Thursday, November 21, 2024
Brock's Only Independent Student Newspaper
One of the only worker-owned and operated newspapers in Canada

Mastering seminar participation to stand out in your seminars

|
|

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. 

More by this author

RELATED ARTICLES

Your mindset is what makes university significant

University can be the most transformative time in your life, if you allow it.  

New to Brock and looking to make some friends? Try these three things

Living off-campus and worried about making friends this fall? Look no further! Here are three tips to help Brock’s newest students make connections with other Badgers this September.

A short catch-up on what’s happened at Brock since we’ve last been in print 

Welcome to Brock! You’ve got 60 years’ worth of history to catch up on, but don’t worry— here’s a summary of all the most important events that have occurred in the past few years. 

An overview of off-campus study spots in St. Catharines

Although Brock’s campus provides many picturesque study spots, a change of scenery can help to inspire some extra motivation and focus.  

Brock Badgers are returning in August, and they’ll need your support 

There are many reasons why Brock students should support the school’s varsity teams this season. As a new student to Brock, having the opportunity to support the Badgers and be a part of Brock sports’ history is something that students shouldn’t take lightly. 

The biggest lie you’ve been told about university

Incoming university students are often led to believe that professors and lecturers don’t care about their students’ success, but in nearly all cases, this simply isn’t true. 

Decoding you through your residence building  

Your dorm isn’t just a place to stay, it’s where your Brock adventure begins. 

How to get the most out of your university experience 

Your time at Brock can and should be more than just struggling through classes.