Want to gain an edge in your university studies? Watch Alastair Bonnett to learn how to build arguments that get top marks.

With plenty of practical tips and real-life examples, Alastair draws on his books - How to Argue and How to Be Original - to help you improve your study skills, boost your grades, and stand out at university.

In this talk, Professor Alastair Bonnett explores what it really means to think and argue with originality - a skill that's often assumed to be innate but can in fact be learned and developed.

Drawing on ideas from his work How to Be Original, Bonnett discusses strategies for generating fresh perspectives, making academic work stand out, and constructing arguments that are both persuasive and distinctive. The lecture is designed for students, researchers and anyone keen to deepen their critical thinking, offering practical insights into how originality enriches scholarly writing and everyday intellectual engagement.

How to Argue fourth edition (Sage, 2023) is a much-loved classic. It shows you how to build strong arguments in your assignments, presentations, and exams.

And How to Be Original (Sage, 2023) provides practical guidance on originality, so that you can transform your work and achieve better grades.

By Alastair Bonnett
Alastair Bonnett is Professor of Geography at Newcastle University. His books have been translated into nineteen languages and include How to Argue, How to Be Original and Multiracism: Rethinking Racism in Global Context