Professor
Stella Nair
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Most Helpful Review
Fall 2018 - Stella is a really nice professor, but I'm just not interested in this subject. I took it as an "easy" GE and honestly, it takes more work than I want to put into it. I would say the readings really are mandatory because there's a constant possibility of pop quizzes, both in lecture and discussion. Some of the longer readings can be around 25 pages and you'll be tested on some pretty particular details. Midterm and final are in class essays and you're given 6 possible prompts ahead of time, from which 2 are picked. Not a lot of outside of class writing, just one paper worth 5% of your grade. Maybe I'm just lazy, but it's really hard to motivate myself to study for this class. If all of this sounds good to you though, go for it. If you're interested in the subject, I'm sure you'd like it because it's a well-taught class, but if you just want an easy GE, go with Scand 50. Edit- I’ve now finished the class, so if you do end up taking it: Since you have to go to class anyways for the quizzes, I’d recommend taking good notes on her lectures- she posts the slides but they’re mostly pictures so you need good notes to go back and know what they’re about. Honestly, I think it’s probably inevitable you’ll fall asleep in this class at least once, but try to make it one of the guest lecturer days, since these seem to be less likely to be related to the exams- the movies are still tested! Overall, my advice for this class would be to just do the work and be able to answer every part of the questions she gives you to prep for the midterm/final. There's no easy way around it.
Fall 2018 - Stella is a really nice professor, but I'm just not interested in this subject. I took it as an "easy" GE and honestly, it takes more work than I want to put into it. I would say the readings really are mandatory because there's a constant possibility of pop quizzes, both in lecture and discussion. Some of the longer readings can be around 25 pages and you'll be tested on some pretty particular details. Midterm and final are in class essays and you're given 6 possible prompts ahead of time, from which 2 are picked. Not a lot of outside of class writing, just one paper worth 5% of your grade. Maybe I'm just lazy, but it's really hard to motivate myself to study for this class. If all of this sounds good to you though, go for it. If you're interested in the subject, I'm sure you'd like it because it's a well-taught class, but if you just want an easy GE, go with Scand 50. Edit- I’ve now finished the class, so if you do end up taking it: Since you have to go to class anyways for the quizzes, I’d recommend taking good notes on her lectures- she posts the slides but they’re mostly pictures so you need good notes to go back and know what they’re about. Honestly, I think it’s probably inevitable you’ll fall asleep in this class at least once, but try to make it one of the guest lecturer days, since these seem to be less likely to be related to the exams- the movies are still tested! Overall, my advice for this class would be to just do the work and be able to answer every part of the questions she gives you to prep for the midterm/final. There's no easy way around it.
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Most Helpful Review
Winter 2019 - Nair was an easy professor to listen too, her voice is pleasant and she did not inject too much of her own political views into discussions about history. She was a bit critical on tourists, which I thought was unfair because she often generalized them. The pop quizzes were also bothersome but Nair was lenient in giving other opportunities to balance this out, i.e. being present for group discussions. She gives you a study guide for the exams, but it consist of 6 extensive prompts that she chooses from on the day of the test. Thus, if you want to do well, join a study group to help ease the heavy workload! She makes clear how to get a good grade in her class, follow her guidelines and you will do well. Also, for the paper we got to choose an object from Fowler museum to do our essay on, which was a nice break from the norm. Overall the class was very interesting, Nair's lectures were fun to listen to, and most of the readings I enjoyed studying.
Winter 2019 - Nair was an easy professor to listen too, her voice is pleasant and she did not inject too much of her own political views into discussions about history. She was a bit critical on tourists, which I thought was unfair because she often generalized them. The pop quizzes were also bothersome but Nair was lenient in giving other opportunities to balance this out, i.e. being present for group discussions. She gives you a study guide for the exams, but it consist of 6 extensive prompts that she chooses from on the day of the test. Thus, if you want to do well, join a study group to help ease the heavy workload! She makes clear how to get a good grade in her class, follow her guidelines and you will do well. Also, for the paper we got to choose an object from Fowler museum to do our essay on, which was a nice break from the norm. Overall the class was very interesting, Nair's lectures were fun to listen to, and most of the readings I enjoyed studying.
Most Helpful Review
Spring 2021 - This seminar was so much fun and so engaging. We just did weekly discussion posts on slack about the readings that we did, and these posts followed into discussion during seminar. The discussion is framed around the readings so you do have to complete all of them and attend every seminar to receive the best grade. Professor Nair is super engaging and will assist you with any extensions you need or questions you have. If you are going to do the readings and participate in the discussion this is an easy A. Our only assignment to turn in was the final paper, which is long but is not a research paper, just an exploration of how the texts we covered in class can relate to a building of your choice. Amazing class
Spring 2021 - This seminar was so much fun and so engaging. We just did weekly discussion posts on slack about the readings that we did, and these posts followed into discussion during seminar. The discussion is framed around the readings so you do have to complete all of them and attend every seminar to receive the best grade. Professor Nair is super engaging and will assist you with any extensions you need or questions you have. If you are going to do the readings and participate in the discussion this is an easy A. Our only assignment to turn in was the final paper, which is long but is not a research paper, just an exploration of how the texts we covered in class can relate to a building of your choice. Amazing class
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