Reflective Journal: Academic Skills and Study with Confidence - FY

This reflective journal explores key academic skills and study techniques, focusing on referencing styles, plagiarism avoidance, oral presentation, and note-making. The journal discusses the importance of proper referencing, including various styles like Harvard, and emphasizes the consequences of plagiarism and paraphrasing. It highlights the significance of oral presentation skills for effective communication and note-making for improved learning. The author reflects on how these skills can be applied in their studies and future career, emphasizing the importance of authentic resources and Google Scholar for academic work. The journal underscores the vital role of these skills in preparing assignments, avoiding academic misconduct, and enhancing overall learning and communication abilities.

Academic skills and
studying with
confidence

Table of Contents
The topic for reflective summary journal:..............................................................................2
What have I learnt from the session:......................................................................................2
How could I use what I have learnt in my studies and career:...............................................4
Why is this session important for my studies?.......................................................................4

Foundation Year
Academic Skills and Study with Confidence
Name:
Learning Outcome:
1

The topic for reflective summary journal:
The topics on which this reflective journal is based includes discussion about use of
references and various styles of references together with common mistakes made by
students while making use of references in their assignment. Further, an evaluation and
reflection about paraphrasing is also made together with use of oral presentation and note
making skills. Beside this, a discussion about Plagiarism and how to overcome this is also
learnt. Further, use of reliable and authentic resources from Google scholars is also form a
part of topics for this reflective summary journal.
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What have I learnt from the session:
Many things and important information and knowledge is gathered and learnt by me from
this session based on use of references, oral presentation and other related concept that are
necessary for creating and submitting a proper assignment and presentation. A description
about various topics and concepts that have been learnt by me from the session are
discussed and stated below:
Use of references- In context of academics and scholarship, a reference is a piece of
information that is provided as a footnote or bibliography for a written work specifying the
actual sources or creation of that text and information. It has been learnt by me that use of
references is made while preparing or creating a university assignments that allows
acknowledgement for contribution of some other writers whose work is used for current
assignment and project. Further, it has been also observed and learnt by me that there are
various styles of references like Vancouver style, Harvard style of referencing, APA
(American Psychological Association) style, Chicago manual style and MLA (modern
language association) citation style. Further, it has been learnt that, use of Harvard style of
referencing is used and suitable for citation of information by students of universities to
provide information about the sources from where data is taken for assignments.
Paraphrasing and Plagiarism – Paraphrasing is basically associated with reproducing an
information without acknowledgement of the source while Plagiarism is basically a form of
theft or cheating which consists of presenting and copying someone other’s ideas and
thoughts without making use of proper citation and source. It has been learnt by me from
this session that the various threats and severe penalties are associated with instance of
Plagiarism and paraphrasing an expensive and repeated instance and use of that could even
lead to removal and dismissal of a student from the degree programme. Thus, this
information and knowledge about how to get rid of issues of plagiarism and paraphrasing
whole creating and submitting an assignment or research work to remove the chances of
dishonesty and other kind of offence in work submitted to university.
Oral presentation skills- It is another important concept and skill that is learnt by me form
this academic session as being a student and individuals it is necessary to posse relevant
oral presentation skills in order to effectively communicate required information. It has
been learnt by me that oral presentation is basically a short, concise and relevant talk on a
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set of topic at the time of some tutorial or seminar group to have better presentation of an
assignment or project.
Note making skills- Through this academic session it has been learnt by me that how I can
prepare better notes and learning documents for having better matter and information to
study. It has been learnt by me that it is necessary to remain active and engaged during a
lecture to make better notes. Further, it has been also evaluated by me that it is essential to
remain selective while making notes to identify the key and essential aspects in order to
plan and create a well structured written assignment. Beside this, I have also learnt that use
of authentic online website through Google scholar can also be made to have proper notes
and for preparation of academic assignment. Use of online library and other authentic
sources could also be made to ensure better and proper notes making and assignment
preparation for educational purpose.
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How could I use what I have learnt in my studies and career:
The learning gained through this session could be applied by me in my studies and career
as it facilitates a more effective and better way for preparation and presentation of an
academic assignment and project. The knowledge about styles of references facilitates
correct use of citation and referencing style by me and it also safeguard my studies and
career from consequences and offence of plagiarism and paraphrasing. Further, knowledge
about oral presentation and note making skills ensures betterment for my studies and
carriers through improving my communication skills and also makes me able to collect and
gather relevant information for my assignments and project that enhance the viability of
my work and lead to better grading and success in my career.
Why is this session important for my studies?
This session is very important and vital for my studies as proper information about
references and its various styles is necessary to prepare proper assignment with correct
citation. This session make me aware about the correct use of Harvard referencing system
for proper citation and referencing of assignment of universities. Furthermore, this research
also ensures better awareness in me regarding the penalties and consequences related with
plagiarism and paraphrasing thus, safeguards me form these kind of offence. Further, note
making and oral presentation are also very crucial and important for my studies as oral
presentation is a very useful and effective way to increase awareness about communication
skills and lead to positive learning experience. Further, effective presentation skills are
important for my studies as it helps in keeping my presentation and assignment more
interesting and relevant to topic and ensures a higher level of confidence in me that
motivates and enhance my knowledge and learning capacity that is necessary for
betterment of my studies. Beside this, note making skills is also important for my studies as
it enhance my capabilities to make valid and more authentic and reliable assignment to
meet my academic purpose through enhancing my skills of gathering knowledge and
information from authentic online sources with the help of Google scholar and other
library.
Your signature: Date:
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