Harkness Seminar Study Guide

A Harkness-style class rewards preparation, listening, and careful use of evidence. The goal is not to win a debate; it is to move the group's understanding forward.

Before class

Read actively. Mark passages that show a turning point, a contradiction, or a phrase you cannot explain yet. Write two interpretive questions and one evidence-based claim. A strong question begins with how or why, not with a fact that can be answered in one sentence.

During discussion

Enter early with a concrete observation so you are part of the conversation before it accelerates. Refer to page numbers, clauses, scenes, or historical details. Build on classmates by naming the idea you are extending: "I agree with Maya's point about motive, and the next paragraph complicates it." If the room splits into two positions, summarize both fairly before taking your own position.

After class

Keep a running seminar log. Record the best claim of the day, the strongest piece of evidence, and one question that remains open. This turns discussion into exam material. For essays, revisit the moments where the class changed its mind; those are often the places where an argument has real depth.