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Abstract

A brief summary of an article’s key points and findings.

Academic Burnout

A state of physical, emotional, and mental exhaustion caused by prolonged academic stress and overwork.

Academic Conventions

Accepted practices and standards in academic work, including referencing, citations, expected structure, and formal language.

Academic integrity
Academic Integrity

Acting in accordance with values such as honesty, trust, fairness, respect, and responsibility in academic contexts (Exemplary Academic Integrity Project, 2013).

Academic Reading

A focused and critical approach to reading texts, aimed at understanding, evaluating, and engaging with the material for academic purposes.

Academic Writing

A formal style of writing used in academic settings that prioritises clarity, evidence-based arguments, and the use of referencing.

Accidental Plagiarism

Unintentional failure to properly attribute sources due to a lack of understanding or oversight.

Age

(with reference to culture) The range of ages within a population, particularly noting the different perspectives and life experiences brought by older individuals in educational or professional settings.

Aggressor

A group member who is overly critical and assigns blame, causing discomfort among others.

Analytical Skills

The ability to assess, interpret, and draw conclusions from data or information to solve problems or make decisions.

Anxiety Disorder

A mental health condition characterised by excessive and persistent worry, fear, or stress that interferes with daily life.

Assessments

Tasks or activities designed to evaluate a student’s knowledge, skills, and understanding of a subject.

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

A neurodevelopmental condition characterised by inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity that can affect daily functioning.

Attribute/Attribution
Autonomy
Bibliography
Blocker

A person who opposes ideas and hinders group progress.

Body Paragraph

A section of an essay that develops a single idea or argument, supported by evidence and analysis.

Boolean Operators

Words like AND, OR, and NOT used in search queries to refine and combine search terms for more precise results.

Case study
Chairperson

The leader of a team or meeting, responsible for maintaining focus, fairness, and task delegation.

Citations

References to sources used in academic work to acknowledge the ideas of others.

Close Reading

A careful and detailed examination of a text to uncover deeper meanings, themes, and connections. It involves active engagement with the content rather than passive reading.

Collaborative Task

A project or activity requiring input and cooperation from all group members.

Collusion

Unauthorised collaboration on an assignment that is then presented as original individual work (Crook & Nixon, 2018).

Compassion Fatigue

Emotional exhaustion resulting from prolonged compassion, leading to a reduced ability to empathise.

Compliment Sandwich

A feedback technique consisting of positive comments, constructive criticism, and additional positive remarks to encourage acceptance and improvement.

Conciliator

A person who mediates conflicts and promotes fair resolutions.

Conclusion

The closing section of an assessment or article that summarises the main points and reinforces the thesis statement.

Conclusive
Conflict resolution

The process of addressing and resolving disagreements, particularly those that may arise from cultural misunderstandings or differences.

Conflict Resolution

The process of addressing and resolving disagreements constructively to reach an agreement or understanding.

Constructive Feedback

Feedback that offers specific suggestions for improvement while maintaining a supportive tone.

Content Words

Key terms in an assessment that specify the topic or focus areas to be researched or discussed.

Cornell Note-Taking Method

A structured system for organising notes into three sections: cues (questions or keywords), notes (main content), and summary (condensed understanding of the topic).

Course

A structured program of study offered at a university or educational institution.

Criteria

The specific standards or guidelines set by university lecturers or tutors to evaluate the quality, structure, and content of academic work.

Critical Thinking

Involves analysing, examining, and evaluating situations, texts, and beliefs. It challenges you to think deeply about the world and your role within it.

Cross-Marking

The practice of having a second assessor review and evaluate a graded response, typically in cases of failure.

Cultural background

The shared characteristics, beliefs, language, behaviours, and identity of a group. This includes dominant culture and subcultures within a society.

Cultural Competence

The ability to understand, respect, and interact effectively with people from diverse cultures and belief systems.

Cultural competency

The ability to recognise, adapt to, and appreciate cultural differences and similarities. Cultural competency involves self-awareness, understanding others’ cultural perspectives, and effective communication across cultural boundaries.

Cultural sensitivity

The awareness that language, slang, and body language can be interpreted differently in diverse cultural contexts. Cultural sensitivity encourages careful and respectful communication.

Dean
Deficit discourses

Refer to the framing of under-represented students as lacking essential academic and social skills.

