systems” as a source of information.
Journals
When I first thought of using journals this seemed like a very good source of information. I thought they would be up to date and that I would gain extra credit for including them. However, in practise this wasn’t the case, I found it almost impossible to find a journal with the relevant information. This is why I opted not to use a real journal as a source for my article.
Websites
The Internet was an alternative and in this case proved to be the best; this is because many articles and journals are put up soon after print. I could search for all the information I needed from sources put on the net from all over the world from a computer. This is why this was my preferred research medium.
Class Notes
There was one seminar I attended that was on the subject of viruses, however in all honesty I cannot say I paid too much attention and I didn’t take too many notes. In hindsight I can defiantly see that it would have helped me as the effects of viruses were being explained in the lecture, this may well have proved to be a valuable source
Problems I Faced
There were various difficulties I faced, the first one I realised pretty quickly, as this article was a broadsheet article, not just an essay I knew that I needed very up-to-date information. This left me with a problem, ‘How could I get up to date information on computer viruses (i.e. the subject of my article). I realised that I needed journals and articles if I wanted news on recent events. However the problem was how to obtain articles that were of relevance. This led me to the conclusion that the Internet was the best method I could use as the latest articles are normally put up shortly after print.
However this lead to more problems, I am a resident of Norton Court, which doesn’t have Internet access and is located at half an hours walk from Trent university. Obviously there is Internet access there, however the Internet is notorious for being a frustrating medium, I had to make numerous trips to university to get the required information, not a huge problem but still, one worth mentioning.
How Successful Was My Technique
In my opinion this technique was very successful. I was able to get all the information I needed and it was all from sources printed within the last three year. The Information I gathered allowed me to write up the article just the way I wanted to.
What I Would Change In The Future
As I have said, my technique worked so I would be lying if I said I would make wholesale changes to it. If I were being super – critical it would have been nice to have obtained some primary research rather than just secondary. For example; I would have liked to find a business in this area whose systems had been infected by a virus. However due to the fact many businesses are reluctant to divulge this information, it is was an impossible task unless I knew the owner/manager, which was not the case.
The Presentation
Speaking out load has been a problem for me for quite a while now. It is something I have always tried to avoid; even reading out load from a textbook in class has posed problems for me. However I knew that there was no way for me to avoid this presentation. I realised that if I were to do well I would have to get some tips on presenting. The lecture notes in the ‘Business Information Systems’ lecture provided a starting block. In addition W.Triffitt’s ( 2002 ) notes at the back of the ‘Business and Professional Development’ study skills book helped.
Presentation Technique
Preparation and Planning
“Skills of presentation are not inborn or inherited” (Janner, 1989), this is why Janner believes that presentation techniques need to be taught. In his opinion, one of the simplest ways to be successful is to plan and rehearse. These were the same views that I was hearing from a number of sources. I began to realise that the main difference between a successful presentation and an unsuccessful one was the preparation put into it.
I decided if I had any chance of delivering a quality talk I had to be well prepared. I constructed a spider diagram consisting of all the points I wanted to make. (see appendix 4). After this I decided on the presentation format, (see appendix 5). Which I was able to do using my spider diagram. This made the job of assembling the information I needed to deliver the talk a lot easier.
Choice of Visual Aids
I then had to decide on how I was going to present my information. I would have liked to have used visual & sound effect, however this was not possible as the only piece of equipment available was the Over-head projector. This meant I had to use A4 transparencies. This may not have been a bad thing as G. Janner (1989) believed that “Over Preparation” should be avoided. “auto-cued, word perfect script, dramatic music and lighting may be too slick” (G. Janner, 2001, p45) and will remove your personal impact.
I acted on his advice when designing my transparencies “Keep the wording of all visual aids to a sensible minimum”. “Avoid a mass of hard to assimilate material”. This is why I kept the structure of my transparencies very simple but with just the right amount of information needed for the audience to understand the essence of my talk.
Rehearsing the Material
Janner(1989) identified rehearsing the presentation material as one of the keys to success so I knew I could not just turn up on the day and hope for the best. I spent half an hour before I went to bed for the three days before the presentation to make sure I knew what I was going to say. I also got feedback from my roommates on the night – before. Although no suggestions for improvement were made this was an invaluable as I said the presentation out loud.
