LING 120B
Syntax I
Description: Lecture, four hours; discussion, one hour (when scheduled). Enforced requisite: course 20. Course 120A is not requisite to 120B. Descriptive analysis of morphological and syntactic structures in natural languages; emphasis on insight into nature of such structures rather than linguistics formalization. P/NP or letter grading.
Units: 5.0
Units: 5.0
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Most Helpful Review
Spring 2025 - Overall, the class content itself is not difficult as long as you take the time to do all of the practice questions/examples on the slides, do the homework properly, etc. It's very easy to make mistakes, but once you understand the material I actually found it interesting. Exams took the same format as homework assignments, but different questions and a bit more difficult. Exam averages were around the mid 70s for both the midterm and final, with no cheat sheet being allowed, but I personally thought it was easy if you reviewed the homeworks thoroughly. Homework was given weekly and about 4-6 pages, taking around 1-2 hours. Graded on accuracy, and the professor decided to drop the lowest score. Lecture was not required and not recorded, but I personally didn't go after week 3 and just reviewed the slides on my own time. Professor Motter is a kind person, but his lecture style is a bit boring. He reads off the slides directly (and quickly) and the slides can feel verbose, so I found it more productive to self-study. Kalen Chang was an amazing TA though! Definitely recommend him if he TAs again. Discussion sections weren't required but I always went because the LA worksheets were very good review and practice for homework + exams, and Kalen is great at explaining exactly what you need to know. I went to his OH before the final, and it was one of my best study resources.
Spring 2025 - Overall, the class content itself is not difficult as long as you take the time to do all of the practice questions/examples on the slides, do the homework properly, etc. It's very easy to make mistakes, but once you understand the material I actually found it interesting. Exams took the same format as homework assignments, but different questions and a bit more difficult. Exam averages were around the mid 70s for both the midterm and final, with no cheat sheet being allowed, but I personally thought it was easy if you reviewed the homeworks thoroughly. Homework was given weekly and about 4-6 pages, taking around 1-2 hours. Graded on accuracy, and the professor decided to drop the lowest score. Lecture was not required and not recorded, but I personally didn't go after week 3 and just reviewed the slides on my own time. Professor Motter is a kind person, but his lecture style is a bit boring. He reads off the slides directly (and quickly) and the slides can feel verbose, so I found it more productive to self-study. Kalen Chang was an amazing TA though! Definitely recommend him if he TAs again. Discussion sections weren't required but I always went because the LA worksheets were very good review and practice for homework + exams, and Kalen is great at explaining exactly what you need to know. I went to his OH before the final, and it was one of my best study resources.
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Most Helpful Review
Fall 2025 - You guys are such crybabies omfg Ethan is not a bad professor. Yes the tests are not the same as the worksheets / practice exams but the opportunity to get points back on them is literally handed to you on a silver platter. God forbid you people actually have to put effort into understanding the material you are taught in class. Oh wait! 50% of you didn't even go! You are not serious people and I beg you all to please grow some sort of academic backbone next time you take a class that is known for being difficult
Fall 2025 - You guys are such crybabies omfg Ethan is not a bad professor. Yes the tests are not the same as the worksheets / practice exams but the opportunity to get points back on them is literally handed to you on a silver platter. God forbid you people actually have to put effort into understanding the material you are taught in class. Oh wait! 50% of you didn't even go! You are not serious people and I beg you all to please grow some sort of academic backbone next time you take a class that is known for being difficult
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