This blog contains a variety of materials which are crucial to your success: however, you should also consider a variety of supplementary resources the University puts at your disposal.

The Library

While it’s tempting to just ‘google for stuff,’ this approach is not going to provide you with the necessary academic quality for your work. Even searching online intelligently through Google Scholar (http://scholar.google.com)–which filters the subset of the Web tagged as academic materials–is not enough to necessarily find appropriate quality sources for your work. You probably already know, at this point in your studies, that books and academic articles contain rigorously researched scholarship, validated for quality and relevance by the academic community; as opposed to random Internet information whose value is difficult to assess and which often does not provide appropriate depth or even accuracy. You should also by now master the necessary research and critical skills; to this end, the Library is one of the most precious resources the University puts at your disposal, and it is in your best interest to use it. The Library catalogue is available online (http://locate.coventry.ac.uk/). The library also puts at your disposal a variety of resources to help your research skills, through this dedicated page within the student portal https://students.coventry.ac.uk/Library/

The Centre for Academic Writing (CAW) http://www.coventry.ac.uk/caw/

If you need help with your essays you can come see me by booking an appointment via e-mail, or during my weekly office hours. You can also visit the Centre for Academic Writing (CAW): they offer individual tutorials on essay writing skills. Book early with them, there is always a queque at the end of term!

CASP-Coventry Academic Skills Programme  https://students.coventry.ac.uk/CASP/ 

The CASP program offers support for a wide range of academic skills centred on the Library, including using references, writing your dissertation, finding e-books and e-journals, writing and critical thinking. You have to book into a workshop through the link provided.

The Harvard Reference System 

http://wwwm.coventry.ac.uk/caw/cuhrs/Pages/CUHarvardReferenceStyle.aspx At University level, you are expected to write according to academic standards. This means you should properly format your bibliographical references. Failure to do so will impact your marks. Proper referencing is not simply an arbitrary set of cosmetic conventions: it’s a system designed to make your references clear in a standard way, and to show you performed your work according to proper professional standards. Think of it as spelling: yes, it may be just rules you memorise–but if you don’t spell correctly your work looks sloppy and you give the impression of not caring or knowing, which mars your work and negatively influences your results. Would you go to a work interview with your clothes dirty or in disarray? 

Moodle

http://cumoodle.coventry.ac.uk/ I generally use Moodle as a depository to hand coursework in, and to provide you feedback on it. You should always read your feedback carefully, and use it in your future work. We provide extensive and constructive advice, which is key to your success.