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The Good Study Guide
It is a set book for the Open University Social Science Foundation Course (D103)
Paperback
First published January 1, 2001
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249 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
March 13, 2020
Not the best study skills book, as it is a little outdated now (2014)
I guess all the concepts still apply today through, but there are much better books out there, including: ' The Study Skills Handbook,' by Stella Cottrell and many others by Palgrave Macmillan.
If you are a new student, then I suppose this book could be ok for you.
If your like me, just looking for new ideas on studying efficiently, then I would suggest something more up-to-date like the book/s by Palgrave Macmillan and Stella Cottrell.
I guess all the concepts still apply today through, but there are much better books out there, including: ' The Study Skills Handbook,' by Stella Cottrell and many others by Palgrave Macmillan.
If you are a new student, then I suppose this book could be ok for you.
If your like me, just looking for new ideas on studying efficiently, then I would suggest something more up-to-date like the book/s by Palgrave Macmillan and Stella Cottrell.
November 8, 2018
I found this inspirational years ago. Recently bought a copy for my son who is embarking on a history degree.
August 1, 2011
I've been working through the chapters of The Good Study Guide over the last couple of months, alongside my first OU course. It's been a great help and covers literally everything from writing better essays to different variations of note taking and reading methods. I don't think it's an essential purchase if you are studying an OU course, because the OU provide study skills training throughout the modules, but I found this to be a great addition to my bookshelf and something that I will no doubt refer back to in the future.
June 10, 2012
This isn't a reading book as such - but I am 'reading' it as part of my Uni studies so thought I would list it. From an academic point of view it is very useful & the explanations on essay writing are great & help a lot in writing academic essays. Useful!
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April 14, 2013A lot of the information in this guide is about how to study, and relevant to any subject. I find not only is the guide informative, but it is steadying and reassuring when I get a bit panicky about how I am doing.
September 29, 2015
A good study guide, just better to be read and applied in a practical situation.
October 7, 2018
Review - As this was written with students of the Open University in mind I thought it might equally apply to anyone studying distance learning, as I currently am. It offers good tips on how to study, including research, reading, writing and note-taking, but I did think that it suffered in comparison with study guides like The Study Skills Handbook and Basic Study Skills because it didn't seem to cover as much detail, and I found it did repeat itself occasionally. It is clearly and concisely laid out, making it easy to follow, but I think there are other, better, guides out there.
General Subject/s? - Study Skills
Recommend? – Yes
Rating - 15/20
General Subject/s? - Study Skills
Recommend? – Yes
Rating - 15/20
February 11, 2021
This book is great for taking in new ideas and deciding your priorities and targets.
You can work out your own study strategy and make up your own mind in how you want to read through this book, whether it be chapter to chapter, or a process of selection due to need i.e. what do you need to know right now that will help you with your studies?
I used this book as a post graduate, then a graduate and I still have it on my bookshelf, it is a handy tool. It is objective and precise and logical. A book written with the intention of helping the student plan to their best potential.
I highly recommend this book for hints and tips, it is certainly a good study guide.
You can work out your own study strategy and make up your own mind in how you want to read through this book, whether it be chapter to chapter, or a process of selection due to need i.e. what do you need to know right now that will help you with your studies?
I used this book as a post graduate, then a graduate and I still have it on my bookshelf, it is a handy tool. It is objective and precise and logical. A book written with the intention of helping the student plan to their best potential.
I highly recommend this book for hints and tips, it is certainly a good study guide.
September 13, 2018
This was required reading for a professional training program I'm about to start. The technology portions are quite dated, but it offers plenty of foundational material and practice exercises to support good study habits.
August 26, 2012
Studying for any examination, test or assessment can be one of the most challenging things that you will ever have to do, whether you are school age, further education or an adult; the outcomes can indeed change your life. If you however do take the wrong approach unconsciously it can have a detrimental impact upon your overall outcome, hence it is best to get it right first time so that you can aim to achieve the best results and outcome that you possibly can. Whether you are new to studying or having difficulty then this indispensable and essential guide, will help you through all aspects of the process so that you make the best possible use of your time. This book helps to broaden your current knowledge on studying by helping you to read with concentration and understanding, helping you to develop a flexible note-taking strategy that is so important, helping you to handle numbers correctly even if mathematics is not your forte and most importantly to prepare for examinations effectively. The Good Study Guide can be used either as an introductory workbook or as a useful reference book to help you refine your study technique, pointing out simply how to best use your time to what effect. Included along with information are real-life examples and practical exercises, that cater more towards those students who are studying social science and humanities, including adults who are part-time students or those individuals who are returning to study after a long break; as a great refresher guide. Students on access or study skills courses (many universities and colleges do ‘study skills’ as a part of their courses), will find this little book an invaluable guide to have. It is a set book for the Open University social science foundation course, but I would also recommend it for those studying anything medical and science based at a College or University.
