What is a tutorial?
The Honors Tutorial College patterns its fundamental teaching approach after the tutorial system existing for centuries at Oxford and Cambridge Universities in England. The decision to use the most prominent feature of the British system of higher education in forming a unique type of college is not an instance of anglophilia run amok, but a borrowing that translates into an exceptional undergraduate experience. A tutorial consists either of a one-on-one course or a small seminar. Such a setting provides the type of individualized attention and academic challenge capable of stimulating the intellectual growth of talented and creative students. A tutorial is meant to be an ongoing conversation in which the tutor and tutee(s) move through the academic landscape of a particular discipline. Tutees gain important fundamental knowledge, hone essential skills, and begin to develop an understanding of what inspires them. Tutors often have their own intellectual horizons expanded by the observa
In a tutorial, which usually is held with about 15 students, you may be given exercises to work on while the tutor comes around to see how everyone is getting on. Alternatively, you may be given exercises to do at home in advance; in this case, the tutor may come around, or may discuss the questions with the whole group.
A tutorial is a group of 20-25 students and a tutor that meets for one hour once a week to discuss assigned readings related to material covered in lectures. It is an opportunity for students to be active learners. The tutor either an academic staff member or a postgraduate student is there to facilitate; students do the talking. In tutorials you learn to listen and absorb the ideas of others, and respond to their ideas, as well as to develop and express your own ideas, to respond to constructive criticism and to be ready to change or discard your argument in favor of one that is more convincing. Preparation is a key to getting something out of tutorials; you need to read the assigned readings before your tutorial. In most units of study in the History department, tutorial participation determines a proportion of your final mark. In the History department, tutorials are a central part of a unit of study. Consequently, the department has a policy specifying that if you do not attend 80%
