Developing Essential Skills for Success at University

Portfolio

Contents
INTRODUCTION......................................................................................................................................3
MAIN BODY..............................................................................................................................................3
Academic Writing..................................................................................................................................3
Evaluating sources/Useful sources....................................................................................................3
Writing Skills..........................................................................................................................................3
Reading Skills........................................................................................................................................4
Presentation Skills................................................................................................................................4
Research Skills.....................................................................................................................................4
Paraphrasing.........................................................................................................................................5
In-text Referencing...............................................................................................................................5
Learning styles......................................................................................................................................5
Avoid Plagiarism...................................................................................................................................6
Creative Thinking and Problem Solving.............................................................................................6
Data Interpretation................................................................................................................................7
CONCLUSION..........................................................................................................................................7
SUMMARY................................................................................................................................................7
REFERENCES..........................................................................................................................................9

INTRODUCTION
In order to be successful at a university, a student should prepare properly. For
this, he/she is required to have a complete knowledge about various topics. This also
helps in their self-development including confidence that can be done by developing
new skills.
MAIN BODY
Academic Writing
It can be defined as a writing that is produced as a part of requirement at a
college or university. It is also used for publications that are presented at conferences or
read by teachers and researchers (Allina, 2018). The primary purpose of academic
writing is to present information about a particular topic in a clear and understandable
manner. The main characteristic of academic writing is that it is planned and focused so
that proper understanding of a subject is demonstrated. Also, it is written in a structured
manner so as to present related points together in an efficient manner (Academic
writing, 2020). It is important for a student to learn proper academic writing that will not
only be helpful at the university but also in the future.
Evaluating sources/Useful sources
Source evaluation can be defined as a process wherein information related to a
given purpose is critically analyzed to determine if it is appropriate. Evaluation of
sources can be done in various ways like looking for articles in journals, comparing
different opinions, looking for material available on websites etc. One of the most
important criteria while evaluating sources is to make sure that they are reliable and
accurate. The intended audience should also be evaluated in the sense what kind of
people is the author addressing (Amabile and Pratt, 2016). While evaluating books,
critical reviews should also be analyzed as they can help in locating better information.
Writing Skills
Writing skills mean that an individual is able to write down their thoughts and
ideas in a proper and structured manner. A person who has good writing skills, has
correct grammar and spellings, good vocabulary and proper punctuation. Writing is an