Easy to read and follow this book is presented in a fun way that is self-explanatory and enjoyable. If you study from home via an online course or are a member of the Open University, then this book is extremely useful as it contains so much information; it is really like having your own personal tutor at home. I would highly recommend that you acquire this book before you begin your course, as you will find it most useful from day one right through the entire time that you have to study your chosen subject. It is a truly comprehensive good read that is well thought-out and crafted, so that you enjoy your subject and learn to make the most of the time that you have to study in. Customer friendly this is a superb catalogue of helpful advice that does exactly what it says it does by being ‘a good study guide’. This book has been so helpful over the years from when I was taking A’ Levels at College to studying English and doing revision for various other examinations right through to University, hence I cannot recommend it enough. Studying is not easy and it can become dull, being hard to maintain that enthusiasm after pouring over books and notes for hours on end but this book makes it fun and never leaves you with nothing to do; every minute that you have to study is spent wisely.
Easy to read and follow this book is presented in a fun way that is self-explanatory and enjoyable. If you study from home via an online course or are a member of the Open University, then this book is extremely useful as it contains so much information; it is really like having your own personal tutor at home. I would highly recommend that you acquire this book before you begin your course, as you will find it most useful from day one right through the entire time that you have to study your chosen subject. It is a truly comprehensive good read that is well thought-out and crafted, so that you enjoy your subject and learn to make the most of the time that you have to study in. Customer friendly this is a superb catalogue of helpful advice that does exactly what it says it does by being ‘a good study guide’. This book has been so helpful over the years from when I was taking A’ Levels at College to studying English and doing revision for various other examinations right through to University, hence I cannot recommend it enough. Studying is not easy and it can become dull, being hard to maintain that enthusiasm after pouring over books and notes for hours on end but this book makes it fun and never leaves you with nothing to do; every minute that you have to study is spent wisely.
August 17, 2015
Andrew Northedge has authored the second edition of the Good Study Guide, a book to help students think about how they learn, how they read and write, and how to survive in today’s world of studying.
The book is divided into twelve chapters, many of them building on skills learned in previous chapters. The first four chapters build basic understanding of study and the processes of learning, and, for anyone who has thought about how they learn previously, should be a fairly quick read, building on things you already know. Even so, except for the most advanced of learners, this first section, entitled “Studying Intelligently” should be helpful in addressing and re-addressing your thoughts on learning.
The second section, comprising the remaining eight chapters, focuses on specific skills, such as reading, writing, attributing and searching for information, to mention a few. This is achieved by starting out with a condensed version of an essay written by Richard Layard, named “The Secrets of Happiness”, which forms the basis of many of the excercises in the chapters to follow. These eight chapters, too, will be of use to most students, whether starting out, or experienced learners, as the skills covered are mostly covered in such a way as to re-focus and build upon previous knowledge. One possible exception is chapter 8, “Working with numbers and charts”, which, for anyone with more than a cursory level of knowledge of reading charts, is rehash of the very basics of these skills.
Of particular interest to me was chapters ten and eleven (“Writing the way "they" want” and “Managing the writing process“, respectively), which both built my confidence in showing me two different essays on Layard’s article, which the book asks the reader to review and improve, and challenged me to take a good, hard look at how I work with writing, and thoroughly discussed the planning aspect of writing.
While the book is divided into two major sections, and then into chapters, there are more subdivisions. Each chapter covers a large subject, and is divided into sub-fields of that subject, each of which is divided into further subdivisions. While very attentive of detail, the book still manages to tie everything together. Most subdivisions are summed up in key points, which reinforce the lesson learned.