Detailed Reading

A thorough examination of a text to extract detailed information, typically performed after determining its relevance.

Discipline

An academic field or branch of knowledge studied at university, such as science, teaching, or nursing.

Discrimination

Unfair treatment of individuals based on perceived differences, often tied to stereotypes or prejudice.

Discussion

A section in research articles where the main points and implications of the findings are explored and interpreted.

Diversity

The variety of human characteristics and differences that enrich humanity. These differences may be cultural, biological, or personal and significantly affect people’s perceptions of others.

DOI
Dominant culture

The larger societal culture with widespread influence, often perceived as the norm within a given society.

Dominator

A group member who attempts to control the group and decision-making processes.

Eat That Frog

A productivity strategy that encourages prioritising and the completion of the most challenging or important task first.

Eisenhower Matrix

A prioritisation tool dividing tasks into four quadrants: urgent and important, important but not urgent, urgent but not important, and neither urgent nor important. Used to prioritise tasks.

Emotional Intelligence

The ability to recognise, understand, and manage one’s own emotions and relationships effectively.

Emotional Regulation

The ability to manage and respond to emotional experiences in a healthy and constructive way.

Emotionality

The capacity to understand and express emotions to strengthen relationships (Copper & Petrides, 2010).

Enabling Education

Educational programs designed to provide students with the skills, knowledge, and confidence needed for success in higher education.

Energy Management

The strategic regulation of energy to optimise productivity and enhance time management.

Equality

The principle that all group members contribute equally, though it may not always be practical.

Equity

A principle that considers individual differences, skills, and preferences to ensure fairness and effective contribution.

Ethnicity

A cultural distinction based on shared identity, cultural heritage, language, traditions, and behaviours. It often pertains to minority groups within a larger society.

Exposure to Challenges

Facing and engaging with difficult tasks to build skills and resilience.

Feedback

Constructive information provided by university lecturers, tutors, or peers on academic work to help students identify strengths, areas for improvement, and ways to develop their skills and understanding.

Feedback Literacy

The ability to understand, interpret, and use feedback to improve learning and performance.

Findings

The key insights or conclusions derived from analysing the research results.

First-in-family

A student who is the first in their immediate family to attend university or higher education.

Fixed Mindset

A belief that intelligence and abilities are static and unchangeable. This mindset often leads to avoiding challenges, taking criticism harshly , and attributing failures to external factors.

Formative
Gender identity

An individual’s internal experience and sense of their gender, which may align with or differ from their birth-assigned sex.

Gender roles

The evolving societal roles of men and women, including shifts in professional, social, and caregiving responsibilities.

General Practitioner

A medical doctor who provides primary healthcare, including diagnosis, treatment, and preventative care.

Generate-Sort-Connect-Elaborate Thinking Routine

An advanced mind-mapping technique developed by Ron Ritchhart that involves generating ideas, sorting them into categories, connecting related ideas, and elaborating on their meanings.

Generative AI

Or "GenAI". Technology capable of producing text, code, music, video, and images based on user prompts.

Geography

(with reference to culture) Differences in ideas, attitudes, and behaviours influenced by the physical location of individuals or groups.

Gold Standard
Grading System

The method used to evaluate and record student performance, typically expressed as grades or marks.

GRIT

A combination of passion and sustained effort towards achieving long-term goals (Duckworth, 2016).

Growth Mindset

A belief that intelligence and abilities can be developed through effort, perseverance, and learning from mistakes. This mindset encourages embracing challenges, welcoming feedback, and striving for improvement.

Help-Seeking Behaviours

Actions taken to seek support or resources when facing challenges or uncertainties.

Higher Education

Another term for university education, referring to post-secondary learning that results in academic degrees, diplomas, or certificates.

Hypothesis
Imposter Syndrome

The feeling that one’s success is undeserved and a fear of being exposed as a fraud, despite evidence of competence.

In-text
Inclusive Language

Communication that avoids bias, slang terms or jardon while respecting diversity in terms of gender, culture, and other identities.

Increased Participation

Refers to the growing number of individuals, from diverse backgrounds, enrolling in university.

Independent Learning

A self-directed approach to education where students take responsibility for their learning. Holec (1991) defines it as “the ability to take charge of one’s learning”.

