Tip #3

How to Participate in a Seminar

  
          Since middle school, maybe even elementary school, I have periodically participated in what I knew as "Socratic Seminars". However, as I entered into the realm of AP classes, I noticed that they had become more frequent, and thus more essential to my grade. My participation in these seminars, especially in AP Lang, became critical, for not only did they have a decent impact on my quarter grade, they were also a way to convey knowledge to my teacher that I might struggle to express in my writing; they were a way to prove myself.
          Early in my AP Lang year, we read a book called Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, and had two ensuing seminars. Prior to these seminars we were told to read different portions of the book, and while some of the questions presented during the seminar were on storyline and content, requiring a sufficient understanding of the plot (see "How to Read Efficiently"), many of the questions were analytical and required second-level thinking.
          For me these seminars were always exciting as I usually felt confident that I was going to perform well. I believe this was my first key to a successful seminar: Confidence. Begin the seminar feeling comfortable that you had important things to say.
          And to help your confidence, make sure you are well-prepared before the seminar. I flipped through Frederick Douglass prior to the seminars and copied down some brief summary notes of the book, dog-earing sections I felt could have many uses for answering different questions. I also made sure I understood what Douglass' main overall argument was, so that if I began to speak and drew a blank, or couldn't think of anything in the first place, I could at least tie whatever the topic of the question was back to the overall argument.
          Also, speaking towards the beginning of a discussion on a question is very important; this helps you to offer original points that may have been taken later if you had chosen to wait. Flipping frantically through your book will most likely not help you, as the point could be taken during the time you were searching, or worse yet you might not here the point be taken and you could speak up only to restate almost exactly what someone had said before.
          However, if you truly can't think of something right away, and you feel you aren't fresh on the topic being discussed, you can still earn points by thinking on your feet. If you don't remember how a section of the book being discussed went down, and you don't have any notes on the topic, put both your notes and book to the side- they can't help you now. Pay attention closely to what the other people in the classroom are saying. Try to absorb the content of the situation as well as the overall context. As there are always different sides and opinions to everything, you may find yourself considering something different than what seems to be the mostly reiterated view of the discussion. Even if you don't fully agree with it, propose the idea to the class- just make sure you back it up with some evidence you heard someone else use or you finally remembered. A point is a point, and it tends to be an interesting one if it challenges the view of many people.
          In short, seminars in AP Lang are very important not just because they can help your grade but because they can relay knowledge to your teacher than you may have trouble expressing through other mediums. Confidence and preparation are key, but if you cant think of anything right away, try being the "devil's advocate" and challenge opinions that are being reiterated by members of the discussion. My teacher Mrs. Blankenship will periodically intervene in our seminars using the same technique, and she's the teacher so....