Theories of the Mind
The topic * The projects: organisation * The
projects: what to do *
The presentations * Finally
The topic for each project is as simple, broad, and general as possible: take any theory of the mind (presumably, but not necessarily, one out of those of Freud, Jung, or Lacan) and apply it to any work of literature. This is also the topic of the extended essay. The presentation should show the application of the project in action, explaining any of the theory that you think the audience might not know about: no need to recapitulate exhaustingly stuff that we already know. Any work of literature, in the widest sense of the word. Be inventive. If you want you can do things like practical research on what students think of Freud, or what lecturers use him; you can do questionnaires and interviews and so on.
There are 33students, so time will be rather tight. Each group has a 30 minute slot. In principle most groups should have at least three students in them; but it would be a bad idea to have more than four, since in that case the individual contribution would be too diluted in a 30 minute presentation.
Everyone should be in one project group. You needn't necessarily confine yourself to working with the people in your seminar group: you can form a group with any other Theories of the Mind students.The main point of the projects is in the meetings you will have to have in order to sort it out: this is where the education takes place. Meet to discuss what to do, then share work and meet again (and again) to discuss the results of the work. Be inventive. Other than that, I leave it to you. There are reading lists and useful Web links for all the theories in my Web site.
Ros McCulloch, from our staff development unit, has given an excellent lecture to this year's first year on how to work in small groups and how to give presentations. Your years have missed out on this, but you can make up for this because the lecture, and the handouts, are on the Web: they are here. I would very very strongly advise you to study this material and put it into practice, not only because of the Workshop, but because later in your life you will inevitably need it. The interviews for most interesting jobs nowadays require all candidates to make presentations... Find out how to do it now, in the relatively friendly ambience of Theories of the Mind.
There are two specific rules about the presentations. The first is: watch the time. I shall referee that quite strictly: if people run over, the whole thing can get out of hand. The second is: each presentation must be accompanied by a beautifully produced handout, preferably of one or two pages' length only. This can contain whatever you want, but it must contain a list of suggested useful reading, preferably with some comment on the works cited. It could also contain an outline of the presentation, maybe too the quotations typed out, and some diagrams or illustrations perhaps-whatever. But remember that one of its functions is to help the rest of the group to follow up on the topic that you are presenting, in the exam or in an essay. I need the handouts to be handed in to my pigeonhole in the office by 5.00 pm on the Thursday before the Workshop so that I can get them copied and put into folders for everyone. There's going to be a lot of photocopying, so please observe that deadline.
If you can give me the handouts on disk as well, I will put them up on the Web, for the benefit of all.
Apart from the rules, here is some advice. Be entertaining as well as informative. You're going to have to hold people's attention, and as the day goes on, that's not going to be too easy. Use the overhead projector: the secretaries will make transparencies for you. It's best not to read out; only do that if your text is written in a really informal style so that it sounds as if you're not reading, and you know how to read it in that style. Liven it up. Music is OK. Sound effects are OK. Drama is OK. Anything is OK, within reason. It would be very good to engage the audience in some way: people will have lots of questions, and it may be helpful to allow for that, though there is a time problem there. But I would be willing to have two groups do a joint presentation of one hour with time for discussion and audience interaction, for instance.If you need to see me for advice, come and see me during my office hours. And: any of this is subject to negotiation. If you want to negotiate, come and see me.
