Mastering seminar participation is one of the easiest ways to become a top student in any of your courses.
Seminar participation is a key opportunity to show your professors and TAs your knowledge of class material while earning marks for doing so.
If you are an incoming student and have not experienced seminars yet, be assured that there is nothing to be afraid of and a lot to gain.
While the advice in this article is meant to be applicable to all students, keep in mind that some tips may not be entirely applicable to certain fields of studies.
For those not acquainted, seminars are composed of a subset of students within a course, unless the student count is unusually small, being led by either the professor or TAs on a discussion of topics introduced during lectures.
Generally, professors assign additional reading material for the seminar discussions in advance so you can disseminate the material before tackling it at the seminar.
Once you arrive at the seminar room and begin discussing the reading material based on the questions posed by the seminar leader, your performance will be graded.
For the most part, professors will either verbally outline their expectations of your performance within the first week of classes, or they will have their grading criteria written in the syllabus. You should carefully consult both the syllabus and the seminar leader to ensure you are meeting the grading criteria on a weekly basis.
While each professor may have their own way of grading seminar participation, a good rule of thumb is to prioritize quality over quantity. This does not mean that you will excel in seminar discussions by contributing once, but rather, that you should participate in the discussion whenever you have something relevant to contribute. In short, prioritize contributing to the seminar with commentary that connects class material with the reading material.
Relevancy within a seminar discussion is not just defined by carefully crafting academically inclined arguments. Many students struggle with contributing to seminar discussions because they may not know what to say, or because they feel as if their points do not make total sense. Luckily, even if you’re confused during a discussion, questions posed to the class or the TA/professor count as contributions. They advance the conversation and can often open the door to new avenues of deliberation.
Along with engaging your professors during seminar discussions, ensure you are taking the time to engage with them before or after the seminar. This can look like asking them about their day, asking questions about the class or picking their brain for information in their field of expertise. Doing this will help ensure you feel more comfortable participating in the seminar.
Additionally, creating this connection with your professors can often be advantageous if you ever need help with the course or academic accommodations, so do not be afraid to talk to them.
While seemingly intimidating at first, seminars are not something to be afraid of, but rather a tool for your academic advancement. As long as you approach seminar discussions strategically, you will be able to master the skill and stand out in your seminar group.