In this post we will look at the three main steps in carrying out your search for academic literature as well as where to search and how you can improve the quality of your results. — Contents Introduction Identifying concepts and search terms Search relevant databases for your topic Review relevant results from your search Summary Further support Introduction There are three steps involved in planning your search:

In this post we will explore pre-reading strategies to help you get the most from your reading. — Contents Introduction Identify your reading goal Establish the purpose of the text Active reading Post reading activity Summary Further support Introduction Academic reading is fundamental to studying at University. In this post we will guide you through what to consider before you commence reading so that you can be more selective and…

In this post, we will look at what journal articles are and how you can find relevant journals for your area of research. — Contents Introduction Peer review Key components of a journal Key components of an article Using journal articles in your work Finding relevant journals for your subject Summary Further support Introduction A journal is similar to a magazine in that it’s a collection of articles which can be published at regular intervals. …

In this post, you will reflect on your understanding of what feedback is and how it can be useful. — Contents Introduction What is feedback? Using feedback What makes feedback useful? Feedback literacy What feedback can look like in a different environments Summary Further support Introduction Academic feedback is similar to any other kind of feedback that you might have seen or experienced being delivered. Consider an athlete training for the Olympic…

In this post, University of Manchester staff explain how they provide feedback and outline the different kinds of feedback that you might encounter. — Contents Introduction Activity: What types of feedback have you received? Feedback strategies used by lecturers to Activity: Reflecting on what you learned Summary Further support Introduction You will receive feedback at different times and in different forms throughout your time at university. …

In this post, you will reflect on how to prioritise your feedback to create a personalised action plan. — Contents Introduction Prioritising your feedback How will you prioritise feedback? The Action Organiser Other ways you can use an action organiser Summary Further Support Introduction The final stage in making the most of your feedback is setting a plan of action for yourself. To create a plan of action, you need to…

In this post, you will develop your understanding of marking criteria and how it relates to feedback. We will also look at how you can use marking criteria to analyse your feedback. — Contents Introduction Different types of marking criteria Making use of marking criteria Understanding your own marking criteria Using the marking criteria to understand your feedback Making a judgement Summary Further support

A series of resources to help you understand and use your academic feedback to improve your work. — Introduction Welcome to the My Learning Essentials resource on ‘Making the most of academic feedback’. Throughout your academic career you will receive a considerable amount of feedback from your tutors and markers. …

In this post, we will introduce you to what special collections are, their importance, and how we can use critical analysis to get the most from them. — Contents Introduction What is critical analysis? Critical analysis of special collections Examining items from our collection Comparing different sources Summary Introduction Using primary sources and special collections in your work can help you gain a better understanding of your research area. …