End of Term and Break Plans

/ Ryan Bartle

The end of term is quickly approaching. This has definitely been my most difficult term, being the one in which I need to complete my dissertation. But I’m almost there. I’ve completed the other two assignments that are due in. Now I’ve just one chapter of my dissertation left to write and then I can look forward to the break.

It is also coming toward the climax of our pool season. We are currently second in the league after pulling off decent wins in our last few games. Things are tightening up at the top, but those currently occupying the number one spot are still in reach. We play them in the final week. It would be great to go out with a win, but I’ll just have to keep my fingers crossed.

On the Monday after breaking up, I will be leaving home again in the direction of the North West, not to go back to uni, but for a week’s holiday in the Lake District. My family and I go there every year. This time my girlfriend, Abigail, is coming along too. We always plan our walking schedule ahead of leaving. The longest walk we tackled last year was Wansfell. It is by no means to most difficult walk in the Lakes but it is challenging enough for me. I really enjoy the walks but I equally enjoy a celebratory pint in one of the local inns as a reward.

We stay in the same area each year; a small town called Ambleside, situated next to Lake Windermere. Ambleside is populated with many nice cafes, book shops, and Inns, one of which overlooking the Lake. There is a village nearby, called Grasmere, which the famous poet William Wordsworth described as “the loveliest spot that man hath found”. He would know, as he spent the latter part of his life there, and also marks the place of his burial. Each year we complete the walk from Ambleside to Grasmere which takes a few hours but the picturesque landscape makes it well worth it. On the return route we always stop in a nearby pub called The Badger, where as the name would suggest, visitors are able to enjoy their drinks while watching the badgers arrive for their evening meal. I’m yet to witness this as we always visit at the wrong time, but this time I think we should make an effort to see it.

For those of you unfamiliar with Lancaster, you will be happy to know that it is situated rather close to the Lake District; close enough that it is in travelling distance if you wanted a day out or break from work. When I was in first year, the university organised a bus trip to the Lakes. Worth looking out for that when you arrive!

My last ever Week 20!

/ Amy Fitzgerald

So Week 20 has finally arrived! I cannot believe I have my last ever lecture and seminar this week! This week is a bit different to my usual last week of term when I am usually trying to get all my essays tied up and finished for the deadlines. This week I only have one essay due as my mini dissertation and dissertation are due after the Easter break. That doesn’t mean I’m not trying to finish them, but it is just not quite as frantic.

I’ve done my Christianity essay which answers the question, is the Christian Church an institution for women who refuse to submit to male authority and who seek a career on equal terms with men? Although it is similar to my dissertation, I have approached it differently and I obviously don’t have as many words to give as much of an in-depth discussion. I have assessed the biblical representation of women which provide a foundation for the Christian teachings. I then move onto Christian theologians who are predominantly male and examine their views on women. I then examine the feminist theologians’ arguments who largely argue that Christianity can provide women a religion where they don’t have to submit to male authority but that it needs a revision of its ideology. However other feminists reject Christianity altogether as irrevocably patriarchal and oppressive. This is because of the consistent masculine language and the prohibition of women from ordination. It has been really interesting assessing the justifications for the oppression of women in the Christian church and the feminist reinterpretation of them. One of the key parts of my degree has been assessing religion in the modern world and the religion/gender debate seems to be one of the most prevalent debates. It has provided much discussion both within the church and external to it and is very relevant to today.

My mini dissertation is about the secularisation and sacralisation debate which is also highly relevant today. Many people believe society to be declining in religious significance. However the New Age spiritualities are increasing in significance and this suggests that modern society is just as religious as it ever was. Berger’s works are particularly interesting on this debate as he changed his thesis from the secularisation of the 1960’s to the desecularisation of the 1990’s.

Looking at these issues of religion helps me to understand the society I live in and the societies throughout the world and the place of religion within them. When someone asks me why I’m doing religious studies when it is so irrelevant today, I say it is as relevant as ever. It is unusual for religion to not be in the news. Being able to understand these issues in more depth is invaluable not only to my degree, but to my own understanding.

Now that my coursework is nearly done, I am looking forward to a bit of a break before I start my revision. I still cannot believe that this will be my last exam period. Let’s hope it’s a good one!

