Most people are apprehensive about this course during the first week of the term, because they do not know what Philosophy actually is or what to expect in a Philosophy course. You have had seven weeks to figure it out, and while you might still have some unanswered questions, you know a lot more than you did when you made your Introductions.Would you have felt more comfortable when the course began if some student who had already taken PL201 sent you a letter in which he or she shared their experiences in the course? Most people would answer, “Yes.†Because, no matter how reassuring the Instructor sounds during the first week, a first-hand account from a former student seems a lot more credible than do the platitudes from someone who spent way too many years in college, studying this stuff in detail.So, here is your chance to be that “former student†and to share your wisdom and what you have learned with someone who will be entering the course, possibly knowing even less than you did when you started PL201. And, keep in mind that there is a good possibility that these “Letters to a new student†could, in fact, become something that new students can actually read. So, you want to be honest, be precise, and try not to scare them away! :-)Here are some things that would be useful to new students, and you can probably even think of others that are not mentioned here.
Remember that you are writing a letter that is supposed to make the new student feel less apprehensive and more confident about taking a class for which they probably have had no previous experience. It needs to be at least 400 words, but preferably no longer than 700 words. And, when you have said everything that you think would help a new student, be sure to sign your name. However, if your letter is actually used later in the course, your anonymity will be maintained; so, you can be as honest as you want to be when you comment and offer your advice.
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