Guide to Effective Seminars
Read material fully: highlight, underline, comment in margins, identify key words and passages. Take notes about important ideas as you read if the above is not enough. Spend as much time as possible on your seminar paper. Look for connections with other readings, films, happenings.
By Thursday, go to Norton Connect and read through everyone's paper, then click on the discussion mode for the assignment. Once in the discussion mode, read through everyone's comments. Then add your own ideas, thoughts, concerns, questions, etc. You are expected to participate at least twice during the day.
Participation
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Be prepared to discuss everyone's paper on Thursday and Friday. | |
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When you refer to either the text's or a classmate's essay, cite the page and passage. Read carefully so you can connect with what has been said previously, disagree politely and specifically, play the sensitive devil's advocate, and ask questions. |
Interpersonal and Personal
Treat others as you would be treated: compliment, reinforce, encourage, be open, help, share responsibility, don't dominate, and encourage shy people to join in. Always read and react to others as you would want people to react to you.
Avoid:
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lengthy discussion of readings others are not familiar with | |
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coming to seminar not having carefully prepared | |
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put downs | |
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dominating, either by one person or several | |
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interrupting rudely | |
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side comments and conversations | |
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B.S. and generalizations which are obviously meant to substitute for careful preparation |
Other Policies:
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In order to receive points for participation in the week's seminar, your seminar paper must be posted by Wednesday evening at 6:00 immediately preceding the seminar discussion on Thursday. There are no exceptions to this rule. |
Adapted from suggestions by Martin, Nerison, and
Scarborough in Building Learning Communities: A Coordinated Studies Handbook,
Washington Center for Improving the Quality of Undergraduate Education, Olympia: The
Evergreen State College, 1989, 48-50.