Introduction

The opening section of an article or assessment that sets the context, provides background, and introduces the topic.

Issue
Journal/Journal articles
Keywords

Specific words or phrases that represent the main topics or ideas in a text or assessment question, often used in research or searching.

Lecturer

Academic staff responsible for delivering lectures, guiding learning, and assessing students in a university setting.

Likert
Limiting Words

Words that narrow the scope of a topic, such as specific time periods, locations, or groups, or indicate restrictions like word limits or citation requirements.

Literature Review

A section of an article that summarises and discusses existing research relevant to the topic being explored.

Mac

A brand of computers and related products developed by Apple Inc., short for Macintosh.

Meditation

A practice of focused attention or mindfulness to achieve mental clarity and relaxation.

Melatonin

A hormone that regulates the sleep-wake cycle.

Methodology

The part of an article that explains how the research was conducted, including research design, ethics approval, research questions, data collection, and reasoning.

Mind Maps

Visual diagrams that link concepts or ideas, helping to organise information and enhance understanding.

Mind maps
Mindfulness

A mental practice of focusing on the present moment with acceptance and without judgment.

Modelling

Observing others, particularly their successes or struggles, to influence your own perceptions and behaviour.

Multitasking

Attempting to perform multiple tasks simultaneously, often at the cost of efficiency and focus.

Neurodiverse

Refers to individuals whose neurological development and functioning differ from the typical, including conditions such as autism, ADHD, and dyslexia.

Neurodiversity

A concept that recognises and celebrates the natural variations in the ways people’s brains function, encompassing autism, ADHD, and dyslexia.

Note-taking

The practice of recording key information from lectures, readings, or discussions for study and future reference.

Paraphrasing

Rewriting someone else’s ideas in your own words while maintaining the original meaning and providing a citation.

Parentheses

Symbols used in search queries or writing to group terms and clarify relationships between them.

Pedagogy

The method and practice of teaching, including instructional strategies and approaches to learning.

Peer/Peers
Perfectionism

A tendency to strive for flawlessness as a way to control perceptions and avoid feelings of inadequacy. Vulnerability and open discussion can counteract perfectionism.

Perseverance

The ability to persist and remain determined in achieving goals despite difficulties.

Pickle Jar Theory

A prioritisation strategy that categorises tasks as important, less important, or trivial, encouraging a focus on the most critical items first.

Plagiarism

The use of someone else's work or ideas without proper attribution, whether intentionally or accidentally.

Pomodoro Technique

A time management method developed by Francesco Cirillo, using timed work sessions (typically 25 minutes) followed by short breaks to maintain focus and combat procrastination.

Pomodoro technique
Positive Reframing

The process of viewing a situation or feedback in a more positive light, often to empower or motivate growth.

Predicting

In terms of writing, the ability to anticipate content or outcomes in a text based on context clues and prior knowledge.

Prejudice

Negative attitudes or behaviours toward an individual based on stereotypical views of their group.

Previewing

The process of examining headings, subheadings, images, and the structure of a text before reading to predict its content.

Productive Struggle

The process of grappling with challenges and difficulties in learning, fostering deeper understanding and resilience.

Project Manager

Oversees project completion, defines roles, manages timelines, and ensures goals are met in a group setting.

Race

Biological differences often defined by perceptions of skin colour, with significant social implications.

Rapport

A positive and trusting relationship between individuals, often between teachers and students, enhancing communication and learning.

Reader Voice

An inner dialogue that interacts with the text, reflecting on and questioning its content.

Rebel

A group member who refuses to cooperate and behaves against group expectations.

Recommendations

A section where the author(s) highlight research limitations and suggest future research directions or applications.

Record Keeper

Keeps detailed records of meetings, tasks, and communications, compiles work, and manages document access for a group.

Reference
Reflection

A metacognitive skill of thinking deeply about past experiences, identity, and the reasons behind them. It can be personal and often reveals unexpected insights.

Reflection Diary

A personal record used to document thoughts, experiences, and learning processes for self-reflection.

Register
Relationship Management

Building and maintaining positive relationships through leadership, conflict resolution, and connection (Goleman et al., 2002).

Research

The process of systematically investigating academic sources, questions, or topics to establish facts, generate new knowledge, or support arguments in university assessment and studies.

Research database
Resilience

The ability to recover from setbacks, adapt to challenges, and continue working towards goals despite adversity.