The Day of the Presentation
On the presentation day I was very nervous, however due to my preparation I was feeling quietly confident which helped a lot. In addition I kept some advice I had been given by Triffitt (2002) fresh in my mind;
"Nerves can be reduced by realising that: -
• Audience are sympathetic
• You were asked to speak – so they are interested
• * Penalties are very small* what is the worst that can happen?
• Deep breathing can reduce stress"
I also followed Triffitt’s advice on making a good impression (see figure 3.1). I did not slouch, kept a confident posture and didn’t fiddle too much. My main problem now was getting my words out, I tried to pronounce my words concisely and I tried not to speak too quickly.
Problems Faced
My main problem was simply giving the talk, I am not generally the kind of person who needs to be the centre of attention, I prefer to fade into to background. Therefore I was obviously a bit nervous standing in front of a class were all eyes were pointed at me. I found it very hard to keep the nerves away, however the techniques discussed defiantly helped and I’m sure I looked less nervous than I was.
Apart from this I didn’t have any problems with any of the other aspects, my research wasn’t too difficult, and neither was learning the material.
What I Would Change In The Future
If I could do this presentation again one thing I would really like to do is give out information leaflets before my presentation started. This would mean my audience would be more aware of the issues surrounding my talk before I start. In addition if they were unclear of anything they would at least have something they could take away and have a look at.
I have heard from numerous sources (including W. Triffit, 2002) that presenting gets easier with practise. This was my first ever presentation so I would hope next time I need to present a topic I am more accustomed to the pressures that come with it. Therefore I hope I am able to cope with it a lot better.
The Newspaper Article
For 40% of my Business and Professional Devlopemement coursework mark I was required to write a broadsheet style newspaper article. My chosen category for this article was the same as for my presentation; the effects of Computer Viruses
Planning
Planning for me was a very crucial part of this assignment, it is described as “mind mapping” by J. Rose (2001, p 91), she identifies two main planning processes
• Getting ideas and inspiration
• Making notes
These two forms that I used to good in producing my article, I will discuss how I used them to help produce my article later.
Benefits of Planning
Whether you are writing an essay, answering an examination question or creating an article as in my case there are many benefits that can be gained from careful planning. I am speaking from experience as I have found that whenever I have taken time to plan a piece of work I have saved a lot of time in the long run.
According to J. Rose the main benefits of planning are: -
• Helps set out your ideas
• Helps ideas lurking in subconscious come to the surface
• Gives a clearer understanding of the topics that need to be covered
Initial Planning
My initial planning was very basic, however I feel it was very effective, I constructed a spider diagram or ‘mind map’, (see appendix 6), this helped me visualise the problem I faced. I then started to plan the basic outline that my newspaper article was going to take.(see appendix 7). This proved to be invaluable as when I was conducting my research u knew exactly what I needed.
Later Planning
After I had collected most of my information and began writing I was able to visualise the form my article was going to take, this enabled me to plan the structure my article was going to take (see appendix 8). Although my article hasn’t turned out exactly as this first pan (see ‘Copy Of Article and Bibliography’ section of this report) it helped me a lot as writing the article was no longer such a stab in the dark.
Writing the Article
Finding an Angle
Finding an angle to discuss the issue from was a very difficult step for me, it is also something J. Rose (2002) believes is of greater importance in article writing than in any other form of writing. To overcome this I began writing and I lucky that my title “The 21ST Century Plague” just hit me. I then began writing using the angle of comparing computer viruses to biological viruses.
Writing Style
I was told that this article was going to be as if it was going to be published in a broadsheet newspaper. Therefore the writing style was pre-determined. However I wanted to get more familiar with the broadsheet writing style. I took J. Rose’s advice (2001), that the way the article is written should be reflective of its audience. I looked at papers such as ‘The Times” and “The Business” to help me get a better picture of what was required from the audience (i.e. my seminar teacher). I also contrasted them with papers such as “The Sun” and the “The Sport” to get a better picture of what was not an acceptable writing style. In addition I read the example article in the ‘Business and Professional Development’ Module Handbook to help me get started.
