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Resources and Handouts
Student Success has developed handouts to grow your academic skills. Feel free to bookmark or print them to refer to them later.
Find resources for:
- study skills
- writing support
- editing assistance for graduate students
- generative AI
- assignment planner
Get One-on-One Support
For study and time management strategies, book a one-on-one appointment with our learning consultants or Peer Academic Coaches. For writing support whether it be citations, case study, article review, lab reports, you name it – our writing tutors and consultants are here to support you with all your writing questions. Connect with us through the Student Success Portal.
Study Skills Strategies
From strategies for taking notes during lectures to how you can study effectively on your own, we've got you covered with our study skills resources.
Check our the strategies below to help you study more effectively, manage stress, and prepare confidently for different types of exams. They also support deeper learning through metacognition and Bloom’s Taxonomy. Whether you're writing multiple choice tests or giving presentations, these tools guide you toward success.
Interested in learning more about these resources? Check out the “Study Smarter, Not Longer”, "Optimize Your Brain Power" and “Remember More, Study Less: Regular Review” Academic Skills (ASk) Workshops.
Resources:
- Exam Preparation Strategies: Practical strategies for managing your time, reducing stress, and studying with purpose.
- Metacognition: Become more aware of how you learn and improve your academic performance through reflection and planning.
- Preparing for in-person and virtual exams: Breakdown of what to expect before, during and after exams.
- Studying for Multiple Choice Using Bloom’s Taxonomy: Use Bloom's to guide your study strategies, think critically, and connect concepts beyond memorization.
- Studying for Objective Tests: Study strategies for multiple choice, true/false, matching and fill in the blank assessments.
Learn More:
- How-to-study.com: A Strategy for Taking Tests: Follow this guide to learn how to strategically take tests.
Videos:
Get more out of course material and study sessions by improving your listening and note-taking skills. From active listening strategies to visual and structured note-taking methods like the Cornell system, each tool supports deeper understanding and better retention. Whether you're in class or reviewing later, these guides help you stay focused, organized, and engaged.
Interested in learning more about these resources? Check out the “Note-taking 101”, and "Silencing Digital Distractions" Academic Skills (ASk) Workshops.
Resources:
- Active Listening: Use these strategies to stay engaged, recognize key ideas, and take meaningful notes that support deeper understanding.
- Cornell System of Note-Taking: Use this method to organize and review your notes more effectively by dividing your page into sections for key ideas, detailed notes, and summaries, making it easier to study and retain information.
- Note-Taking Strategies: Improve the notes you take notes in class with strategeis for organizing information, staying focused, and using visual aids.
- Visual Note-Taking: Learn to organize ideas visually using diagrams, concept maps, and other graphic tools to make connections, deepen understanding, and improve recall.
Learn More
- How-to-study.com: Good Listening in Class: Use these simple strategies to stay focused, follow instructions, and take in key information that supports better understanding and academic success.
Handouts and Templates:
Videos:
Struggling to balance school, work, and life? These guides offer practical strategies to help you stay organized, manage deadlines, and study effectively. Try the Power Hour method to break your study time into focused blocks for planning, working, and reflecting.
Interested in learning more about these resources? Check out the “Mastering Time Management" Academic Skills (ASk) Workshop.
Resources:
- Time Management Strategies: Learn about the three types of planning for university students and why they are important.
- Try the Power Hour: a structured study cycle you can follow to get stuff done.
Learn more:
- How-to-study.com: Setting Goals: This guide helps you set clear, achievable goals so you can manage your time better and stay on track with your academic success.
- How-to-study.com: Managing Time: This guide offers practical tips to manage your study time wisely, avoid procrastination, and stay focused throughout the semester.
- Study Guides and Strategies: This guide offers practical strategies to help you take control of your time, stay organized, and reduce stress throughout the semester.
Handouts and Templates:
- Goal Setting Worksheet
- Monthly Schedule
- Prioritized Task List
- Weekly Schedule
- Fall Reading Schedule
- Fall Schedule
- Course Tracker
- Daily Task List
Videos:
The Learning Plan Reflection is used for third attempt courses.
More information can be found on the Academic Petitions and Appeals webpage.
It's all about the preparation! From organizing content and using visuals to managing nerves and engaging your audience, each guide offers practical strategies for success. Whether you're presenting essays, reports, or classroom projects, these tools support effective communication and impactful delivery.
Interested in learning more about these resources? Book an appointment with a Learning Consultant or Peer Academic Coach on the Student Success Portal
Resources:
- Avoid Common Presentation Pitfalls: Learn how to manage your nerves, engage your audience, and use body language effectively.
- Presenting Reports and Essays: This guide helps you structure and deliver academic presentations.
- Do's and Don'ts of Making Presentations: Learn about strtegies for making effective presentations.
Learn more:
- How-to-study.com: Making an Oral Presentation: This guide helps to you prepare and deliver effective oral presentations.
- Study Guides and Strategies: Classroom Presentations: This guide helps you plan and deliver classroom projects.
Videos:
Interested in learning more about these resources? Book an appointment with a Learning Consultant or Peer Academic Coach on the Student Success Portal
Resources:
Learn more:
- How-to-study.com: A Strategy for Reading Textbooks
- Study Guides and Strategies: Reading Critically
- Study Guides and Strategies: Reading Texts: Marking and Underlining
- National Juris University: How to Be an Effective Critical Reader
Handouts and Templates:
Videos:
These resources are built for university students who want to stay motivated, tackle tough courses, and take control of their learning
Interested in learning more about these resources? Check out the “Study Smarter, Not Longer” and “Remember More, Study Less: Regular Review” Academic Skills (ASk) Workshops.