In the introduction, Northedge makes it clear that there are many ways of attacking the subject matter of the book, and that they are all valid approaches. This is backed up throughout the book, with references to other chapters when discussing a topic that links up to topics discussed elsewhere. These references are found both in the text, and in a sidebar. Likewise, he emphasises the importance of proper attribution and referencing, and follows the OU guide to referencing to a tee, throughout the book.
I am very happy to have picked up Northedge’s worthwhile book, and would suggest it to anyone who are contemplating academic study, or wants a bit of a challenge, reading-wise.
The book is divided into twelve chapters, many of them building on skills learned in previous chapters. The first four chapters build basic understanding of study and the processes of learning, and, for anyone who has thought about how they learn previously, should be a fairly quick read, building on things you already know. Even so, except for the most advanced of learners, this first section, entitled “Studying Intelligently” should be helpful in addressing and re-addressing your thoughts on learning.
The second section, comprising the remaining eight chapters, focuses on specific skills, such as reading, writing, attributing and searching for information, to mention a few. This is achieved by starting out with a condensed version of an essay written by Richard Layard, named “The Secrets of Happiness”, which forms the basis of many of the excercises in the chapters to follow. These eight chapters, too, will be of use to most students, whether starting out, or experienced learners, as the skills covered are mostly covered in such a way as to re-focus and build upon previous knowledge. One possible exception is chapter 8, “Working with numbers and charts”, which, for anyone with more than a cursory level of knowledge of reading charts, is rehash of the very basics of these skills.
Of particular interest to me was chapters ten and eleven (“Writing the way "they" want” and “Managing the writing process“, respectively), which both built my confidence in showing me two different essays on Layard’s article, which the book asks the reader to review and improve, and challenged me to take a good, hard look at how I work with writing, and thoroughly discussed the planning aspect of writing.
While the book is divided into two major sections, and then into chapters, there are more subdivisions. Each chapter covers a large subject, and is divided into sub-fields of that subject, each of which is divided into further subdivisions. While very attentive of detail, the book still manages to tie everything together. Most subdivisions are summed up in key points, which reinforce the lesson learned.
In the introduction, Northedge makes it clear that there are many ways of attacking the subject matter of the book, and that they are all valid approaches. This is backed up throughout the book, with references to other chapters when discussing a topic that links up to topics discussed elsewhere. These references are found both in the text, and in a sidebar. Likewise, he emphasises the importance of proper attribution and referencing, and follows the OU guide to referencing to a tee, throughout the book.
I am very happy to have picked up Northedge’s worthwhile book, and would suggest it to anyone who are contemplating academic study, or wants a bit of a challenge, reading-wise.
September 18, 2016
Note:
Available on Google Books.
In September 2016, it seems that it is not possible to buy this book anywhere.
Review
This handbook is one of the most useful tools a college student may find.
Zero inspirational bulls**t, much good advice about how to research sources, write academic assignments, assess one's own academic writing, make the most of e-learning platforms, of group-work and of different learning methods, improve verbal presentation skills, and so on.
Actually, it contains all one ought to know in order to have a good start at coping with University studies, moreover if that person has gone back to education at 40...
Available on Google Books.
In September 2016, it seems that it is not possible to buy this book anywhere.
Review
This handbook is one of the most useful tools a college student may find.
Zero inspirational bulls**t, much good advice about how to research sources, write academic assignments, assess one's own academic writing, make the most of e-learning platforms, of group-work and of different learning methods, improve verbal presentation skills, and so on.
Actually, it contains all one ought to know in order to have a good start at coping with University studies, moreover if that person has gone back to education at 40...
November 21, 2014
still slowly working my way through this book, so my opinion may change drastically when I reach the end and discover the butler didn't do it!
So far how ever it is a good study guide, I plan to read it through once then I will dip in to the various sections as I need them over my future years of study
So far how ever it is a good study guide, I plan to read it through once then I will dip in to the various sections as I need them over my future years of study
August 11, 2014
I haven't technically finished reading this, I'm planning on dipping in and out of it once I start properly studying and I skipped some of the chapters (studying graphs and getting started on computers) because I didn't feel they were relevant. So far, the chapters on taking notes, reading, and essay writing techniques have been really helpful in getting me prepped for my first module in October.
April 22, 2012
Completely didn't help me in my course to be honest. It's going on amazon as there ain't a mark on it. May help some people but isn't for me lol
October 25, 2018
This book is excellent with an form of study, not just University.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews