In this informative guide, Thomas Dixon argues that you do not have to be a genius to get a first at university. He sets out to de-mystify first-class degrees in the arts, humanities and social sciences, clearly articulating the difference between the excellent and the merely competent in undergraduate work. This concise, no-nonsense guidebook will give prospective and current students advice on teaching and learning styles that prevail in university and on how to manage their two most important resources - their time and their lecturers. In an accessible and entertaining style, the author looks at subjects such as: making the transition from school to university developing transferable skills making use of lectures and seminars using libraries and the Internet note-taking, essays, seminars and presentations common mistakes to avoid writing with clarity and style revision and examinations. Illustrated with many examples from a range of academic disciplines, How to Get a First is an all-purpose guide to success in academic life. Visit the companion website www.getafirst.com

Written by a first-class graduate, this text is for every student looking for realistic guidance on how to achieve their potential and graduate with a top degree. Divided into two sections, the first familiarises students with the building blocks to academic success, including degree choice, work ethic and support systems, while the second sets out strategies that students can apply immediately to boost their grades. Packed with practical tips and inspirational insights from other students, this is a relatable and engaging read which will help students to get the most out of their studies. This resource will be an invaluable source of guidance to all undergraduates who have set their sights on getting a first.

This concise, no-nonsense guidebook de-mystifies first-class degrees in the arts, humanities and social sciences by explaining how to develop excellent reading, thinking and writing skills.

Forget the 10,000 hour rule— what if it’s possible to learn the basics of any new skill in 20 hours or less? Take a moment to consider how many things you want to learn to do. What’s on your list? What’s holding you back from getting started? Are you worried about the time and effort it takes to acquire new skills—time you don’t have and effort you can’t spare? Research suggests it takes 10,000 hours to develop a new skill. In this nonstop world when will you ever find that much time and energy? To make matters worse, the early hours of prac­ticing something new are always the most frustrating. That’s why it’s difficult to learn how to speak a new language, play an instrument, hit a golf ball, or shoot great photos. It’s so much easier to watch TV or surf the web . . . In The First 20 Hours, Josh Kaufman offers a systematic approach to rapid skill acquisition— how to learn any new skill as quickly as possible. His method shows you how to deconstruct com­plex skills, maximize productive practice, and remove common learning barriers. By complet­ing just 20 hours of focused, deliberate practice you’ll go from knowing absolutely nothing to performing noticeably well. Kaufman personally field-tested the meth­ods in this book. You’ll have a front row seat as he develops a personal yoga practice, writes his own web-based computer programs, teaches himself to touch type on a nonstandard key­board, explores the oldest and most complex board game in history, picks up the ukulele, and learns how to windsurf. Here are a few of the sim­ple techniques he teaches: Define your target performance level: Fig­ure out what your desired level of skill looks like, what you’re trying to achieve, and what you’ll be able to do when you’re done. The more specific, the better. Deconstruct the skill: Most of the things we think of as skills are actually bundles of smaller subskills. If you break down the subcompo­nents, it’s easier to figure out which ones are most important and practice those first. Eliminate barriers to practice: Removing common distractions and unnecessary effort makes it much easier to sit down and focus on deliberate practice. Create fast feedback loops: Getting accu­rate, real-time information about how well you’re performing during practice makes it much easier to improve. Whether you want to paint a portrait, launch a start-up, fly an airplane, or juggle flaming chain­saws, The First 20 Hours will help you pick up the basics of any skill in record time . . . and have more fun along the way.

The official resource used by the AWP (Associated Writing Program) and the YMCA National Writers Voice offers first-time authors an arsenal of innovative tools, advice, stories, and a complete listing of resources to make their dreams a reality.

The definitive career guide for grad students, adjuncts, post-docs and anyone else eager to get tenure or turn their Ph.D. into their ideal job Each year tens of thousands of students will, after years of hard work and enormous amounts of money, earn their Ph.D. And each year only a small percentage of them will land a job that justifies and rewards their investment. For every comfortably tenured professor or well-paid former academic, there are countless underpaid and overworked adjuncts, and many more who simply give up in frustration. Those who do make it share an important asset that separates them from the pack: they have a plan. They understand exactly what they need to do to set themselves up for success. They know what really moves the needle in academic job searches, how to avoid the all-too-common mistakes that sink so many of their peers, and how to decide when to point their Ph.D. toward other, non-academic options. Karen Kelsky has made it her mission to help readers join the select few who get the most out of their Ph.D. As a former tenured professor and department head who oversaw numerous academic job searches, she knows from experience exactly what gets an academic applicant a job. And as the creator of the popular and widely respected advice site The Professor is In, she has helped countless Ph.D.’s turn themselves into stronger applicants and land their dream careers. Now, for the first time ever, Karen has poured all her best advice into a single handy guide that addresses the most important issues facing any Ph.D., including: -When, where, and what to publish -Writing a foolproof grant application -Cultivating references and crafting the perfect CV -Acing the job talk and campus interview -Avoiding the adjunct trap -Making the leap to nonacademic work, when the time is right The Professor Is In addresses all of these issues, and many more.

Written for the fan who needs to know it all, 23 Ways to Get to First Base is the first comprehensive collection of on-the-tip-of-your-tongue sports knowledge that's sure to become must-have reading and the ultimate bar-bet referee. 23 Ways to Get to First Base explores the true operating system of sports, the facts and figures, dates and data that fans think they know or wish they did. It's a one-of-a-kind potpourri of sports information, presented in an entertaining and visually arresting assortment of lists, charts, graphs, time lines, and short narratives, including: --All eight positions in Abbott & Costello's classic "Who's on First" routine --Every sports-related phobia --The full text of Bill Murray's "Cinderella Story" speech from Caddyshack --The name of every athlete who has guest-starred on The Simpsons --And, of course, the 23 ways a baseball player can safely reach first base