Learning Resources

Academic Writing

University study requires that you learn how to schedule your time to attend lectures and tutorials, to study efficiently, do research, write essays and reports, and properly reference your assignments with footnotes and bibliographies.

The NGSB Academic Writing Guide gives a brief summary of some of the major considerations.

A good writing style is clear, concise, logical and unambiguous. The reader must be lead through the assignment by a path of connected points clearly explained and justified. Each paragraph should flow into the next. An assignment must be read without leaving the reader wondering what it is all about.

For further information that will assist you in making your assignment clearer and improve the flow of the argument, refer to the Information for Current Students page of the NGSB website.

Endnote software integrates with Microsoft Word to make it a lot easier to insert footnotes and bibliographies into your written assignments. It is available free to University of Newcastle students.

Blackboard

Blackboard is an online system for the delivery of course material and supplementary information as well as being a key medium for online discussion and course announcements. You should check your Blackboard account at least every few days for important course information.

Login to Blackboard

Blackboard Help via email: blackboard-help@newcastle.edu.au

Infoskills

Infoskills is an online tutorial which can help you learn about:

Planning for research
Finding information
Evaluating information
Writing and plagiarism
Using information ethically

Library

There is a library located at University House on Level 1.

The main University library, Auchmuty Library, is located at Callaghan campus.

Also refer to the Library website for information about the library and online services and databases.

Turnitin

Turnitin is a software system that detects plagiarism. Any text that has been copied or paraphrased will appear underlined, colour-coded and will be linked to the original source.

It is also a useful learning tool because it ensures that sources that have not been correctly linked to the original sources or referenced correctly, can be identified and corrected prior to the final submission date. Therefore, it is recommended that you submit your draft work to Turnitin well before the due date of your assignment, to give you adequate time to correct any referencing problems.

Turnitin help via email ithelp@newcastle.edu.au