 

 

Career Experience

/ Amy Fitzgerald

I am now fully in the swing of lectures and seminars. But I have done something slightly different this week. Not only am I a mentor for applicants, hence why I am writing this blog, I am also a mentee for the Career Mentoring Programme.

The Career Mentoring Programme pairs you up with a working professional, usually suited to your career interests or your degree. My mentor also did Religious Studies at Lancaster and now works for Lancashire County Council. He has been so helpful for me, in helping to update and change my CV. He has also given me invaluable tips on how to perform in an interview, the most significant being that just because you don’t get a job doesn’t mean your interview went badly. It all depends what the employer is looking for and doesn’t make you unemployable, only that that job isn’t right for you at that time. He drew on his own experience when he discussed this with me. He is now in a job which he feels suits him perfectly and one which he would not have been in had he succeeded in every job interview.

This week I shadowed him at his workplace, at County Hall in Preston. This was a really insightful and rewarding experience. I had never been in an office setting before. I have previously done work experience in schools as I originally wanted to be a teacher but have since decided to change my career path and I work part time in a bar, so this was a totally new working environment. I got to oversee what he does day to day, but as a policy officer, this changes week by week. At this point he was editing a visual diagram to be used in a presentation and booklet on the procedures for homeless teenagers. It was great to see how varied his workload was and how interesting each case is. I also got to speak to an apprentice who had been at County Hall for six months and really enjoyed her job and had learned so many skills in such a short amount of time.

Without the mentoring programme, I wouldn’t have had this opportunity to get a real insight into what working in the local government is like. Lancaster University has so many opportunities to enhance your career prospects, from the Career fairs, study abroad, Richardson Institute Internship Programme and the mind out programme. They care not only about you getting a good degree, but also making the most of your time here and ensuring that your time spent after university is best suited to you.

So, make sure that when you do get to Lancaster University, make the most of the extra opportunities available and make yourself the best prospective employee you can be.

A Week Of Top Tips

/ Amy Hobbs

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:

  1. 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.
  2. 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!
  3. 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!

First Year Philosophy

/ Ryan Bartle

In this blog I am going to talk about first year philosophy at Lancaster. Your first year will serve as an introduction to philosophy. You will study a variety of different modules over the course of the year, allowing you to get to grips with the many different concepts and view points. This is also a time for you to find out what you are most interested in. Philosophy is a broad topic and chances are you will be lured towards particular areas of interest. This is important, as you have the option to choose your own modules in your second and third years, so it pays to know what interests you the most.

The teaching part of the course is divided into lectures and seminars. Lectures constitute the majority of the actual “teaching”. First year lectures usually last for one hour and it is here that your professor will explain the week’s topic. Seminars, on the other hand, are participatory. Normally, your seminar tutor will lead a class discussion. This provides an opportunity to debate with your fellow students and for you to present your own ideas.

Of course, philosophy is not a subject that can just be “taught”. It requires engagement with different ideas and thinking through arguments. This is why much of your studying will involve reading the work of philosophers. Each week, you will be given a seminar reading on that week’s topic, which will be discussed as a class in the following seminar.

Your assessed work will be split between essays and exams. You will write an essay on each of the topics you study throughout the year. There are a few things you need to know. You will have to submit both a hard and digital copy of your essays before the deadline. Essays have set word limits, so make sure you structure and condense your argument to keep it to the correct length. Another important thing is referencing. References are important because they are used to acknowledge the work of others. It can be hard to get used to referencing properly. In philosophy, the most common referencing styles are Harvard and Chicago. The university has guides on each of these styles, and there are plenty of useful guides online. Just make sure you take time out to get your head around referencing as this will benefit you a great deal when it comes to writing essays.

First year philosophy exams take place in your final term. As you will already know, exams can be difficult and stressful. The first thing to remember is that philosophy is about rational inquiry, critical thinking, and sound reasoning; it is not about memorising a list of facts. You do, of course, need a good understanding of the different view points and concepts. But what is most important, is that you are able to engage with the arguments and reason your way to a conclusion. One of the best ways to help with this is to write practice essays, this way, writing in the exam will come more naturally.

