Study Skills Handbook 2e

Palgrave Study Skills

by Stella Cottrell

If you are serious about succeeding on your course, The Study Skills Handbook is your essential companion. Based on over 20 years' experience of working with students, 1/2 million copy bestselling author Stella Cottrell helps you develop the skills you need to improve your grades, build your confidence and plan for the future you want. Her tried and trusted approach recognises that we each have a unique formula for success and that finding it is the key to reaching our potential. This book will help you - use your learning style and existing skills effectively- develop core study skills in time management, academic writing, critical thinking and more- discover how to make learning easier and faster- improve your grades and make study more enjoyable.Whether you are a school or college leaver, a mature student, or an international student embarking on university-level study in English for the first time, this handbook is your passport to success.

Genres: Nonfiction, Education, Reference, Self Help, Productivity, Writing, Academic

Paperback

First published July 27, 1999

Reviews

[Piyush Bhatia · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is meant for the students who have just enrolled to a University (or other equivalent course) and want to improve their performance at the same. It guides the reader to ameliorate their analytical skills by various approaches, such as, improving their reading skills, identifying the flaws in their arguments/ writings, structuring an essay, etc.

There are chapters which contain information that seemed quite obvious to me, so it's not necessary to read this book page by page. Just identify the areas that you need to improve, then look at the index and read only what seems germane to you. A description containing the chapters to be read according to your current qualification is also provided at the begining of the book.

[Nima · Rating 5 out of 5]

How can I not like this book?!lots of things i knew...very useful and to the point study,learn,teach,delivering lectures,researching techniques..also i feel that this is a life-time guaranty book which you can have and use it anywhere any time you desire..it can be considered as a handy teach-learn-technique-Reference book(exactly as its name)that is a unique one in the same criteria!

[Ellana Thornton-Wheybrew · Rating 4 out of 5]

Full of useful information, even if it not all of it is useful at all times.

I'm going to dip in and out of this throughout my MA, but this was definitely a good starting point.

[Mubarak · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is excellent for those who've just started their higher education. It may seem common sense at first, but as you hand in your research paper without any structure or evidence, this will reflect your score. This book helps with that. It enables one to understand the academic research and writing process. Seeing that I have a postgraduate degree these study skills come secondhand to me, and couldn't find anything useful to me, hence explains my 3/5.

If you're undertaking an undergraduate degree, I'd strongly recommend that you purchase this handbook.

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Update: THIS REVIEW IS FOR THE LATEST HANDBOOK.

[Adrian · Rating 5 out of 5]

Contains everything you need to help you develop essential skills needed for higher education.

Covers everything from planning, time management, academic writing, lectures, and just about anything else you would need to help you in your studies. Can also be used as a reference guide for any type of study, as it contains useful advice on so many different aspects of study.

Overall, a really excellent resource for helping you to master the study skills needed for higher education.



Also try out Stella Cottrell's other study skills book, 'Critical Thinking Skills,' if you find this book to be of help, as it is also an excellent read for developing your critical thinking skills.

[Helene Harrison · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review - I think this is the best study skills book I've read. I'm now on my third degree and so have read quite a lot around the best ways to study. This book is helpful because it also encourages you to look backwards and evaluate what you already know, as well as looking forwards into the future. There are planning tables to help you plan all kinds of assignments and it is well laid out so that you can easily find the information you are looking for.

General Subject/s? - Study Skills

Recommend? – Yes

Rating - 19/20

[Omi · Rating 3 out of 5]

I bought this when I was going back into full time education as a mature student and found it really helpful to build a little confidence before I started. I am not sure I would find it useful now I know what I am doing but I would recommend it for those who are starting from scratch.

[Sharah McConville · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a great tool for anyone starting out at University. I originally borrowed a copy from my Uni library but then decided to purchase a copy to refer back to whenever I needed.

[D.]

The Study Skills Handbook (Palgrave Study Guides) by Stella Cottrell (2003)

[Virginia Rand · Rating 2 out of 5]

Probably useful for the marginal student but it's a little out of date.

[Abdullah Maani · Rating 5 out of 5]

This 351-page book is listing the learning skills with practical tips to be used during your course of study. I like the most some of the listed skills. First, research skill that is one of the pillars of university study. Second, developing the writing style which is essential for both undergraduate and post-graduate students. Third, critical analytical thinking skill; this skill can improve the way we think and the way we deal with different issues. The book is full of examples and activities. I strongly recommend this book for both under and post-graduate students.

