Key Skills for Academic Success

Academic Skill

Listening and notetaking in lectures

Reading

Studying

Quantitative Skills

Tips

Resources

Preview online notes and readings

before lecture.
Attend all lecture and take notes.
Turn technology off during lectures.
Review notes within 24 hours.

Listening and Note-Taking in

Lectures

Schedule short reading periods with

frequent breaks.
Read 1-2 paragraphs at a time, then
stop to check your understanding.
Study, with your technology off, in a
location where you are effective.
Study consistently, a bit every day.
Focus on creating and answering
practice questions, rather than rereading.
Consider studying with a partner or a
group.
Practice problems at all levels of
difficulty.
Go for help as soon as youre stuck.
Aim to understand concepts, rather
than to memorize formulae.

Student Learning Commons

Listening and Note-Taking Page
Academic Reading for Maximum
Effectiveness
Student Learning Commons Reading
Page
How to Study Efficiently and
Effectively
Study Groups
Student Learning Commons Exam
Preparation Page
A Better Approach to Quantitative
Courses Part 1: Understanding
Concepts
Part 2: Solving Problems
Part 3: Test Preparation

Critical Thinking

For essays and class discussions, you

will be asked to develop and articulate
your own positions on issues.
Give yourself time to reflect on what
you are learning.
As you read, jot down your thoughts,
impressions and questions.
Formulate your position only after
reading and evaluating all the
evidence.

Critical Thinking in University

Critically Analyzing Information
Sources (Cornell University)

Key Skills for Academic Success

Writing

Oral Communication

Class Participation

Presentations

Group Work

Assignment Calculator
Good university-level papers cannot be
written overnight.
Follow your Assignment Guidelines and
ask your Professor or TA for
clarification.
Understand that academic writing is a
process.
Use the Assignment Calculator to plan
out your writing process for research
papers.
Seek help from Librarians as well as
Writing Consultations at the Student
Learning Commons.
If you lack confidence communicating
with classmates and instructors in
English, or if you have difficulty in
grasping spoken English, make use of
the Student Learning Commons
English Conversation services.
Some classes award a small percentage
of your grade for participation; this can
sometimes make all the difference to
your final mark in the course.
Get to know your classmates, to
increase your comfort level.
Say something early in the term;
otherwise, your anxiety will build.
Preparation reduces anxiety.
Practice making your points, but dont
memorize your wording.
Eye contact and a sufficiently loud
voice are key.
Early on, get to know your group
members and work together to
develop goals for the project, and
expectations around scheduling and
each members contributions.

Academic Writing: The Basics

(Video, SFU Faculty of Education)
Top Ten Things to Know about
University Writing
Research Help from Librarians
Student Learning Commons Writing
Consultations
Student Learning Commons Writing
Pages
Conversation Partners
Lets Talk! Group
Speaking Consultations
Conversation Pods

Effective Seminar Participation

Giving Effective Presentations

Increase your Presentation
Confidence
Passport to Leadership
Student Learning Commons Group
Work Page