All of this will be explained to you when you arrive, so don’t worry if you forget. If you are like me, you will find first year philosophy really interesting, and it will give you a good idea of what you want from your degree.

 

Update: Week 9

/ Ryan Bartle

 

The last week of first term is always the most awkward one for students; stuck in a kind of limbo between meeting deadlines and getting into the Christmas spirit. I am currently putting the finishing touches on my last essay. I Cannot wait to finish and then properly get in the mood for Christmas. I did manage to have a break yesterday and I went to the annual Christmas market on campus. The market is great. They sell lots of Christmassy foods and really cool Christmas jumpers; I still wear the one I bought in first year.

Next week is the last week before I go home. I am looking forward to spending Christmas with my family. We all have a big get together on Christmas day in one of the local pubs. Then the rest of the day is spent with my parents watching Christmas films in front of the TV. I am also really looking forward to seeing my dog Flynn, who I always miss when I’m at uni.

I do have a lot to think about over the break. I have decided to apply to do a Masters at Lancaster. I am also applying for PhD funding; which means I have to start thinking about a research project. This is quite difficult and I need to make sure I make the right decision first time around, as should I be accepted, I will be committed to the project for four years. I have a rough idea of what I want to do. My main interests are in ethics and political philosophy, so I’m thinking of some way in which to combine the two.

I will also need to do further work on my dissertation. I am writing a critique of John Rawls’s  A Theory of Justice. It is a really interesting book. Rawls attempts to reason his way to the correct principles on which to organise society. He thinks that the best way to do this is by imagining that we don’t know our place in society (our social class, identity etc.). He thinks that by doing this we will not make a biased decision based on our own individual preferences. I agree with much of what he says, but my argument is that some of our intuitions may be undermined by Evolutionary pressures and historical influences. I am also going to argue against his view that morality is a contractual agreement among rational people. I think we have strong reasons to care about future generations, more so given the environmental ramifications of our actions. As it is difficult to see how we can have an implicit contractual agreement with such people, I think Rawls’s theory fails here. I will try to put forward a theory which resolves these problems.

But that’s all for later. In the meantime, I want to finish my work and have some time to relax. My girlfriend is visiting at the weekend and we’re going out for a Christmas meal at Greaves Park in town. It is a really nice place with a nice outdoor seating area surrounded by greenery. I also have my last pool match of the term on Tuesday. I said in one of my earlier posts that we got off to a great start. Unfortunately we have struggled in our last couple of matches. But hopefully we will finish 2016 with a win!

 

It’s (almost) Christmas!

/ Amy Hobbs

It’s finally here! The coveted end of term!

This has definitely been one of the most intense, hectic semesters I’ve ever had during my time here- but by far one of the most fulfilling!

On the 1st of December I went down to London to take part in an assessment centre for a graduate-job that I applied for. It was a nerve-wracking and emotionally draining day, but the whole experience was fantastic overall! Both the assessors and the other applicants were so friendly, and the activities that we had to do throughout the day (while challenging) were surprisingly enjoyable! I think the reason that I was a little nervous was because I was really passionate about getting a place on the programme. But that passion must have showed, because I got an offer!! The work didn’t stop there though; I’ve had to do a lot of subsequent work and assessments to secure my place. So, balancing all of that along with my uni essays has been challenging to say the least.

That didn’t stop the flow of university work though, so I’ve definitely had to prioritise and get myself organised over these past 10 weeks (my experiences and helpful advice can be found previous posts!). I had two essay deadlines for the end of this term, which I count myself lucky for, as some of my friends have had as many as four! Nevertheless, they have still been a lot of work.

For Continental Philosophy, I wrote about Friedrich Nietzsche’s Genealogy of Morals and his account of the origins of morality as we know it, suffering and blame, and the creation of guilt. I spent a lot of time reading the Genealogy and using other sources to try to formulate my own interpretation of Nietzsche’s work whilst remaining close to what he wanted to argue. It took a lot of work as anyone who has read Nietzsche will know some of his work can be a little ‘out there’ at times! Despite this, I still found him really engaging and, as exaggerated as some of his rhetoric can be, I found myself considering his account and seeing and making links between his history of morality and my own experience and thoughts on morality in modern day. This is one of my favourite things in philosophy; the fact that the material you study can end up in you really questioning your views about the world, and even end up changing them!

