The first half of each seminar is primarily activity-based, e.g. carrying out various exercises related to the lectures and planning your assignments. The second half provides you with an opportunity to discuss topics and issues that have arisen in the lectures and your readings for each week. (See next section for debating topics.)

Where the scheduled seminar activity does not fill the entire period, the rest of the time may be spent on the relevant debate exercise. The debate topics may be accessed via the `week' sections of the handbook.

Tutors should run these debates as follows. First, divide the seminar group into two halves, delegating one half to argue in favour of the motion and the other against it. Allow approximately half an hour for the debate to be carried out, making sure that individuals from both sides get a reasonable chance to make their points. At the end, write down the names of those aguing `in favour' on one sheet of paper and the names of those arging `against' on another.

Circulate the `in favour' list around the `against' group and vice versa, asking each person to (secretly) record their votes for the best performers from the other group. A `p' should be placed next to the name of the most persuasive debater; an `a' should be placed next to the name of the most authoritative (i.e., best read) debater and a `c' should be placed next to the name of the most cooperative (i.e., best team-working) debater.

Finally, collect in the two pieces of paper and announce the results of the voting, adding in your own feedback as appropriate.

Make sure to remind everyone that this assessment is informal and will not affect degree results.