Visual Assistance
In the article specification I was told to use pictures and headlines to add to the effect. I opted not to include a picture as I found a very interesting bar chart. I felt this would satisfy the visual element of the article as well as provide the reader with some very useful information. I did not include both as I felt it would make the article look too cluttered. I used a very short heading with a two line sub-heading to help grab the reader’s attention. In addition I have taken out quotes from the text and placed them on their own in the article, another method to grab the reader’s attention.
My Drafting Process
For me drafting was a very important process. I created four drafts, firstly was a very rough draft and it developed from there.
Initially, as I am quite an indecisive person my main problem was deciding a topic to base my article on, as I had already selected Viruses and Hacking as the topic for my presentation so this seemed a logical starting point for my article. Then, my next problem as I have mentioned was that I had to devise a suitable heading, attempting to do this before I had made a start writing the article cost me quite a lot of time.
Apart from these initial problems I faced, writing the article was pretty straightforward. I did however have a problem with my graphic. I was unable to find a suitable graphic, which I felt captured the essence of the article. However I was in luck as I found a bar chart containing information on the number of e-mail viruses that were intercepted by a particular research company. Rose Hulman. As soon I saw it I knew it would complement my script perfectly.
My biggest problem, oddly enough was fitting my text, graphic and headlines into columns in Word. It took me three half hour sessions to get it right. This is quite a substantial amount of time; however I am fully aware that with this style of writing, presentation is key in grabbing the reader’s attention. Therefore I conclude that this was time well spent.
What I Would Change In The Future
On the whole I was very pleased with how my article turned out. I wouldn’t change a lot, however if I was to produce another article in the future I think a picture in the centre would make the article look more professional. In addition if I had more time I would defiantly like to include some primary research in the Article through the use of questionnaires.
Conclusion & Recommendations
In conclusion I feel I applied time management, study and communication skills to good effect while producing my Producing my article and giving my presentation. I took a lot of advice from many different sources as well as developing my own techniques.
Summary of Techniques
Here is a brief summary of the techniques I used:
I have already outlined changes I would make to the time management, research, communications and study techniques I am using in the previous individual sections. However there are some general changes I would like to make. I often find when I am fully immersed in one piece of work (i.e. the article) I loose a lot of perspective, I find myself committing to it more time than I should be and not enough time on other pieces of work, (e.g. I had revision for another module), although I didn’t miss it out altogether I didn’t do as much as I should. I think I did this because I found writing the article a lot more enjoyable, this is a trap I intend not to fall into again.
Another general improvement to my study technique I intend to make is to work harder for shorter periods of time, e.g. work for about an hour, then rest for about twenty minuets. Rather than work solidly for hours as this causes my mind to wonder.
Higher Education Time Management Technique
I have employed many techniques to aid me in my quest to ‘master’ time. Many of which have developed through trial and error.
My three main techniques are:
- Keeping a diary
- Timetabling
- Scheduling
At the beginning of the year I purchased my first ever diary as I anticipation the need for organisation. This would be my academic diary, (see appendix 1 for sample pages). This diary has proved invaluable.
Throughout my whole school life I never used a diary, this meant I was constantly missing work, which in turn meant I was often behind my peers. It has been amazing the difference it has made, as I now know if I can complete all the tasks in my diary I can never fall behind.
Timetabling
Keeping a diary of academic work was one thing, however as I have mentioned I had other commitments that were suffered due to improper scheduling. During week two I began reading the Business and Professional Development Study Skills book. An empty timetable was given as well as tips for organising time such as “study at the same time everyday” and “Make use of free hours during the day” (Wendy Triffitt, 2002). (see appendix 2 for full tips provided). This prompted me to create my own time – table. First I gave time to essential activities such as eating and sleeping. Then I blocked in university, study and work time; finally I made time for recreational activities such as going to the gym. (see fig 1.0). However I quickly realised that this was not an accomplishable schedule. It was far too packed and inflexible.