In Darwinism and Philosophy I chose to write about whether thinking about evolution can help us to understand human psychology. This is a big topic with some quite technical language so it required a lot of concentration on my part. However, this has been, by far, one of my favourite essays that I have had to write in the whole time I’ve been here! I find the theory around the topic fascinating! I would definitely recommend reading into the topic if you have a combined interest in philosophy and psychology. I focused on Evolutionary Psychology, sociobiology and the criticisms of each (one of which is called ‘The Flintstones Fallacy’- who said philosophy can’t be fun?!). I initially thought I was going to argue that thinking about evolution could further our understanding of human psychology, but after going through my sources critically, I ended up arguing the opposite stance! That’s something else I like about philosophy; you think you know what your opinions are on something and that you’ll stick by them, but reading such engaging literature and talking to people with all kinds of different opinions really influences you to be open to changing your mind. Of course, I’m in my third year so I’ve had the past two years to get used to the course, but no matter what year you are in, please try to stick with the course! I find it quite humorous actually, back in first year I was struggling to make the 1500 word count, but now in third year I’m going way over my 3000 word count and having to cut my essays down! My point is; the course may seem difficult at times, but there will come a point where everything falls into place, and there are always people you can talk to if you’re really struggling to get some support.

As for my social life; it has been quite lacking of late! I think that is understandable though. This weekend my housemates and I are making up for it my doing a ‘Secret Santa’, watching Christmas films together, and going for the traditional end-of-term-celebratory drinks in the pub! It’s going to be great to spend time with everyone without deadlines being on everyone’s mind!

The Christmas break is going to be different for me, as I have two 5000 word essay due in for the first day back in January. So, I’m actually remaining in Lancaster for an extra week after term officially ends to work on those. One is for Feminist Philosophy in which I will be discussing and evaluating Simone de Beauvoir’s account of women’s oppression. The second is in Popular Music and Philosophy: I want to write about value judgements and authenticity in music alongside how music forms our identity. I’m not too sure where I want to take my argument yet, so I’m going in for an essay consultation tomorrow! I also have to write an abstract for my dissertation in which I will be doing a critical reading of Thomas Kuhn’s; ‘The Structure of Scientific Revolutions’, drawing moral parallels to his arguments, and assessing what this means for moral progress.

Even though there is work to be done, I’m still going to make sure I have at least a small break and visit home and spend Christmas and New Years with my family and friends! It’s going to be great to get into the festive spirit, not think about uni for a few days, and eat lots of food and not have to buy it for myself for a little while. Sometimes you just need some good old home comforts!

 

Nightlife in Lancaster

/ Ryan Bartle

After writing my last post about the academic side of university, I have decided this week to talk about a more light-hearted subject. This post is about Lancaster’s nightlife. Lancaster is a great place for a night out. As you will find when you arrive, there is a wide variety of bars and clubs that can accommodate the tastes of everyone. Whether you’re into clubbing or just having a quiet drink with friends, Lancaster has something for you.

Your first experience of Lancaster’s nightlife will come in Fresher’s week, during which you will be accompanied by your reps on various social nights in town and on campus. One of the first nights is the campus bar crawl, which will see you frequent all of the university bars. All bars have pool tables and dart boards, for those of you who enjoy bar sports. As you will find, each bar has a unique character. Graduate bar is perfect for people who enjoy having a quiet and sociable drink, and they have a fine selection of ales. If you want something a little more upbeat, then Pendle and Lonsdale are safe bets. Pendle bar also hosts live music on Thursdays, attracting talented local musicians, as well as an open mic for those who want to showcase their own skills.

During your first week there will also be plenty of opportunities to venture into town. The most popular place for students is the Sugarhouse nightclub, which is run by the University’s student union. Sugarhouse (or sugar, as it’s known to students) has a large capacity which includes two dance floors. When you arrive at Lancaster, you will be given the option to purchase a purple card. This gives you discounts in various shops in town, as well as cheaper entry into sugar. Also, once you have been stamped by the bouncers upon entry, you can use this stamp to access the “sugarbus”, which will take you back to campus and save you having to pay for a taxi.

