How to do the reading for essay based degree?

you only need to know the main points of the argument. can you simply the argument in your own words? did you agree or disagree? can you answer the seminar questions?

if nothing stuck, i'm guessing you didn't understand said argument or didn't know how it related to your course work, am i right? what's the book?

Note down any observations or questions. possible answers. later it will be arguments, which premises you might dispute etc

The most productive scenario involves developing a systematic approach. So map your understanding of the content (key themes, arguments, actors), and locate those within the context of the contemporary timeframe, and consider their precedents and subsequent impacts, and any relevant contrasts for all of the above. And start at least 3 days before seminar.

as it’s going to be my first seminar ever, would it be more laid back? i’m still settling in. Everything’s been a rush

I started almost a month ago and I’m gonna start the readings today 😂. I’ve got atleast 3 chapters to read so I’d say you’re definitely on track. I do this all the time but I wished I started earlier so it’s good you’re doing so

No idea how it will be. This is just a suggested method for once you’d settled in.

wow really? how did your seminars go then? Wasn’t you confused or anything because you didn’t do the reading? didn’t you get put on the spot or something?

The seminars at my uni are the same as lectures tbh. They’ll say a load things but do the odd group work here and there. They just upload PowerPoints which tell you what readings need doing and anything extra to look at. Never got put on the spot, so far. I have been a bit confused though with a few things so I’m hoping to get it sorted out by the end of the week and start a routine like yours, to read before the seminars

The seminars at my uni are the same as lectures tbh. They’ll say a load things but do the odd group work here and there. They just upload PowerPoints which tell you what readings need doing and anything extra to look at. Never got put on the spot, so far. I have been a bit confused though with a few things so I’m hoping to get it sorted out by the end of the week and start a routine like yours, to read before the seminars

oh i see. i though professors usually pick on the people that don’t speak up or something and fire questions at them, which worries me lol. also what uni do you go if you don’t mind saying

oh wait i think i’ve met you before, you go MMU right?

Haha yeah. Wbu?

essex remember? we were talking about freshers