Scheduling
A. Lakeins (1984) ideas on scheduling were very useful at this point, it is important that you organise time, not let time organise you. A schedule that is too rigid can end up dictating the whole day without allowing the most important activities to get completed. In addition Lakien believed that planning for a day in the evening and morning were the best ways to organise your time. This was a key piece of advice for me. From week three I began to make “To – Do Lists” every evening of everything that needed to be done the next day. (see appendix 3) Then each morning I would take about five minuets to evaluate each item remaining on the list using the ‘ABC Priority System’ (see A. Lakein, 1984, p25). I tried making sure all (if there were any) of the ‘A’ items were complete by the end of the day. Obviously not everything on the list was able to get done. The items remaining on the list would then be put into the next days ‘to – do list’ and re evaluated the next morning. In addition I created a revised timetable (see fig 1.1) with many gaps to accommodate any ‘A’ items on my list and allow for flexibility.
How It Has Helped
How Has It Helped In General
The methods that I have discussed have allowed me to make the most out of my time in university as well as sufficiently fulfil many of my personal goals. The combined effect of using these time management techniques as well as a feasible amount of responsibility and self-control (i.e. resisting the temptation to get too far sidetracked) have meant I am able to do more with my time, I am rarely late in handing in assignments and I am usually aware of an upcoming test or assessment so I am able to revise in good time. In addition I am rarely late for work and I have still been able to find time to enjoy my social life.
How Has It Helped Me Produce My Article
Completing my newspaper article in good time can serve as an example of how I have utilised my time management techniques to achieve a goal. Firstly, when I received the assignment I wrote in my diary under the ‘Business and Professional Development section “Complete Article”. This was entered into all subsequent weeks up until November 30th. Obviously completing the article involved a lot of stages, there was planning, research etc. I broke these individual sections down into mini tasks using my list. Firstly I had to plan the article. Therefore in the every day in the first week I wrote on my list “Plan Article”. (note it only accredited with a ‘C’ rating as at that time it was not a vital activity.) Using this method of time management allowed me to be aware of the imminent hand in date, however, it allowed me to complete other tasks that were perhaps more important first.
How it helped me Produce My Presentation
My time management techniques helped me produce my presentation in the same way as they helped me produce my article. I was fully aware of the date I had to give my presentation as well as other activities I had to do. This enabled me to effectively allocate my time to producing and rehearsing the talk.
What I Would Do Differently
I wouldn’t do too many things differently as I have found techniques that works for me, however there is one regret that I have, due to the fact that I only started to use many of these techniques in weeks 2 to 4. I feel if I had employed some sort of time management in the first few weeks I would be in a better situation at the moment. Saying that however, I appreciate that this may not have been possible due to two facts; many of my techniques have developed through ‘trial and error’ and that I do accept that it the first few weeks were needed to ‘settle in’.
Although I personally wouldn’t do too many things differently I can appreciate other ways of doing things. Especially Wendy Triffitt’s views (2002), that a weekly review of all work done in a module should take place at the weekend. In addition she believes that study periods should be planned to follow classes, (see appendix 2). This is something I may well look into doing next term.
I can also appreciate the views of Roger Black (1987, chapter 10) who believes a diary should be “A notebook for every area of your life, whether home or work related”. My current diary is nowhere near that complicated nor would I feel comfortable in having every activity I do dictated to me by a diary. However it may be worth extending the content of my diary from just academic activities to appointments and social obligations etc.
Research
According to K. Semons (1991) while making an analogy with the “you are what you eat” phrase, states “you are what you read” (K. Semons, 1991, p 83), this is why he believes research is vital to a successful piece of work. I share his opinion as I have found projects and essays, etc, which I have researched meticulously for have been a lot better than those that I haven’t.
Types Of Research
There were four main types of research that I considered for my article: -
- Books
- Journals
- Websites
- Notes
The first source of information I considered was books, however I quickly realised that these possessed one big flaw. As I had to produce an article on up to date issues, I needed all my sources to be as up to date as possible. The books in the Nottingham Trent University weren’t outdated but they were defiantly not as up to date as I would have liked. This is why I only used one book, “Business Information Systems” as a source of information.
Journals
When I first thought of using journals this seemed like a very good source of information. I thought they would be up to date and that I would gain extra credit for including them. However, in practise this wasn’t the case, I found it almost impossible to find a journal with the relevant information. This is why I opted not to use a real journal as a source for my article.