There are many other places that are popular with students. Hustle is good particularly if you like cheesy music, among which you can almost guarantee some Wheatus and Busted. I remember once dancing away to the theme song from the opening sequence of Friends, as bizarre as that sounds. If your tastes are a little more sophisticated then I would recommend either The Sun Hotel or Mint Bar. Mint bar has a great selection of Cocktails and I would highly recommend the Godfather Sour. These two places are, as to be expected, a little more expensive. If you are sticking to a budget then you can’t go wrong with Wetherspoons which is just next door to Hustle, or the Crafty Scholar, near the cinema.

We all know that a takeaway is a sound way to end a good night out. There is a variety of different takeaways in town to suit your fancy. There are pizza places, a McDonalds and if you like Chinese cuisine, there is a place called Wok Inn that serves great food. Some of the on-campus food outlets also stay open till late, such as Pizzetta and Sultans, so there is no reason to go hungry. My advice is, if you are hungry on a night out get a takeaway, because you don’t want to be the inebriated student who sets the fire alarms off in an attempt to make a stir fry. Cooking whilst drunk should be strictly avoided!

 

The Importance of Balance

/ Amy Hobbs

Just over 2 weeks left of this term until we break for Christmas, the time has really flown by!

The workload is definitely in full force now, and it’s evident across the whole uni. The library is busy with people from 9am to 5pm,  study areas are always buzzing with students; all of us working to make our deadlines. I myself have 2 essays to hand in by the beginning of the final week of term and though that may not sound like much, there is still a lot of work that has to go into it.

In Continental Philosophy I am writing my essay on Nietzsche and his ideas about guilt- where it comes from, how our conscience is formed, and making a critique of this account. For Darwinism I am writing about Evolutionary Psychology and how the process of evolution can help us to understand human traits, characteristics and behaviour.

So much planning goes into Philosophy essays, especially at university level and it’s important to have a clear schedule of what you want to get done, and when you need to have it done for. It’s important to understand that everyone works in different ways, and what seems to work for others may not necessarily work for you- so it’s good to try to really understand how you work best and finesse your technique to make it the best that it can be. This is how I personally find to be the best way to work for myself:

  1. Choose my essay questions for each module. I find that doing this as soon as possible really helps. Sometimes that means choosing a question that appeals to me straight away, and other times this means waiting until I’ve had a few more lectures so I can make a more informed decision if I am not too sure. Having my essay questions picked out as early as I can allows me to start collecting my thoughts and making brief notes from the get-go.
  2. Draw up an initial plan and line of argument. I do this by going through lecture and seminar notes that I have taken, as well as re-reading the primary readings set by the lecturer. This way I can form a basic framework to base my essay on.
  3. Read, read, read. After putting together an initial framework, I can then read with direction- making sure that what I am reading is relevant and allowing me to read critically in accordance with my argument, instead of ‘reading into the blue’. Also, doing reading outside the primary reading list really demonstrates your knowledge and passion for the subject to your lecturer, and so makes you essay unique and different from everyone else’s!
  4. After reading for each of my essays and picking out quotes and ideas and making notes on them, I then create a more formal plan. This is where I will detail the structure I want my essay to follow by using subheadings, and write under each one what I will include in the section, in the order I want it to appear in the final draft.
  5. The most important step: I talk to my lecturers. I take my plan with me as a guide to follow for points of discussion and ask about the structure of my essay, and if I am generally going in the right direction to answer the question. Obviously there is only so much that the lecturers can say when helping you, but I always come away from talking to them with new ideas for my essay that I may have missed or not thought of initially. I then add these into my formal plan.

I then sit down to write my final drafts. Typically I do the 5 steps above in weeks 6 and 7 of the term, which leaves me with 2 weeks to write the final versions with everything ready and on-hand. (However, this can change based on how many essays I have to hand in at a given time).

