Online Resource Guide

Please be aware that information or services at one university may not be applicable to Brandon University. The opinions expressed at one institution do not necessarily reflect those of other educational facilities.

Academic Integrity Policy

Transition to University

• Student Voices – Interviews with Successful Students
• Guide to Grammer and Writing
• BU Library Guide to Annotated Bibliographies
• Vocabulary Flashcards
• Timed Reading Exercises
• Plagiarism Prevention
• Tutorials in Online Learning
• You Quote it, You Note it from Acadia University
• Credible Sources Count from Acadia University
• Research it Right from Acadia University
• Paul Hensel’s Common Writing Problems
• Purdue University Online Writing Lab (OWL)
• The UVic Writer’s Guide to Literary and Rhetorical Terms
• Nelson-Denny Self-Assessment Modules
  for Comprehension and Vocabulary
• Nipissing University Writing Tips
• Vocabulary Practice Tests
• How to write a reasearch paper

Modules on Referencing Styles, Evaluating Electronic Resources, Essay Structure, Critical Reviews, Plagiarism and Paraphrasing and Punctuation available through BU’s Academic Skills Centre Moodle Site

Learning Styles

This information will help you understand your own learning preferences.

• The Solomon-Felder Learning Style questionnaire to be completed on-line
• A description of the results from the above questionnaire
• The VARK learning style inventory can be completed and scored on-line, with printable help sheets
• Learning styles video from McMaster University
• The Success Types learning style Type indicator
• Descriptions of the ‘Jungian Type’ results from the above questionnaire

Time Management

Strategies for planning your semester, reducing procrastination, and organizing your time.

• Goal Setting from University of Delaware
• How to use your course outlines to plan for the semester
• Fast facts on effective time planning strategies
• Interactive questionnaire to determine where your time goes each week
• Time pressure video from McMaster University
• Time management suggestions from University of St. Thomas
• Time scheduling suggestions from Virginia Tech
• Time Management schedule planner from Angelo State University
• Enterprise Skills:  Time Management links for Students
• Comprehensive time management suggestions from Academic Tips
• Reminder and prioritization tools video from McMaster University
• Time management principles from the University of Minnesota Duluth
• Weekly planning tools video from McMaster University
• General information on the problem of procrastination
• Tips for overcoming procrastination
• Procrastination avoidance video from McMaster University
• Assignment Calculator to help plan deadlines and keep you on track

Anxiety and Stress Management

Suggestions for coping with test anxiety, performance stress and information on facilitating vs. debilitating anxiety.

• Anxiety checklist that identifies both facilitating and debilitating anxiety
• Suggestions for managing test anxiety from the University of Western Ontario:
• Suggestions for coping with Music performance anxiety from the university of Wisconsin Eau Claire.
• Anxiety and Stress management relaxation audio series
• Stress management tips

Reading Textbooks

Guidelines for reading difficult text material and getting the most out of your readings.

• Reading skills from York University
• How to read essays you must analyze
• Practice reading from a text as part of the University of Guelph’s Learning Commons online workshop
• Description of active reading from textbooks
• Taking notes from textbooks video from McMaster University
• Suggestions for reading in the sciences
• Building Vocabulary online exercises
• Tips for improving reading speed
• Introduction and practice mind mapping for readings and lectures

Concentration

Learn how to reduce distractions and what you can do to control the causes of poor concentration.

• Fast facts on how to identify and reduce distractions
• Basic guidelines for improving concentration from Virginia Tech
• A questionnaire to help you decide where to study
• How to develop better concentration while studying

Taking Notes From Lectures

Suggestions for identifying what is important in a lecture, and how to take notes so that you understand what you’ve written later in the semester!

• York University’s tips on learning to listen to university lectures
• Concept knowledge maps video from McMaster University
• Practice taking notes from a brief lecture as part of the University of Guelph’s Learning Commons online workshop
• Effective note taking strategies from Wilfrid Laurier University
• Suggestions for taking notes from the University of Minnesota
• Description and example of the Cornell note taking method from Virginia Tech

Strategies for Exams

• Suggestions for preparing for all types of exams
• Getting ready for exams video from McMaster University
• Test preparation from Wilfrid Laurier University
• Preparing for problem solving tests in math or science
• Mindflash Online Quiz and Test Taking Strategies
• Strategies for answering essay exams from University of Victoria
• Strategies for open book exams
• Strategies for multiple-choice exams from the University of Illinois at Chicago
• Multiple-choice tips from the University of St. Thomas
• Beating the Big Bad Wolf of Test Anxiety

Understanding the Terms Used in Essay Exam Questions:

Look for the key word that tells you how to answer the question. You will lose marks if you misunderstand what the instructor wants.

• Discuss – Consider important characteristics and main points.
• Illustrate – Explain using examples or figures that clarify a point or idea.
• Describe – Recount, characterize, sketch or relate in a narrative form.
• Summarize – Cover the major points in brief form.
• Criticize – Express your judgment by discussion limitations & contributions.
• Explain – Give facts and details that make the idea clear & understandable. Reconcile any differences in opinion or experimental results.
• Compare – Show how items are similar, discover resemblances.
• Contrast – Stress dissimilarities or differences.
• Evaluate – Appraise the strengths and weaknesses of the topic in a logical way.
• Define – Give an accurate meaning of the term with sufficient detail. Differentiate the particular object from all others in its class.
• Trace – Describe the development of a process/event in chronological order.
• List – Recount, one-by-one, in concise form.
• Review – Analyze and comment briefly on major points of the problem.
• Justify – Prove or show grounds for decisions using convincing evidence.