It Starts...

Believe it or not, this is where I go to school: Keble College, Oxford University.

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Well, today presented a much clearer picture of my life. I met with my seminar group and heard from both of my tutors, recieving my assignments for the rest of the semester. I'm also registered at all the different libraries and at Wycliffe Hall where I am enrolled.

In order for you to understand anything that I say from this point forward, I must provide you with a brief outline of the Oxford system of education.

All teaching at Oxford is done on a one-on-one basis. My classload consists of a primary tutorial which meets each week, and a secondary tutorial which meets fornightly (bi-weekly). In addition to these two main courses, I am enrolled in an Integrative Seminar which is designed to tie my tutorials together. The seminar is taken with a group of students studying similar subjects; In this case, we are all students of English literature.

Now it gets slightly confusing. As part of my tutorials and my seminar, I am required to attend four lecture series. These series are put on by the university and cover every subject imaginable. Each lecture runs from 4-8 weeks, meeting weekly. The lectures cover a set topic, but are not necessarily linked together. The goal is to choose a lecture series that will compliment my tutorials. The dons (an Oxford Professor) have no idea who you are or what you are studying. They are simply there to impart the information that they have learned. The is no direct connection between the tutorials and the lecture series. It's up to you to make the link. Altogether, I will be attending about 32 lectures over the course of the semester.

Each week I will meet with my tutor and turn in an essay of 4-7 pages answering a set question which was posed the previous week. My tutor also provides a reading list which helps me answer the questions.

At the end of the semester I have a long essay due which is designed to combine the work that I have done in my tutorials. This is turned in to my integrated seminar leader. There is also a take-home essay exam.

This is the Oxford system. Not necessarily better, but it's the way they've been doing things for 600+ years!

I am enrolled in C.S. Lewis In Context for my primary tutorial and The English Language 1100-1490 for my secondary tutorial. I just received my assignment for my primary session which will meet on Tuesday. Here is my "to do list:"

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From the desk of Dr. Emma Plaskitt

Selected Primary Reading:
Be sure to read Lewis'’s autobiography, Surprised by Joy and A. N. Wilson's excellent study, C. S. Lewis: A Biography (London, 1991)

Week One: Fantasy, Allegory, and the "“Rules of Faerie"” (Part One)

Lewis: The Chronicles of Narnia (all seven please!)

"On Three Ways of Writing for Children" and "Sometimes Fairy Stories May

Say Best What's To Be Said" (In Of Other Worlds: Essays and Stories)

Tolkien, J.R.R.: "On Fairy Stories" (in Tree and Leaf)

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Fortunately, because there were some communication issues, I am not required to read the Hobbit for this week as is my tutors normal request. I've got my work cut out for me! I also have a 1400 word essay due for my secondary tutorial due Tuesday!

Wish me luck, I'm off to study!