Websites
The Internet was an alternative and in this case proved to be the best; this is because many articles and journals are put up soon after print. I could search for all the information I needed from sources put on the net from all over the world from a computer. This is why this was my preferred research medium.
Class Notes
There was one seminar I attended that was on the subject of viruses, however in all honesty I cannot say I paid too much attention and I didn’t take too many notes. In hindsight I can defiantly see that it would have helped me as the effects of viruses were being explained in the lecture, this may well have proved to be a valuable source
Problems I Faced
There were various difficulties I faced, the first one I realised pretty quickly, as this article was a broadsheet article, not just an essay I knew that I needed very up-to-date information. This left me with a problem, ‘How could I get up to date information on computer viruses (i.e. the subject of my article). I realised that I needed journals and articles if I wanted news on recent events. However the problem was how to obtain articles that were of relevance. This led me to the conclusion that the Internet was the best method I could use as the latest articles are normally put up shortly after print.
However this lead to more problems, I am a resident of Norton Court, which doesn’t have Internet access and is located at half an hours walk from Trent university. Obviously there is Internet access there, however the Internet is notorious for being a frustrating medium, I had to make numerous trips to university to get the required information, not a huge problem but still, one worth mentioning.
How Successful Was My Technique
In my opinion this technique was very successful. I was able to get all the information I needed and it was all from sources printed within the last three year. The Information I gathered allowed me to write up the article just the way I wanted to.
What I Would Change In The Future
As I have said, my technique worked so I would be lying if I said I would make wholesale changes to it. If I were being super – critical it would have been nice to have obtained some primary research rather than just secondary. For example; I would have liked to find a business in this area whose systems had been infected by a virus. However due to the fact many businesses are reluctant to divulge this information, it is was an impossible task unless I knew the owner/manager, which was not the case.
The Presentation
Speaking out load has been a problem for me for quite a while now. It is something I have always tried to avoid; even reading out load from a textbook in class has posed problems for me. However I knew that there was no way for me to avoid this presentation. I realised that if I were to do well I would have to get some tips on presenting. The lecture notes in the ‘Business Information Systems’ lecture provided a starting block. In addition W.Triffitt’s ( 2002 ) notes at the back of the ‘Business and Professional Development’ study skills book helped.
Presentation Technique
Preparation and Planning
“Skills of presentation are not inborn or inherited” (Janner, 1989), this is why Janner believes that presentation techniques need to be taught. In his opinion, one of the simplest ways to be successful is to plan and rehearse. These were the same views that I was hearing from a number of sources. I began to realise that the main difference between a successful presentation and an unsuccessful one was the preparation put into it.
I decided if I had any chance of delivering a quality talk I had to be well prepared. I constructed a spider diagram consisting of all the points I wanted to make. (see appendix 4). After this I decided on the presentation format, (see appendix 5). Which I was able to do using my spider diagram. This made the job of assembling the information I needed to deliver the talk a lot easier.
Choice of Visual Aids
I then had to decide on how I was going to present my information. I would have liked to have used visual & sound effect, however this was not possible as the only piece of equipment available was the Over-head projector. This meant I had to use A4 transparencies. This may not have been a bad thing as G. Janner (1989) believed that “Over Preparation” should be avoided. “auto-cued, word perfect script, dramatic music and lighting may be too slick” (G. Janner, 2001, p45) and will remove your personal impact.
I acted on his advice when designing my transparencies “Keep the wording of all visual aids to a sensible minimum”. “Avoid a mass of hard to assimilate material”. This is why I kept the structure of my transparencies very simple but with just the right amount of information needed for the audience to understand the essence of my talk.
Rehearsing the Material
Janner(1989) identified rehearsing the presentation material as one of the keys to success so I knew I could not just turn up on the day and hope for the best. I spent half an hour before I went to bed for the three days before the presentation to make sure I knew what I was going to say. I also got feedback from my roommates on the night – before. Although no suggestions for improvement were made this was an invaluable as I said the presentation out loud.