Learn More:
- Active Learners: Active learners stay curious, ask questions, and are present in their own learning. Build habits to study smarter, stay motivated, and succeed in class.
- Blooms Taxonomy: Feeling overwhelmed by deadlines and responsibilities? This guide offers practical strategies to help you take control of your time, stay organized, and reduce stress throughout the semester.
- Strategies for Managing Quantitative Homework: Quantitative homework doesn’t have to be intimidating! Build confidence, tackle problems step by step, and prep smarter for tests.
- Strategies for Studying in Groups: Make group work work! Stay focused, share ideas effectively, and get the most out of study sessions.
- Metacognition - Learning how you learn is a game-changer. Metacognition helps you to reflect, adjust strategies, and take control of your academic success.
- Study Guides and Strategies: Active Listening: This article helps you build stronger communication skills through active listening by teaching you how to stay focused, understand context, respond thoughtfully, and overcome common barriers to effective listening.
Handouts and Templates:
- Study Session Worksheet: Use this worksheet to set goals, practice metacognition, and practice active learning.
Videos:
Check out these quick videos, adapted from the Learning Scientists, for an overview of the 6 Strategies for Effective Learning!
Interested in learning more about these resources? Book an appointment with a Learning Consultant or Peer Academic Coach on the Student Success Portal
- Elaboration: Explain content in your own words and make detailed connections between different ideas. Ask yourself questions and find answers in your notes/textbooks. Connect new concepts to past material.
- Concrete Examples: Relate each idea to an example from your lecture, textbook, and/or own experience. Use specific examples to understand abstract ideas and explain how each example links to class material.
- Retrieval Practice: Practice bringing the information to mind. Actively recall information by recording everything you know and trying practice problems.
- Dual Coding: Create visuals such as a chart or diagram to represent each topic and learning objective. Combine words and visuals and organize your course information into alternate formats.
- Spaced Practice: Start your exam preparation early and space out your studying over time. Set aside time each day to study. Test what you know and review information that you forget.
- Interleaving: Switch between different ideas or courses while you study to strengthen your understanding. Don’t study one idea for too long and change up the order when you are reviewing content.
Writing Support
Find writing resources to help you with your academic writing and assignments. You can also check out the Books on Academic Writing page to find a selection of books to help you enhance your writing skills.
- APA 7th Edition Documentation Style
- Canadian Press Style
- Chicago Manual of Style Author-Date Style
- Chicago Manual of Style Notes/Bibliography
- MLA Citation 9th Edition
MyLearningSpace: How to Cite
By the end of these interactive modules, you will be able to explain why citations are used in your respective professional research community, create a correct in-text citation and build a comprehensive reference list.
Log in to MyLearningSpace and select Self-Registration to enrol in any of the following modules:
- Writing Services – How to Cite Using APA
- Writing Services - How to Cite Using the Chicago Manual of Style
- Writing Services - How to Cite Using MLA
- Annotated Bibliography
- Argumentative Essay
- Book Review
- Case Report (WriteOnline.ca)
- Journal Article Review
- Lab Report (WriteOnline.ca)
- Literature Review
- Op-Ed
- Reflective Writing
- Reflective Writing (WriteOnline.ca)
- Understanding Your Assignment
- Writing Exam Essays
- Eight Common Grammar Errors
- Punctuation: Comma
- Inclusive Language
- Parts of Speech
- Sentence Types
- Transition Words and Phrases
- Writing Clearly
MyLearningSpace: Writing with Inclusive Language
By the end of this interactive module, students will be able to identify inclusive and antiracist terms in the texts they are studying, writing and citing; identify the appropriate language for a given writing situation; and compose texts that integrate inclusive language.
Log in to MyLearningSpace and select Self-Registration to enrol in the module.
We don't currently offer writing tutoring in French, but you may find the following resources helpful:
Videos on French Grammar Created by Laurier Students (Waterloo Campus)
There are also a lot of great academic writing resources on the web. Here are a few that we like:
- Owl Purdue Online Writing Lab: This is a great resource for citations and referencing, assignment types, and grammar. It also has a useful section for English language learners.
- University of Toronto: Advice on Academic Writing: This website includes sections on the main features of academic writing, including assignment types, writing in different disciplines, citations, plagiarism, grammar, and much more.
- Harvard University Writing Center: This site provides good information on writing in specific disciplines, including history, philosophy, and psychology.
- De Paul University Center for Writing-Based Learning: This site is a good resource for writers as it includes sections on types of writing, revision, publishing.
Editing Assistance for Graduate Students
With the permission of their supervisor, graduate students who are writing a thesis or dissertation may seek an academic editor. Whereas a writing consultant’s goal is to develop the skills of graduate students, an academic editor does not provide writing instruction. Instead, their goal is to edit the work for clarity, concision, and grammar. If you wish to pay for an academic editor, we recommend reaching out to the Editors’ Association of Canada at https://editors.ca.
Generative AI
The Generative AI Guidelines outlines when you can use generative AI in a course and how to acknowledge its use.
The Assignment Planner
The assignment planner is your time management resource to help you stay on top of your assignments. It'll help you navigate through the various stages of the research and writing process by helping you break your assignment down to manageable tasks.