Department of Philosophy, Birkbeck, University of LondonNew BA Seminar System, September 2014

1. OUR SEMINAR SYSTEM

Weekly one-hour seminars stand alongside lectures for each module; usually taking place immediately afterwards; Offered to all BA and MA students in groups up to 20; Based on set reading and questions from relevant module Course Description; Students write two essays per module per term, on which Associate Tutors provide written feedback. (Deadlines for submission: Reading Week and End of Term) Each seminar is lead normally led by an Associate Tutor appointed by the College.

2. THE AIMS & FORMAT OF THE SEMINAR SYSTEM

The overall aim of the seminars is to enable students to discuss some topic from the module syllabus, thus complementing the material presented in the lectures. Hence, the seminar is not a continuation of the lecture by other means. Seminars aim to: i) foster a co-operative environment for discussion; ii) encourage the focused and critical exploration of relevant ideas; iii) encourage participation by all members of the group; iv) ensure that the material assigned is adequately covered. Students are expected to attend each seminar, and to prepare for the seminar by attending the relevant lecture and reading the relevant materials. The precise format of the seminar may vary from module to module, and from week to week. Some seminars may include student presentations. Other seminars may include in-class group work. The Department does not prescribe a precise format for the seminars; although it is important to remember that the seminar is an interactive forum, and not just a continuation of the lecture by other means.

HL September 2014