SLAVC 599
Research for Ph.D. Dissertation
Description: S/U grading.
Units: 2.0
Units: 2.0
1 of 1
Most Helpful Review
I took Russian 25W with Professor Heim and really enjoyed it. The lectures were really interesting and I looked forward to them every time. Professor Heim really is passionate about this class and he gets you excited about it too. He really opens you up to the world of Russian literature and just literature in general. He is a fantastic lecturer, and gives a very comprehensive view of the novels which allows you to understand all the aspects of the novels. Whenever I went to office hours, he was always very welcoming and willing to discuss any questions or ideas about not just the course, but Russian history, literature or Russia in general. He is also very willing to help with essay writing. As for workload, there is a lot of reading and writing (Yes you are supposed to read War and Peace). There are 4 essays in total on the books you're supposed to read. You get to rewrite each essay. The essay grades are reasonable, and you are bound to improve your grade when you do the rewrite (he takes the average of both grades). Also, it's good to go talk to the TAs after you get your first draft back because they will give you the advice you need to do a better rewrite. The midterm and final are the same format, with ID passages and essays. You even get to rewrite the midterm. I did all of the reading, didn't finish War and Peace and still did fine in the course. As long as you take notes and pay attention to the passages he analyzes from the books and how he analyzes them, you will do fine in the midterm and final. Professor Heim is a kind and knowledgeable professor. His love for his work and students really teaches students how to appreciate literature and see the world in a new way. He really is amazing to listen and talk to. I really recommend taking a class with him during your time at UCLA.
I took Russian 25W with Professor Heim and really enjoyed it. The lectures were really interesting and I looked forward to them every time. Professor Heim really is passionate about this class and he gets you excited about it too. He really opens you up to the world of Russian literature and just literature in general. He is a fantastic lecturer, and gives a very comprehensive view of the novels which allows you to understand all the aspects of the novels. Whenever I went to office hours, he was always very welcoming and willing to discuss any questions or ideas about not just the course, but Russian history, literature or Russia in general. He is also very willing to help with essay writing. As for workload, there is a lot of reading and writing (Yes you are supposed to read War and Peace). There are 4 essays in total on the books you're supposed to read. You get to rewrite each essay. The essay grades are reasonable, and you are bound to improve your grade when you do the rewrite (he takes the average of both grades). Also, it's good to go talk to the TAs after you get your first draft back because they will give you the advice you need to do a better rewrite. The midterm and final are the same format, with ID passages and essays. You even get to rewrite the midterm. I did all of the reading, didn't finish War and Peace and still did fine in the course. As long as you take notes and pay attention to the passages he analyzes from the books and how he analyzes them, you will do fine in the midterm and final. Professor Heim is a kind and knowledgeable professor. His love for his work and students really teaches students how to appreciate literature and see the world in a new way. He really is amazing to listen and talk to. I really recommend taking a class with him during your time at UCLA.
Most Helpful Review
I actually am taking History M127A, or Russian M118, it didn't let me submit the review without selecting Slavic 599 for some reason. For the most part, I disagree with the bad reviews below. First of all, I have taken lots of notes and done all the readings, and I easily got an A on the midterm with very little studying. Furthermore, I COULD HAVE easily gotten an A on it if I had done NONE of the readings, but just gone to lecture. She basically tells you that everything in the textbook is false, and she gives detailed lectures that are hard to keep up with, but she emphasises the most important stuff for the tests over, and over, and over. Any difficult names or dates she wants you to remember, she writes on the board, and it's really not that much...especially after taking Russian 90 (intro to Russ civilization) with the nightmare Professor Klenin, this class is a piece of cake, and it's actually interesting if you care about Russia at all. She tries to relate stuff from medieval Russia to both the Soviet historians and current events in Russia. Professor Lenhoff absolutely DOES take questions in the middle of her lectures, even in the middle of her sentences usually if she sees you. She will learn your name quickly if you ask questions, and she will like you as long as you do ask something here or there. She answers emails. She doesn't give study guides anymore, but you REALLY don't need them if you've listened to her lectures. If you know anything about the period, you have an advantage, so I guess I'm biased in that sense. Either way, although she tends to speak too quietly and it's not always enthralling if you don't like Russian History, an A is definitely within reach. All you need to do is read the primary sources, which seems hard but they're really short, and you can easily just skip the long textbook info if you go to class and don't sleep while you're there.
I actually am taking History M127A, or Russian M118, it didn't let me submit the review without selecting Slavic 599 for some reason. For the most part, I disagree with the bad reviews below. First of all, I have taken lots of notes and done all the readings, and I easily got an A on the midterm with very little studying. Furthermore, I COULD HAVE easily gotten an A on it if I had done NONE of the readings, but just gone to lecture. She basically tells you that everything in the textbook is false, and she gives detailed lectures that are hard to keep up with, but she emphasises the most important stuff for the tests over, and over, and over. Any difficult names or dates she wants you to remember, she writes on the board, and it's really not that much...especially after taking Russian 90 (intro to Russ civilization) with the nightmare Professor Klenin, this class is a piece of cake, and it's actually interesting if you care about Russia at all. She tries to relate stuff from medieval Russia to both the Soviet historians and current events in Russia. Professor Lenhoff absolutely DOES take questions in the middle of her lectures, even in the middle of her sentences usually if she sees you. She will learn your name quickly if you ask questions, and she will like you as long as you do ask something here or there. She answers emails. She doesn't give study guides anymore, but you REALLY don't need them if you've listened to her lectures. If you know anything about the period, you have an advantage, so I guess I'm biased in that sense. Either way, although she tends to speak too quietly and it's not always enthralling if you don't like Russian History, an A is definitely within reach. All you need to do is read the primary sources, which seems hard but they're really short, and you can easily just skip the long textbook info if you go to class and don't sleep while you're there.
AD
Most Helpful Review
Course taken was actually Music History 94: Music & Internet I was a little apprehensive about this class before I took it because it was new, but I thought the subject was extremely interesting so I decided to take it. It ended up being a grade decision. The lectures were all very interesting, and ranged from the history of the music industry to online websites like Pandora and Spotify that are used to stream music. The grading/work was also easy: 1 five page midterm (40% of grade), 1 five - seven page final (50% of grade), and the last 10% of grade based on discussion section participation/attendance. Also, don't buy the books. They were interesting, but you never need to use them for anything.
Course taken was actually Music History 94: Music & Internet I was a little apprehensive about this class before I took it because it was new, but I thought the subject was extremely interesting so I decided to take it. It ended up being a grade decision. The lectures were all very interesting, and ranged from the history of the music industry to online websites like Pandora and Spotify that are used to stream music. The grading/work was also easy: 1 five page midterm (40% of grade), 1 five - seven page final (50% of grade), and the last 10% of grade based on discussion section participation/attendance. Also, don't buy the books. They were interesting, but you never need to use them for anything.
1 of 1
