Joining masters course in literature. Advice requested.

I am joining a masters course in English Literature. I graduated as an Engineer and then have worked for a few years in education and counseling. I feel anxious about unknown things. How will I study? How much will I study? Should I prepare notes in the classroom or just listen to the lecturer unobstructed? How will I perform in the exams? What if I mess this up just like I messed up my engineering?

Even as I am writing this, I am getting to understand that I need to take things easy. In due course of time I will. I think what is causing anxiety is that I am not a literature graduate and hence I do not know how to write. But again I will learn that in due course of time. What I am asking here is any advice that you feel will be valuable for me as a beginner. From your personal experience or from general awareness.

Thanks!

Study as much as possible. When in lectures, only jot down reminders or basic points that the lecturer says. You want to concentrate on what they're saying and summaries of the points should be on Moodle.

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Originally Posted by kelby_lake

Study as much as possible. When in lectures, only jot down reminders or basic points that the lecturer says. You want to concentrate on what they're saying and summaries of the points should be on Moodle.

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I'm not sure all universities use Moodle (I know Concordia in Montreal does, but McGill does not), also I've never encountered a professor in the humanities that provided lecture summaries on the internet, so it's difficult to generalize those sorts of academic trends.

As to how to take notes, that would depend on you and what works best for your learning. Although, I usually think of English courses at the Master's level as seminar format, in which case you would probably be expected to actively participate in the discussion.

If it's any consolation, I got my first degree in microbiology and found the transition into humanities exceptionally easy.

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Originally Posted by OrphanPip

I'm not sure all universities use Moodle (I know Concordia in Montreal does, but McGill does not

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Lecturers normally have PowerPoints of their lectures, even if they are not up on a Moodle-type platform. The PowerPoints vary from simply being a visual aid for the lecturer to having basic points on them/references. The point is that you should listen to the content of the lecture rather than spending time trying to jot down quotes.

That has been a big contention in my mind! To prepare notes or not. I guess I am more of the sort who will enjoy a discussion going on and jump into it at the later stages of it. Preparing notes even during engineering was too tedious for my taste. But then in engineering they value notes a lot. I hope it will be different here.

Another trouble I have is anxieties about writing answers in exam. I am not pursuing this for a pre-defined career track. I want to explore my interest and grow in the field. Wildly at best. Still for further opportunities exam results matter. If I write answers to questions on my own and keep working like that instead of taking pointers from here and there will that work? I have this big thing in my head about being original. I don't know how it will manifest. So, writing answers... Any thoughts? If not then just your own experience.

Thanks a lot for the advice kelby_lake and OrphanPip. It has relaxed me significantly.

@OrphanPip Can you tell me something more, some details about the transition? In what ways was it easy?

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Originally Posted by dark desire

If I write answers to questions on my own and keep working like that instead of taking pointers from here and there will that work? I have this big thing in my head about being original. I don't know how it will manifest.

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It varies. I've had some lecturers who love original thought and will overlook structural problems and some who only really care about the structure.