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The Book

Skill Sheets is a practical resource for understanding and developing core skills that all university students need to obtain. In a very concise manner, this book shows how these skills are related and how one can develop and work with many skills simultaneously. With these skills to hand, students are able to maintain a better focus on the content of their course. Developed and at RSM Erasmus University, it has been thoroughly tested over many years by both students and professors, and improved accordingly.

Author

Rob van Tulder, Professor of International Business-Society Management, Erasmus University Rotterdam/Rotterdam School of Management. He holds a PhD degree (cum laude) in social sciences from the University of Amsterdam. Published in particular on the following topics: European Business, Multinationals, high-tech industries, Corporate Social Responsibility, the global car industry, issues of standardisation, network strategies, smaller industrial countries (welfare states) and European Community/Union policies.

How to purchase

The book – Skill Sheets – An Integrated Approach to Research, Study and Management - (2018, ISBN 9789043033503) can be ordered directly online by clicking one of the following links depending your country of origin:

Dutch Dutch buyers

International buyers International buyers

Writing skill levels

In the introduction to every series of Skill Sheets four levels of skill proficiency are specified:

  • Level 1: Entry level Bachelors
  • Level 2: Exit level Bachelors
  • Level 3: Exit level Masters
  • Level 4: Postgraduate level

You should develop your powerful writing skills in every phase of your academic career (and thereafter!). The levels of skills proficiency below provide an indication of the skill proficiency you should minimally aim for.

Level 1

  • Writing simple texts with acceptable argumentation
  • The writing process is key (formulation gets most attention)
  • Essay-oriented
  • Sources are not systematically revealed
  • Link between reading, self-management and writing: learning how to come to a well structured piece

Level 2

  • Writing a solid line of argument, based on a clear question, in an acceptable amount of time.
  • The argumentation is key (structure gets most attention)
  • Group Research becomes paper and case study-oriented
  • Most sources are revealed and importance of listing sources is understood
  • Growing attention for layout and solid editing

Level 3

  • Writing a publishable text, based on clear questions or hypotheses.
  • The sophistication of the product and its contents are key (all phases get equal attention)
  • Individual research paper-oriented
  • All sources are systematically revealed
  • Increased Proficiency in English writing (as the lingua franca of science)

Level 4

  • Writing applicable texts for specific audiences
  • The impact of the writing is key (all phases are important, but often in a much shorter time span)
  • Individual policy paper-oriented
  • Sources need not always be revealed (for instance to protect an ‘inside’ source). However, the writer understands very well the need for utmost integrity and solid writing skills

It is now time to test yourself!

'An Integrated Approach to Research, Study and Management'