This can seem like an extremely daunting task and this is where the importance of balance comes in. I’m human, I need time to take a break and not think about writing essays for a little while, so I make sure to follow a set schedule throughout the week. During the 2 weeks that I am writing the final drafts of my essays I usually head to campus at 9am, no matter what my timetable is and I work on my essays at the times of the day that I have no scheduled classes.

Of course, I take breaks- grab some food, perhaps meet up with a friend for half an hour, take a short walk etc. but I remain on campus until 6pm. This may seem like an unbearably long day, but there are more hours in the day than you sometimes realise! When I arrive home after 6pm, I know that I have done enough work on my essay for that day and so I can allow myself to do my readings for my seminars, or simply switch off, relax and not think about uni-related work for the evening. I also find that if I put the most effort I can into writing my essays during the week, that I am able to take Saturday evenings and Sunday off completely!

This is why it is important to have a schedule and remain balanced. University wouldn’t be an enjoyable experience if you were working at full speed 24/7. Just this weekend I was able to take Sunday off and spend time with my family at a ‘Winter Wonderland’ park. I was able to see my younger sister and we had all sorts of Christmas-themed fun like: ice skating, a woodland walk, and enjoying an awesome hot chocolate! Everyone needs time to switch off and almost have a ‘reset’, that way you can return to work-mode and get things done more efficiently and effectively when you need to!

Mastering the Presentation

/ Ryan Bartle

This week I thought I would write about presentations. If you are someone like me, who has a borderline pathological fear of public speaking, the prospect of delivering a presentation can be daunting. Presentations are definitely my Achilles heel. Essay writing comes much more naturally to me, and although this comes with its own difficulties, such as writing intelligently and coherently, these difficulties are more profound when in front of an audience. Before I start sounding too alarmist, I should also say that yesterday I had my first presentation of the year and contrary to my own expectations, it actually went rather well. In this blog post, I will share with you some of the changes I made and offer some advice on how to master the presentation.

1) Know your Topic

This one may seem self evident, but it is easy to fall into the trap of over preparation and end up with a mountain of notes without any of it registering in your head. Notes are important, but they are just props. The most important information should be stored in your brain when you walk into the presentation room. This will give your audience the impression that you really know your stuff. There are a number of things you can do to help with this. In philosophy you will be examining arguments. It is therefore imperative when reading a text that you can follow where the argument is going and locate the main moves. If you have understood the main arguments for and against an issue, then you should be able to debate it. I would advise you to do just that. The likelihood is that you’ll have a flatmate or coursemate who will be interested in this stuff too. If you can speak clearly about these issues in an informal way with friends, then it is only a small step to being able to do it in a formal setting.

2) Abstraction

Being prospective philosophy students some of you may have heard this term used before. When philosophers talk about abstraction, they are referring to the method by which concepts and ideas are stripped of irrelevant information, leaving only the aspects that function as a necessary part of the argument. This is important as you don’t want to be bogged down by irrelevant details and so you should focus only on what matters as part of the bigger picture. Philosophers like to use fantastical and sometimes outright bizarre thought experiments to test our intuitions on certain concepts. It is important not to get distracted by this. Some philosophers present arguments with so many twists and turns that it is often difficult to remember where you began. The thing to do is to take each part of the argument at a time, frequently taking a step back to identify the underlying theme, and then write it down. If you do this, by the end of your preparation you should have all the relevant information at hand, with which you can start to construct your presentation in a clear and concise way.

3) Rehearse, rehearse, rehearse

This one is especially important for people like me who find public speaking difficult. It is important for two reasons. First, it allows you to perfect you delivery and tone. I was advised by my lecturer to record myself and play it back, as this will give some indication of what your audience will hear. Listening to your own voice is a painful and cringe worthy experience, but it is also a useful educational tool, which will allow you to correct and alter the way you deliver your presentation. Second, rehearsing also helps with timekeeping, which is why you should time yourself. Presentations usually have set time limits, and you don’t want to be left with the additional worry of not keeping to time. If you have practiced your presentation and you know you are keeping to time, you will be more confident when it comes to the real thing.

Hopefully these suggestions will help. But, of course, different people have different ways of learning, and if you have your own way of doing things that works for you, then maybe you should stick to it. Next week I will be writing about Lancaster’s nightlife.