[Nadia | Mon Vàng Vàng · Rating 3 out of 5]

Actual rating: 3.25/5 stars
If I found this book at my very first year, I'd say this was one of to-read for college, a well-prepared things to know aka class 101 about uni-life. But I read this while right now still being student but somehow passed lots of that entrance time, so yeah I don't find it useful for me. But at some point it made me rethought and rephrased my motivations and expectations for my study life, so yeah that's why I gave it a 1/4 star more.
Anyway, if somebody asked me a recommendation for freshman, well I'd say this without any hesitation.

[Casey Browne · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is excellent for those who've just started their higher education. It may seem common sense at first, but as you hand in your research paper without any structure or evidence, this will reflect your score. This book helps with that, enabling one to understand the academic research and writing process.
If you're undertaking an undergraduate degree, I'd strongly recommend purchasing this handbook.

[Alisa3 · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's okay. Half of the tips you might know from school, the other quarter from the internet, it's a good summary of various tips yes. also has quite a lot of questions to ask yourself and reflect upon your relationship with learning itself. easy read, very organised. I mostly did the reflection exercises.

[Neil · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the book that I wish I could go back in time and force my 18 year old self to read. I've worked through it as I return to postgraduate study in later life, and the techniques it teaches are excellent.

[WinterGirl83 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Whilst I have 'read' this book I will be referring back to it throughout my studies. Incredibly detailed on everything from note-taking to assignments to mental health. It doesn't matter whether you're at the end of senior school, at college or university; this book will help you.

[Tyra Martin · Rating 5 out of 5]

this book was very useful. i would especially reccomend it to college students

[Lara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quite useful. Packed with information, although not all of it is relevant at some points, useful nonetheless.

[Staś Werno · Rating 4 out of 5]

A tour de force through study skills

[Victoria · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not very helpful to distance learners in my opinion

[S · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book for students starting uni. Be sure to dip in to it regularly though, as this will help a lot. Cant recommend enough.

[Niamh Bewick · Rating 4 out of 5]

Had to read it for the semester, is useful and will continue to look over during this transition into higher education.

[Rebee · Rating 2 out of 5]

I never finished reading this but I did pop around to chapters here and there as needed. It's a good book and I regret not having finished it.

[Andre W · Rating 3 out of 5]

It’s not a bad resource if you’re starting out with university, but some of it is a bit shallow.

Ultimately I don’t think it helped me in any meaningful way.

[Mark · Rating 4 out of 5]

Definitely most useful for students heading to university

[Thomas Consultants]

Study Guide

[Richard Fitt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant Handbook Educational institutions aswell

[Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

I previously received this during summer school at one of the universities I was interested in. I can't really remember what this book was about.

I had to reread a chapter for critical and analytical thinking, and I found it really interesting. It really consolidated today's lecture and was hugely helpful.

[Adam · Rating 3 out of 5]

target audience is high school seniors or college freshman; not me: speed read

"Each of us learns in an individual way...‘types’such as visual, auditory and kinaesthetic, or introverted and extroverted--there are lots of ways of dividing people up.

The important thing, however, is not to discover which ‘type’ you are but recognise elements to how you yourself learn best. (If you regard yourself as a ‘type’ you may over-identify yourself with that type. You may then get
stuck with that image of yourself – and always consider yourself a ‘visual introverted’ type, or a ‘chaotic extrovert’. This may leave you with rigid
views about the one way you learn.)

Experiment with strategies and skills you currently under-use. The brain is highly adaptable."

From author's Wikipedia page: "Cottrell argues that critical thinking makes sense to the student if it is contextualised. [...] critical thinking as an everyday activity"

idea: Personal development planning (PDP)
~ process of creating an action plan

[Elanna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Useful handbook for students at their first year in undergraduate courses. It may spare you some bad marks, if used well. Different readers will use different chapters: a mature student won't make much use of advice about keeping healthy and taking responsibility for themselves, but they may find the section about time management very useful.
The seven steps towards the completion of assignments are pure gold. No need to fear the blank page anymore. I don't care if someone sniggers at such a basic level of intervention. It made the difference for me, and I already had academic experience as undergraduate student; not in the English academic world, though...