STUDY SKILLS GUIDE

Presentation of your work

• When you begin a piece of work on file paper you should put your name, class and date at the top and underline them, using a ruler. (Your teachers will tell you where they want your names to be written.)
   

• Write the heading and underline it, using a ruler. (The heading is the subject name e.g. English)
   

• Underneath the heading, write the title of the piece of work and underline it, using a ruler.
   

• If you are using an exercise book there is no need to write your name, class or subject. However, you should write the date and give each piece of work a title.
   

• If you are asked to present your work in table (tableau) form, use a pencil and a ruler to draw the table and make sure that your table is complete – it should have four, joined sides – an example is shown below:

• If you are asked to draw something, perhaps a map or scientific apparatus, always draw using a sharp pencil. Never draw in ink.
   

• If you are answering a question from a textbook put the number of the page where the question can be found and the question number, in the left-hand margin.
  Example
  P.45 Ques. 2
   

• When you answer a question, try to use a complete sentence (or sentences).
  Example
  Question : What is a vertebrate?
  
  Answer (incorrect) : has a backbone
  Answer (correct) : It is an animal with a backbone.
   

• Always follow the instructions your teacher gives you in class as well as those that are given in the question.
   

• Make sure that your writing is legible.
   

• Do not use “white out” (“Tipex”). If you make a mistake just put a line through the word or the sentence neatly, using a ruler, and write the correction above or next to it. If you make a lot of mistakes then start your work again!
   

• It is also important that you make your numbers clear in mathematics or in science. When you need to show a column of numbers, make sure that the columns are aligned.
   

• Always show the unity that your number(s) represent. Be careful! If you leave out the unity indicator your answer is wrong, even though the number may be correct.

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