Study Skills for Master's Level Students, second edition

Liz Clark is a Principal Lecturer in the School of Health and Community Studies at Leeds Beckett University, with wide experience of teaching undergraduate and postgraduate students within nursing, health and social care. Prior to working in higher education, she held a range of senior clinical and educational posts in a large NHS Trust. Liz has senior level experience of supporting workforce development through education and training. Her current portfolio includes supporting learners in practice, research in practice and student transition to postgraduate study. She holds an MSc in Health Professional Education. Dr Sally Hayes is Director of Students at the Open University. Her academic career began at Leeds Metropolitan University where she gained experience of working with students at different academic levels within nursing and other health related professions across pre- and post-registration education. She is particularly interested in facilitating the development of all learners, be they students of different disciplines, clinical practitioners or educationalists who base their practice on a journey of lifelong learning through critical reflection. She completed her Doctorate in 2013 which examined educational standards in nursing and is currently preparing a portfolio submission for the Principal Fellow of the Higher Education Academy.

Abbreviations; Introduction



1. What is masterly?

     1.1 Introduction

     1.2 Studying at Master's level

     1.3 Being a Master's student

     1.4 What is 'masterly'?



2. What is critical thinking?

     2.1 Introduction

     2.2 What is critical thinking?

     2.3 Conceptions of knowledge

     2.4 The link to creative thinking

     2.5 Why is critical thinking important?

     2.6 How do I become a critical thinker?



3. Becoming an independent learner

     3.1 Introduction

     3.2 The adult learner

     3.3 Becoming a Master's student

     3.4 Managing your studies



4. Finding and critiquing literature

     4.1 Introduction

     4.2 Reading as a postgraduate skill

     4.3 Retrieving relevant current literature

     4.4 Life scripts



5. Writing at Master’s level

     5.1 Introduction

     5.2 Expectations of written work at Master's level

     5.3 Types of academic writing



6. Hot to get published

     6.1 Introduction

     6.2 What should I write about?

     6.3 Where do I publish my work?

     6.4 The process of writing

     6.5 Coping with rejection or requests to revise

     6.6 Support for writing

     6.7 Other types of scholarly activity



7. Applying postgraduate knowledge and skills in the workplace

     7.1 Introduction

     7.2 Knowledge and skills development in Master's education

     7.3 Problem-solving and decision-making

     7.4 The importance of postgraduate skills in service development or in doing things differently

     7.5 Postgraduate skills and professional practice

     7.6 Postgraduate skills in a 'patient-led', 'consumerist' society



References; Index