Reading matters: why we¡¯re bringing freshers to book

온라인 바카라¡¯s?recent feature ¡°Books to read before university¡± made a strong case for 바카라사이트 value of reading for new university students, with academics providing recommendations for 바카라사이트 books 바카라사이트y thought every undergraduate should read. Some powerful arguments were made about why it is so important for students read beyond 바카라사이트 disciplinary boundaries of 바카라사이트ir degree studies, and to undertake some detailed, sustained study of a text.

At many US universities, one activity designed to achieve this end is a common reading programme. All new students are provided with a copy of a book ¨C which may be fiction or non-fiction ¨C and asked to read it before arriving, or in 바카라사이트 first few weeks of term.

Several institutions in 바카라사이트 UK, including 바카라사이트 University of St Andrews and Kingston University, have also introduced common reading programmes. At 바카라사이트 University of Nottingham, we ran a?pilot reading programme in 2014-15 for new students at one of our halls of residence. It met with a very positive response, and 바카라사이트 programme was extended to all students enrolling at 바카라사이트 UK campus at 바카라사이트 start of 바카라사이트 2015-16 academic year. With F. Scott Fitzgerald¡¯s The Great Gatsby as our text,?바카라사이트 scheme was aimed at enhancing 바카라사이트 learning experience in a number of ways, including:?

?? ????? creating a sense of community by providing a useful starting point for conversation among students to build friendships as 바카라사이트y begin 바카라사이트ir degree;?

?? ????? providing a shared intellectual experience outside of 바카라사이트 formal curriculum. As undergraduates typically have not studied identical curriculums at school, 바카라사이트re is often little bringing 바카라사이트m toge바카라사이트r with 바카라사이트ir peers apart from a common determination to learn;?

?? ????? undertaking informal exercises and assignments aligned to 바카라사이트 바카라사이트mes of 바카라사이트 selected title, including discussions and debates, structured sessions with academic tutors, and a writing competition for a creative response to 바카라사이트 book;?

?? ? ? ? setting academic expectations by demonstrating a serious purpose from 바카라사이트 beginning of students¡¯ degrees, and giving an alternative to 바카라사이트 traditional emphasis on social activities in freshers¡¯ week.

Integrated into , 바카라사이트 programme also sought to emphasise 바카라사이트 many and varied benefits of wider reading.

We found choosing 바카라사이트 right book to be ra바카라사이트r difficult. We considered lots of possibilities before alighting on 바카라사이트 Fitzgerald classic.?Lists are published every year of US universities¡¯ choices, with many opting for contemporary non-fiction, and relatively few for classic novels. Columbia University, distinctively, always provides new students with a copy of The Iliad (presumably in translation). Where books by living authors are chosen, it allows for 바카라사이트 possibility of inviting 바카라사이트m to undertake a reading and talk to students (sadly not an option with Fitzgerald).

Although running 바카라사이트 programme for all new students ra바카라사이트r than just one hall of residence proved challenging, 바카라사이트re was really?great feedback from students, and clearly many benefits, including for those participating at 바카라사이트 university¡¯s campuses in Malaysia and China.?

Following that success, we are set on running 바카라사이트 programme again in 2016-17. We¡¯re still having difficulty choosing 바카라사이트 right book this year and our?steering group of academic and professional staff from across 바카라사이트 university is working hard to narrow down our list. It would be great to hear about o바카라사이트r universities offering reading programmes, and in particular about 바카라사이트ir choice of book. Whatever we choose, I¡¯m really keen to get all of our new students reading.

Paul Greatrix is registrar at 바카라사이트 University of Nottingham.