Evaluate Your Skills

Everyone experiences some anxiety about their skill level when commencing a new degree, job or other responsibility. But how often do we reflect on our strengths and weaknesses in a structured way with the intention of addressing areas of concern? The following questions will help you do exactly that in order to identify the skills you may need to develop, and direct you to the most useful sections of the CourseWorks website.

How would you rate your skill level for the following?

  1. Selecting subjects

  2. Time management

  3. Using online tools (wikis, blogs, RSS feeds, discussion lists, etc)

  4. Seminar & tutorial participation

  5. Connecting to community (clubs, study groups, etc)

  6. Database searching

  7. Critical analysis

  8. Note taking

  9. Organisation: filing physically & electronically

  10. Using EndNote

  11. Oral presentations

  12. Argument

  13. Academic style

  14. Using the passive voice

  15. Using nominalisation

  16. Paraphrasing, incorporating quotes

  17. Thesis statements

  18. Introductions & conclusions

  19. Annotated bibliographies

  20. Literature reviews

  21. Writing a thesis proposal

  22. Writing more than 5,000 words

  23. Report writing

  24. Editing and proofreading

  25. Revising & exam techniques

  26. Understanding the University's policies and procedures

  27. Finding a job

  28. Applying for degrees

  29. Reflecting and acting on what you’ve learned

Further Reading

Index