FDN012: Essential Study Skills Portfolio Assignment Report

This report delves into the realm of essential study skills, crucial for effective learning and academic success. It begins with an introduction to study skills, emphasizing their role in organizing, retaining, and applying information, alongside techniques like effective reading, concentration, and time management. The main body of the report showcases a practical application of these skills through the planning of a family holiday to Turkey, utilizing the Plymouth Model to analyze and evaluate various aspects of the trip, including the 'what,' 'where,' 'who,' 'when,' 'how,' 'why,' 'what if,' 'so what,' and 'what next' considerations. The report concludes by summarizing the key takeaways, reinforcing the significance of study skills strategies and critical thinking, and highlights the application of the Plymouth Model. The report also provides examples of Harvard referencing styles for different source types, including books, journal articles, and web pages. This assignment was created to fulfill the requirements of the FDN012 Essential Study Skills Portfolio Assignment.

ESSENTIAL STUDY
SKILLS

TABLE OF CONTENT
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................3
MAIN BODY...................................................................................................................................3
Task: Planning holiday in Turkey using Plymouth Model..........................................................3
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................5
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................1

INTRODUCTION
Study skills are the basic skills that can be acquired or taught which helps in learning
efficiently. It handles the process of organizing, taking new information, remembering the
information and dealing with assignments. It aids in reminiscing the lists of information. Reading
effectively, various concentration techniques and efficient note taking. Motivational techniques
and Time management techniques are also the part of study skills. This report is prepared in the
context of understanding the Harvard referencing in different situations along with the
presentation on effective time management and prepared a Plymouth Model on the topic that is
“Holiday in Turkey”.
MAIN BODY
Task: Planning holiday in Turkey using Plymouth Model.
Holiday in Turkey
Turkey is the country with unique geographical position, and I am planning to go for a
holiday in Turkey with my family in summer breaks/holiday. The various elements that I have to
consider while panning the trip are what, where, who, when, how, why, what if, so what, what
next.

Description
What: I am planning a trip with family. Turkey is my dream destination since childhood and
now finally I am able to make a plan to go there. I have to make plans in relation with my whole
family so that they don't have any problems while travelling. Where: The place where I am
planning trip is Turkey, situated partly in Asia and partly in Europe. It is one of the largest
dazzling places with ancient monuments. When: I am planning trip in summers as kids also have
off from their schools and colleges in regard with summer breaks/holidays. Travelling to Turkey
in mid summers is the best time as the temperature stays pleasantly warm at that time. Who: I
am planning this trip with my whole family including my father, mother, brother, and my
husband. My father is retired, so he doesn't have any issue in relation with this trip, mother is
housewife, so she is happy that she will get some free time from household work, my brother is
having summer breaks, so he is excited with this trip and my husband and I have to take leave
from the office.
Analyse
Why: I am planning this trip to make memories and enjoy new experiences, to encourage
bonding with my family, to get global education in regards with how other countries works, to
appreciate the little things in life, and lasts experiences are more valuable than things. This trip is
sudden plan as my whole family got bored from the daily routine activities, so to make them
relax, this trip is planned.
How: I have contacted Booking Holdings manager to make a plan for Turkey in affordable rates
and between the dates chosen by me and family. The travel companies suggest the best plans in
budget and the dates I want to travel in. They have given whole route of travelling from my
home town to the country I am travelling.
Evaluation
What If: What if the trip is cancelled to turkey due to health issues of my father. Then I will
cancel the whole plan and inform Booking Holdings manager to hold down this trip. To stay
healthy is more important than travelling just for experience. As soon my father will get well, I
will again plan the trip. What is the trip get cancelled due to some issues in Turkey, then I will
plan the trip to the other country rather than Turkey.
So what: In above situation that my father got heart issue so its more important to get him get
checked and treated well rather than planning the trip leaving him alone. If Turkey is facing

major issues in relation with current scenario of pandemic, then I will cancel the plan as it more
important to stay healthy and safe and won't take any risk. This model is so helpful in planning
the holiday in Turkey.
What next: This Plymouth Model is of more use when planning anything in advance or
forecasting. It helps in identifying the things which are lacking and to take more correct
measures. It acts a blueprint while planning things for future.
CONCLUSION
From this report it is concluded that study skills strategies or approaches are applied
while learning things. Effective time management refers to completing more important things or
task in a day. The essential elements of time management involves planning the things
systematically, avoiding unnecessary things, practising multitasking, reduce unnecessary
interruptions. The critical thinking involves discipline of how work has to be done by using
specialized applications, various methods and techniques. The model used to apply critical
thinking is Plymouth Model which has three elements that is description, analysis and
evaluation. This model is used to complete or handle different projects or assignment in different
situations.

REFERENCES
Books and Journals
A book by a single author
Citation: (Bracewell, 2020)
Reference: Bracewell, 2020. Investigating the control of writing skills. In Reading Empirical
Research Studies: The Rhetoric of Research (pp. 436-463). Routledge.
A book by three or more authors
Citation: (Seifan, Robertson and Berenjian, 2020)
Reference: Seifan, M., Robertson, N. and Berenjian, A., 2020. Use of virtual learning to increase
key laboratory skills and essential non-cognitive characteristics. Education for Chemical
Engineers. 33. pp.66-75.
A book with a later edition
Citation: (Higuchi and et.al., 2020)
Reference: Higuchi, M and et.al., 2020. Development and validation of a porcine organ model
for training in essential laparoscopic surgical skills. International Journal of Urology. 27(10).
pp.929-938.
A journal articles
Citation: (O’Reilly and Sabatini, 2016)
Reference: O’Reilly, T. and Sabatini, J., 2016. Using advances in cognitive science to improve
students study skills and reading comprehension. In Interventions in Learning Disabilities (pp.
139-158). Springer, Cham.
A journal article from an internet source
Citation: (Thompson-Abbott, 2020)
Reference: Thompson-Abbott, A.K., 2020. Who Rises to the Top: An Investigation of the
Essential Skills Necessary for Partners of Non-Big 4 Public Accounting Firms (Doctoral
dissertation, University of South Florida).
A web pages
Citation: (Critical thinking. 2020)
Reference: Critical thinking. 2020. [Online]. Available through:
<https://www.plymouth.ac.uk/uploads/production/document/path/1/1710/
Critical_Thinking.pdf>.