The Day of the Presentation
On the presentation day I was very nervous, however due to my preparation I was feeling quietly confident which helped a lot. In addition I kept some advice I had been given by Triffitt (2002) fresh in my mind;
"Nerves can be reduced by realising that: -
• Audience are sympathetic
• You were asked to speak – so they are interested
• * Penalties are very small* what is the worst that can happen?
• Deep breathing can reduce stress"
I also followed Triffitt’s advice on making a good impression (see figure 3.1). I did not slouch, kept a confident posture and didn’t fiddle too much. My main problem now was getting my words out, I tried to pronounce my words concisely and I tried not to speak too quickly.
Problems Faced
My main problem was simply giving the talk, I am not generally the kind of person who needs to be the centre of attention, I prefer to fade into to background. Therefore I was obviously a bit nervous standing in front of a class were all eyes were pointed at me. I found it very hard to keep the nerves away, however the techniques discussed defiantly helped and I’m sure I looked less nervous than I was.
Apart from this I didn’t have any problems with any of the other aspects, my research wasn’t too difficult, and neither was learning the material.
What I Would Change In The Future
If I could do this presentation again one thing I would really like to do is give out information leaflets before my presentation started. This would mean my audience would be more aware of the issues surrounding my talk before I start. In addition if they were unclear of anything they would at least have something they could take away and have a look at.
I have heard from numerous sources (including W. Triffit, 2002) that presenting gets easier with practise. This was my first ever presentation so I would hope next time I need to present a topic I am more accustomed to the pressures that come with it. Therefore I hope I am able to cope with it a lot better.
The Newspaper Article
For 40% of my Business and Professional Devlopemement coursework mark I was required to write a broadsheet style newspaper article. My chosen category for this article was the same as for my presentation; the effects of Computer Viruses
Planning
Planning for me was a very crucial part of this assignment, it is described as “mind mapping” by J. Rose (2001, p 91), she identifies two main planning processes
• Getting ideas and inspiration
• Making notes
These two forms that I used to good in producing my article, I will discuss how I used them to help produce my article later.
Benefits of Planning
Whether you are writing an essay, answering an examination question or creating an article as in my case there are many benefits that can be gained from careful planning. I am speaking from experience as I have found that whenever I have taken time to plan a piece of work I have saved a lot of time in the long run.
According to J. Rose the main benefits of planning are: -
• Helps set out your ideas
• Helps ideas lurking in subconscious come to the surface
• Gives a clearer understanding of the topics that need to be covered
Initial Planning
My initial planning was very basic, however I feel it was very effective, I constructed a spider diagram or ‘mind map’, (see appendix 6), this helped me visualise the problem I faced. I then started to plan the basic outline that my newspaper article was going to take.(see appendix 7). This proved to be invaluable as when I was conducting my research u knew exactly what I needed.
Later Planning
After I had collected most of my information and began writing I was able to visualise the form my article was going to take, this enabled me to plan the structure my article was going to take (see appendix 8). Although my article hasn’t turned out exactly as this first pan (see ‘Copy Of Article and Bibliography’ section of this report) it helped me a lot as writing the article was no longer such a stab in the dark.
Writing the Article
Finding an Angle
Finding an angle to discuss the issue from was a very difficult step for me, it is also something J. Rose (2002) believes is of greater importance in article writing than in any other form of writing. To overcome this I began writing and I lucky that my title “The 21ST Century Plague” just hit me. I then began writing using the angle of comparing computer viruses to biological viruses.
Writing Style
I was told that this article was going to be as if it was going to be published in a broadsheet newspaper. Therefore the writing style was pre-determined. However I wanted to get more familiar with the broadsheet writing style. I took J. Rose’s advice (2001), that the way the article is written should be reflective of its audience. I looked at papers such as ‘The Times” and “The Business” to help me get a better picture of what was required from the audience (i.e. my seminar teacher). I also contrasted them with papers such as “The Sun” and the “The Sport” to get a better picture of what was not an acceptable writing style. In addition I read the example article in the ‘Business and Professional Development’ Module Handbook to help me get started.
Visual Assistance
In the article specification I was told to use pictures and headlines to add to the effect. I opted not to include a picture as I found a very interesting bar chart. I felt this would satisfy the visual element of the article as well as provide the reader with some very useful information. I did not include both as I felt it would make the article look too cluttered. I used a very short heading with a two line sub-heading to help grab the reader’s attention. In addition I have taken out quotes from the text and placed them on their own in the article, another method to grab the reader’s attention.
