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Print Price: $44.99

Format:
Paperback
272 pp.
35 figures; 3 tables; 26 photos, 5.5" x 8.5"

ISBN-13:
9780199020904

Copyright Year:
2016

Imprint: OUP Canada


Success in Seminars and Tutorials

A Guide for Social Science Students

Sukhvinder Obhi

This text is the first and only guide to improving academic performance in social science seminars and tutorials. Combining coverage of writing, presenting, group work, and time management, this practical resource is full of need-to-know information for students across the social sciences.

Readership : Upper-year seminar courses and any Social Science course with a tutorial component

Reviews

  • "This book should be mandatory reading for any Honours program. . . . Perhaps having a book like this to walk them through the expectations in a seminar will ease any anxiety of the unknown and help them better understand how to excel in a more competitive setting."
    --Larisa Cornelius, University of Saskatchewan

  • "[Success in Seminars and Tutorials] fills a gap in teaching courses with a seminar component in that most texts focus on core material versus how to create a presentation in a seminar. That's a welcome addition. The examples are detailed, practical, and written at an appropriate level for 1st and 2nd year students, who are most likely to benefit from this material."
    --Anthony Volk, Brock University

  • "It doesn't just cover how to handle seminar courses--it's really a guide on how to be a successful student in the social sciences!"
    --Lacey Fleming, University of Alberta

Preface and Acknowledgements
1. Introduction to Success in Seminars and Tutorials
2. Preparing Presentations
The Most Fear-Inducing Part of a University Course?
Common Types of Presentations
Presenting a Research Paper from the Literature
A Quick Note on Research Proposal Presentations
Planning Your Presentation
Mind Mapping for Success
Designing the Presentation
Putting the Slides Together
Practice, Practice, Practice. . . and Practice Some More!
Recommended Further Reading
3. Delivering Presentations
If I Had a Penny for Every "I'm Sick" Email I've Received on Presentation Day. . . I'd Be Rich!
Remember Your Goal for the Talk
Presentation Style
Get Inspired
Coping with Nerves
Leading and Contributing to Group Discussions
Recommended Further Reading
4. Writing a Paper
Writing as a Vehicle for Idea Transmission
Written Papers in Seminars and Tutorials
The Personal Nature of Writing
Researching, Planning, and Structuring a Paper
An Overview of the Funnel Method
A Note on Referencing and Use of Unbiased Language
Proofreading and Editing
Plagiarism
Recommended Further Reading
5. Group Work
Playing Well with Others: A Skill for Life
Forming a Group
The Emergence of Roles in Newly Formed Groups
Everyone Wants to Play a Leading Role....and if It's Done Right, They Can!
Group Ethos Co-operate, Don't Compete
Structuring Group Meetings
Common Pitfalls of Group Thought and Decision Making
Conflict in Groups and Working with Difficult Group Members
A Quick Word about Culture
Recommended Further Reading
6. Planning and Time Management
Time Never Comes Back: Plan to Use It Effectively!
A Quick Preview
Knowing Yourself and Defining Your Goals
From Long-Term Goals to Concrete Actions
The Pitfalls of To-Do Lists
Scheduling: Deciding How to Use Your Time
Putting Things into the Calendar
Something Cannot Do Without: Daily and Weekly Reviews
The Beauty of Extended Cognition
Something You Cannot Do Without: Constant Access to Your Organizational Information
The Importance of Brainstorming for Project Planning
Can You Be Creative on Demand?
Planning and Scheduling Are Half the Equation; the Other Half Is Doing!
Other Things You May Find Helpful
Recommended Further Reading
Appendix 1: Sample Presentation
Appendix 2: Sample Research Paper
References
Credits
Index

E-Book (ISBN 9780199020911)

Sukhvinder S. Obhi is an associate professor at McMaster University, as well as the director of the Social Brain, Body & Action Lab. He has published over 45 peer-reviewed articles and 3 book chapters and has a book, Shared Representations: The Sensorimotor Foundations of Social Life under contract with Cambridge University Press. He is an associate editor for Acta Psychologica and is on the editorial board for the journal Experimental Brain Research.

Making the Grade - Iain Hay, Dianne Bochner, Carol Dungey and Nellie Perret
Making Sense in the Social Sciences - Margot Northey, Lorne Tepperman and Patrizia Albanese
Making Sense - Margot Northey and Joan McKibbin
Writing in the Social Sciences - Jake Muller

Special Features

  • Uniquely combined focus on seminars and tutorials helps students navigate the challenges of presentations and written assignments.
  • Sample research paper and presentation, located in the appendices, offer students models to guide them in their own work.
  • Clear, concise, and accessible writing style engages social science students, succinctly laying out what is expected from their assignments.
  • Practical pedagogy--including examples, guidelines, box features, and lists--helps students prepare assignments effectively, manage time wisely, and successfully work in groups.
  • --Top Tip boxes provide helpful advice for doing well in seminar and tutorial courses.
  • --Bottom Line boxes provide short summaries of the most important points covered in the chapter.