How to Prepare for Lectures

Find the books

• All tutors issue lists of reading for their courses, and will expect you to do some reading for every lecture, seminar or tutorial
• You should plan to do the reading well in advance, as you cannot assume that you will be able to find everything the day before!
• You may need to recall books from the library, and there is always competition for certain books
• Finding books should become a regular part of your working routine
• Articles in journals can be just as valuable as books. They often include convenient summaries of current thinking on a topic and are sometimes more easily available than books
• If you are having trouble finding books or journals, try the Research section of this website for advice on where to find information
• Whatever you are looking at, read actively to ensure you understand and engage with the issues at hand
• No one article or book will say everything there is to say on a topic
• For advice on how to make the most of your readings, take a look at the Reading section of this website

Focus on the topic

• If the tutor has asked a question to introduce the seminar topic, be working out a tentative answer as you read. It doesn't matter if you're not sure it's the right answer - other views will emerge in the discussion
• If your reading doesn't help you to answer the question, think about why this is may be
• Note the key words that frequently occur
• What exactly do the key words mean and how are they being used?
• Are there different schools of thought on the topic?
• What are the arguments for and against each school of thought?
• Does one theory dominate the topic?
• What are the strengths and weaknesses of this predominant theory?
• Make a list of the points you want to raise and the questions you want to ask in preparation for your next tutorial or seminar. Tutorials and seminars are an opportunity to clear up things you are not sure about, as well as to test out your arguments

Read Critically

Many students feel that, having only done a few hours reading on a topic, they can't hold an opinion against an author who has spent many years writing a book. But one of the purposes of pursuing a degree is to enable you to read rapidly into a topic, and to critically evaluate what you read.

When trying to get to grips with a subject, try asking the following questions:

• When was it written?
• Does it reflect the views of the time in any way?
• How does it relate to recent thought?
• What intellectual standpoint is it written from?
• Many books make certain assumptions, which are sometimes spelled out in the introduction
• What does it leave out? All books make selections in their treatment of a topic
• What do others have to say about it?

Material adapted with permission from Study Skills in History Booklet 3.