Over half way through first term already! Time is definitely not slowing down for anyone and essay deadlines are already looming.
An update on me for this week:
My two regular modules are progressing nicely; we are already onto our second thinker in Continental Philosophy- Foucault and his ideas on disciplinary and regulatory power, how they appear to organisations and institutions and how this affects who we are. Darwinism is also moving swiftly, we are now looking at Evolutionary Psychology – the theory that the traits we have as humans are products of evolution that can be traced back all the way to the Stone Age. We will also be looking at the moral controversies and scientific criticisms that this theory faces. The essay deadlines for these modules are slowly creeping up, so my essay plans are taking shape. It may seem very early for me to start planning two essays that are due five weeks from now, but it is definitely necessary (especially in philosophy)! Secondary readings are just as important as primary readings, not just for your grade, but for your understanding of the subject. There are so many great resources out there, and Lancaster is lucky to have so many of them on the library system. Talking to lecturers is also a must during essay time! It may seem daunting at first, but (in my experience) the philosophy lecturers are all friendly, encouraging and very helpful. In fact, they insist that you talk to them as much as you need! Speaking of which; I am also meeting with my dissertation supervisor next week to discuss my plan and how I can begin writing the actual thing! It’s all becoming very real.
Three Things I’ve Taken From This Week:
- Make a schedule. This does depend on how you work in a lot of cases, but trust me, it’s very likely that you will need one! It’s always good to be able to see what you need to get done, right in front of you, instead of having it playing on your mind all week. I’m really appreciating the weekly schedules I’ve been making so far, and there’s no better feeling than being able to check something off your list- one step closer to free time!
- Ask questions. This applies particularly to seminars. Lecturers- believe it or not- do notice who engages and who doesn’t, and making an effort to take part in discussions really helps with learning the material. Often, one comment can spark a conversation or debate that will be useful for understanding the material when it comes to essay writing and revision period. You can’t lose.
- Don’t be afraid to be ‘wrong’. This is one that I am guilty of. There is nothing worse than having a gut feeling about an answer to a question, staying quiet out of self-doubt, then someone else saying the same thing and being right. Take the risk! Even if it turns out the answer wasn’t quite what the lecturer wanted, you won’t be ridiculed for it. Instead, they will offer you some constructive criticism and tell you how to get to the correct answer next time, so you won’t make the same mistake again in your essays where it counts.
I did my presentation of the primary reading in Popular Music and Philosophy this week and lived to tell the tale! I talked about ‘The Value Problem in Cultural Studies‘ by Simon Frith. I highly recommend it, it’s a really interesting read and has actually taught me how to argue more effectively when it comes to different stances on art! I feel that the presentation itself went really well, and it seemed to be well-received by everyone. Presentations at university level really aren’t as scary as you might think. One of the many plus sides of being at university is being around people that are passionate about the same things as you, so everyone is respectful and engaged in what you have to say. (It also helps that everyone is a bit older too!) My presentation in Feminist Philosophy is coming up next week on Luce Irigaray and the relationship between women and nature. These presentations really require you to read the texts in depth and think critically about them- what philosophy is all about! I’m definitely getting some great material out of them for my essays.
Three quick tips for presentations:
- Don’t include things that you don’t understand! It seems self explanatory, but you’d be surprised how many people include quotes and ideas that they think are useful but don’t understand- this makes them stumble over their words and get nervous. If you don’t understand something, go and learn about it from other sources, or pose it as a question! That way, you can get input from the lecturer and your course-mates, and spark a discussion at the same time.
- Prepare what you want to say. Whether this means writing out a script or simply having buzz-words, knowing what you want to get across is key. Preparing this way will help you articulate your points more effectively, be able to formulate relevant, cohesive arguments, and make it easier for everyone else to follow. Don’t ‘wing it’- it definitely takes the pressure off!
- Take it slow. This is a tip that I have had to remind myself again and again. If you’re a nervous talker like me, presentations become a race to get to the end, but because you’re going so fast, you hit bumps and end up stumbling along the way. If you find yourself rushing and tripping over your words, just take a breath and collect your thoughts, even shuffle through your notes if you need to. Nobody will be pressuring you to keep up your speed. The more you practice, the easier this will get and eventually you’ll find your stride.
On a less work-related note: alongside reading for my dissertation and presentation preparation, my housemates and I are planning on having a ‘pizza and movie night’ this weekend! It’s all about balance and allowing for taking some time for yourself. Appreciate the friends you make at university, you’re all going through similar situations and you’ll need each other so you can take your minds off work every once in a while. So, that should be a nice break from university work- even if it is just for an evening!