"Week 2" or " Restless relentlessly"
“Boys and girls interested in Maastricht University, know one thing: It is hard work you`ll be slipping into. Mentally vergin on a psychosis, having the worn out body already in sleeping posture, the second lecture on tuesday ought to be the story`s end. Thank you all for your support.”
X The Heartbreaker
….Well, admittedly this scenery did not take place, for I better wait with taking my leave until the first exam is over.
However, sad to say I can hardly chatter about preppy shopping trips nor elaborate on days full of sunshine and laughter - since there weren`t any. “Hi, library!”
Reading a brochure does give you an impression of how study life may look like. But what does that mean for YOU, the prospective, on a daily basis when finally arrived in Maastricht and your course programme ?
Well, here we go with an insight of my study agenda for week 2 :
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Preceeding workload to finish BEFORE MONDAY!
*Primary literature Assignment text 1
(Literature to be read BEFORE the next Tutorial session takes place, in which, subsequently, the issue is discussed in detail. Furthermore, questions can be raised if there is misunderstanding on specific passages of the texts provided. )
- Plato`s dialogue `Euthyphro`
- Xenophon, `Memorabilia` , pp. 1-15
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MONDAY
-Tutorial
Discussion of the previous literature listed above by means of the learning objectives set up. Preliminary discussion of assignment text 2 to follow on thursday. Use of the seven-step approach by determining a problem statement covering the essence of the new text; aquiring learning goals to independently conduct research on.
Learning goals to be set up for assignment 2
1 ) Biographical information about Socrates
2) Role of the Gods in Socrates` philosophy
3) Describe in more detail Socrate`s dialectic method
4) Motives of Socrates
5) Try and describe Socrates` influence on actual western values
(Literature to be considered research material is, finally, the Seconday literature of assignment text 1 AND the Primary literature of the assignment text 2 whose essence we already covered during the discussion.)
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TUESDAY
-Lecture
Speech on”Mythology and Tragedy” exposing partly those issues being stressed in the current literature. With respect to the second tutorial and its assignment text to be compiled,more importantly, outlooks on hitherto new topics are provided.
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WEDNESDAY
- Self-study
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THURSDAY
-Tutorial
Discussion of the learning goals for assignment 2 . Preliminary discussion of assignment text 3, that is, again, setting up of objectives that are the basis for all reading. Ought to be worked out is now, as already approached previously, the Seconday literature of assignment text 2 and the Primary literature of assignment n.3 .
Ultimately, as reading material we now have:
*Seconday literature Assignment text 2
- Frederick Copleston, “A history of philosophy”, Chapter 20
*Primary literature Assignment text 3
- Aeschylus, `Agamemnon`
Naturally, again we set up learning goals neccessary to work through the literature:
1) Life and works of Plato
2) Explain the `Theory of Ideas` in more detail
3) Try and explain the connection between `the cave` and the `Theory of Ideas`
4) Explain the role of the soul within Plato`s philosophy
5) Comparison between Plato`s and Socrate`s method
6) Objections to Plato`s `Theory of Ideas`
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Certainly this small demonstration of the Problem-based learning approach established at the University Maastricht may be confusing. However, some wise words to keep in mind: Before actually sending your application to Holland try to gather as much information as you can about what study life in Maastricht effectively means- that is , actively discussing issues, mental presence at any stage of the Tutorial and the ambition to independently decide over your own academic performance.
A small sidenote for this week. For some of you wondering about the pictures – here you get a first glimpse of MaastrichtFashion.blogspot.com , an independently-run Lifestyle Blog covering topics on Arts,Fashion and Lifestyle. On this particular day, I met up with Nora, taking shots of her on the Vrijthof.
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