My Drafting Process
For me drafting was a very important process. I created four drafts, firstly was a very rough draft and it developed from there.
- In the first draft pictures and headlines were omitted, all I was looking to do was to find a structure.
- The second draft was more readable. There was still no graphic, however nearly everything else (i.e. headings, subheadings and newspaper style paragraphing) was included.
- Then I produced a third draft. It was at this point that it started to look like the finished article.
- The final draft was not too different from the third. It only drawn as my picked up some useful tips from my seminar teacher S. O’ Sullivan.
Initially, as I am quite an indecisive person my main problem was deciding a topic to base my article on, as I had already selected Viruses and Hacking as the topic for my presentation so this seemed a logical starting point for my article. Then, my next problem as I have mentioned was that I had to devise a suitable heading, attempting to do this before I had made a start writing the article cost me quite a lot of time.
Apart from these initial problems I faced, writing the article was pretty straightforward. I did however have a problem with my graphic. I was unable to find a suitable graphic, which I felt captured the essence of the article. However I was in luck as I found a bar chart containing information on the number of e-mail viruses that were intercepted by a particular research company. Rose Hulman. As soon I saw it I knew it would complement my script perfectly.
My biggest problem, oddly enough was fitting my text, graphic and headlines into columns in Word. It took me three half hour sessions to get it right. This is quite a substantial amount of time; however I am fully aware that with this style of writing, presentation is key in grabbing the reader’s attention. Therefore I conclude that this was time well spent.
What I Would Change In The Future
On the whole I was very pleased with how my article turned out. I wouldn’t change a lot, however if I was to produce another article in the future I think a picture in the centre would make the article look more professional. In addition if I had more time I would defiantly like to include some primary research in the Article through the use of questionnaires.
Conclusion & Recommendations
In conclusion I feel I applied time management, study and communication skills to good effect while producing my Producing my article and giving my presentation. I took a lot of advice from many different sources as well as developing my own techniques.
Summary of Techniques
Here is a brief summary of the techniques I used:
- Time Management Techniques – I developed many of my techniques through trial and error. These included keeping a diary, making daily ‘to do’ lists and following a time – table.
- Research Techniques – I considered using a number of research techniques, including books, journals and the Internet, my main source of information was the Internet as I felt this would provide me with the most up to date information.
- Presentation – I used many techniques to try to calm my nerves while I was giving my talk including deep breathing exercises to reduce nerves, these proved to be a big help. In addition I took advice on how to catch the audience’s attention with slides and I learned the effect body language has on the audience. I also rehearsed my talk very thoroughly.
- Writing The Article – I used many techniques to help me write the article. Initially I planned the article meticulously, and then I found the angle I was going to argue from. This helped me write up a first draft. I then drafted and re-drafted until was happy with the layout and structure of the article.
I have already outlined changes I would make to the time management, research, communications and study techniques I am using in the previous individual sections. However there are some general changes I would like to make. I often find when I am fully immersed in one piece of work (i.e. the article) I loose a lot of perspective, I find myself committing to it more time than I should be and not enough time on other pieces of work, (e.g. I had revision for another module), although I didn’t miss it out altogether I didn’t do as much as I should. I think I did this because I found writing the article a lot more enjoyable, this is a trap I intend not to fall into again.
Another general improvement to my study technique I intend to make is to work harder for shorter periods of time, e.g. work for about an hour, then rest for about twenty minuets. Rather than work solidly for hours as this causes my mind to wonder.
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___________________________________________________________Warning!!! All free online research papers, research paper samples and example research papers on Study Skills topics are plagiarized and cannot be fully used in your high school, college or university education.
If you need a custom research paper, research proposal, essay, dissertation, thesis paper or term paper on your topic, EffectivePapers.com will write your research papers from scratch. Starting at $12/page you can order custom written papers online. We work with experienced PhD. and Master's freelance writers to help you with writing any academic papers in any subject! High quality and 100% non-plagiarized papers guaranteed!
