3.8 Expectations of you as a reader

Your lecturers will be looking to see whether you: 

• Thoroughly read the required readings, and go beyond the reading list if necessary.
• Look for sources that are relevant to the assignment question and bring together different perspectives.
• Actively engage with the reading material and understand its significance in the context of the course.
• Read around your subject (e.g., topics from other courses) to gain a better understanding of an area.  
• Evaluate the argument(s) and related evidence in academic sources, recognising their relative merits and flaws.

In some circumstances, you'll be required to demonstrate your understanding of a reading, but most of the time you'll be expected to use that knowledge as a starting point to articulate your own views on an issue and construct your own argument.