Results

The section of a research paper that presents the data or outcomes from the study without interpretation.

Rubric

A tool that outlines the expectations and criteria for assessing tasks, often including detailed descriptions for different performance levels.

Scanning

Searching a text for specific information, such as a keyword or specific detail.

Sceptic

A member who asks critical questions to clarify and refine ideas.

Scholarships

Financial awards provided to students based on academic merit, financial need, or other criteria to support their education.

Search String

A combination of keywords, Boolean operators, and other symbols used to perform targeted searches in databases or search engines.

Self-Awareness

Understanding your own emotional state, including strengths, weaknesses, and self-confidence (Goleman et al., 2002).

Self-Care

Practices aimed at maintaining physical, emotional, and mental well-being.

Self-Control

The ability to regulate desires and impulses (Copper & Petrides, 2010).

Self-efficacy
Self-esteem

How you feel about yourself, including your sense of self-worth and confidence.

Self-Management

Exercising self-control and adapting to emotional challenges with integrity and flexibility (Goleman et al., 2002).

Self-Plagiarism

Reusing one's own previously submitted work, also called "recycling."

Self-Seeker

A group member focused on their own needs or attention rather than group success.

Self-talk

The internal dialogue or thoughts you have with yourself, often while learning or problem-solving.

Seminar
Sexual orientation

A personal characteristic that encompasses the spectrum of human sexuality, including (but not limited to) lesbian, gay, bisexual, and heterosexual identities.

Skimming

Quickly glancing through a text to identify its main themes and general ideas.

Sleep hygiene
Sleep Hygiene

Habits and practices that promote consistent and quality sleep.

Sociability

The ability to develop and sustain relationships, focusing on social connections (Copper & Petrides, 2010).

Social Awareness

Recognising and empathising with others' emotions and the emotional dynamics in social contexts (Goleman et al., 2002).

Social Loafer

A group member who contributes little or nothing to group efforts.

Socioeconomic background

The economic and social conditions in which a person grows up, shaping their identity, ideas, and attitudes.

Soft Skills

Personal and interpersonal abilities, such as communication, teamwork, and emotional intelligence, that complement technical knowledge or "hard skills" to enhance academic and professional effectiveness.

Soft skills
Source material
Stereotype

A fixed, simplistic view of a group that often leads to prejudice and discriminatory behaviour.

Stream of Consciousness

A narrative style or writing technique that attempts to capture the continuous flow of thoughts and feelings in the writer's mind.

Synonyms

Words with similar meanings used to vary expression or enhance understanding.

Syntax
Task Batching Technique

A productivity method that involves grouping similar tasks and completing them in one dedicated session.

Task Words

Verbs in assessment instructions that indicate actions students need to perform, such as "analyse," "compare," or "describe."

Thesis Statement

A concise statement in the introduction of an essay or article that summarises the main argument or focus.

Third Place

A space distinct from home (first place) and work/study (second place) where individuals can relax and connect with others, such as cafes, gyms, or community groups.

Timekeeper

A group member who schedules meetings, tracks deadlines, and ensures tasks are completed on time.

Truncation

A searching technique using a shortened version of a word with a symbol (e.g., *) to find all variations of that word.

Tutor

A university staff member or advanced student who provides small-group or individual instruction.

Two-Way Learning

A learning approach where Indigenous and non-Indigenous people share and learn from each other's perspectives (Johnston & Forrest, 2020).

Unit

A specific subject or module within a course that focuses on a particular area of study.

University

An institution of higher education and research that awards academic degrees.

Volume
Waffling
Well-Being

A state of happiness and fulfilment, encompassing a positive outlook on the past, present, and future (Copper & Petrides, 2010).

Word Count

The total number of words in a written academic assessment, often with an acceptable range of 10% above or below the specified limit unless otherwise stated.

Workshop
Writer's Block

A psychological condition where a writer is unable to produce new work or experiences a creative block.

Yarning

A conversational storytelling method that fosters connection, understanding, and knowledge sharing through verbal and non-verbal cues (Terare & Rawsthorne, 2019; Bessarab & Ngandu, 2010).

License

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The Art of Re-Learning: A Guide to Academic Readiness Copyright © 2025 by Federation University Australia is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License, except where otherwise noted.