1. The document provides instructions for preparing for an upcoming seminar, including reading assigned materials beforehand and thinking critically about different arguments, opinions, and supporting evidence. 2. Students should consider all perspectives on the seminar topics, including both supporting and opposing views, and evaluate the evidence rather than form opinions first and then search for evidence. 3. The document assigns students to groups and allocates each group one of three seminar discussion topics on foreign language requirements, the importance of university education, and the relative importance of STEM vs. humanities subjects.

1. ABERDEEN 2040
Seminar Skills
Week 1 lesson 3
PSE 10

2. Preparing for seminar
1. Your lecturer might give you some reading before the seminar.
Doing this reading will help you think about what you will
discuss and understand the points that your classmates &
lecturers make.
2. Think about your opinions on what you have read? Is there
evidence in the reading that supports that opinion? If not do
you need to reconsider
Remember: academic critical thinking is about evaluating the
evidence and then coming to an opinion.
How can you prepare for a seminar?

3. Preparing for seminar
DO think about all the arguments: For, against and opinions that
balance aspects of both
DO evaluate the evidence . In an academic context opinions are
only accepted if there is evidence to support them
DON’T start with an opinion then try to find evidence because this
will mean that you haven’t evaluated all the arguments & evidence
Critical Thinking & Seminar Skills

4. Preparing for a seminar on Friday
You will be put in groups and your teacher will allocate one of the following
topics to your group for the second class on Friday
1. Students in higher education should be required to learn a foreign
language
2. Having a university education is necessary for a successful life
3. Subjects related to science, technology, engineering & medicine are
more important than subjects in the humanities such as history and the
arts
Oxford EAP p 10 task 6

5. Preparing for a seminar on Friday
Oxford EAP p 10 task 6
These are your groups for the seminar:
Question 1 Question 2 Question 3

6. Preparing for a seminar on Friday
Work alone for 10 minutes and use the following headings to make
notes about your ideas
1. Topic & focus
2. Main argument for
3. Main argument against
4. Examples & reasons
5. Your conclusions & your opinion
Oxford EAP p 10 task 6