The workload for this class is intense and overwhelming. You do have to buy a textbook. Participation and attendance in the discussion sections are vital. Overall, if you have a lot going on in your life, this class is gonna be hard to manage. You have a series of lectures (3-6), quizzes (2-3), discussions, long readings, AND reading responses that make you quote each reading in one module/per week. Plus, you have to prepare to answer additional questions during the discussion sections. I like the lectures because they are clear and to the point, but this class would benefit from reduced assignments.

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This class is pure memorization. Professor Sayeed does not allow electronics, so no computers or iPads , but if you're a good notetaker and complete the study guides before each quiz, then you'll do really well. The course does not have a final -- only 3 quizzes and a final paper at the end which was pretty easy. Try to get Mohsin Ali as a TA. He's great, and if you send him answers to the discussion questions before your section that week, he gives you extra credit for participation (participation is about 20% of your final grade). Mohsin's office hours are very helpful, and he'll basically go over the quiz study guides with you (both the key terms and the short answer prompts). The quizzes are multiple choice and short answer, but there's an extra credit opportunity to receive 3-5 more points on a quiz if you attend an event with a guest speaker, and all you have to do is show up and sign in. This course does require a good amount of effort; Professor Sayeed's lectures are a bit dry, and she only has few slides each lecture but says a lot about each one; however, if you're willing to take good notes and memorize terms for a quiz, you'll succeed. There was one super easy pop quiz in lecture about the material we learned in that class period, so just go to class!