For people expecting a more linguistics type class with some interesting computational elements and cool coding projects, this is not it.

You will use Haskell the entire class, so prior knowledge of functional programming (CS131) is a HUGE advantage. It also spends quite a bit of time on Finite State Automaton and context free grammars, so taking CS181 before would probably help too.

Grade is made up of 70% homework, 20% final coding project and 10% pop quizzes. This class is not easy and homework may leave you frustrated, do not take this lightly.

This class is super easy, I personally enjoyed it even more than ling 1! Lectures are boring but SUPER well-organized. He posts his lecture slides before lecture so you can just jot down notes on top of the slides during the lecture. The slides themselves are so well designed that you won't even need to take notes at all to be honest. Exams are exactly like the homework assignments, which are all of reasonable difficulty. I really enjoyed the homework problems because they require analysis/technical skills rather than rote memorization of terms.

I took this class as a GE, but now I think I wanna get into linguistics more! Professor Poole was super clear in lectures (his slides were amazing), and there were no weird curve balls in the homeworks or on the exams. He does examples in class and gives a lot of extra practice material, which appears in a very similar format on the hws/exams. He was also very approachable in terms of asking questions, which was nice as well. Would definitely recommend this class and the professor!

Class was understandable and homework was easy because everything you learn in class is reflected on the assignments and you get points back on homework from going to discussion. Although, he is not helpful when I reached out and will tell you that you should know the content already and his exams were absolutely nothing like his practice exams. Like nothing....probably 30% of the practice exam reflected the final.

Ethan is an amazing instructor for Ling 120B. He designs the course so you feel like you are "discovering" syntax, exploring possible frameworks and selecting the "optimal" one based on real evidence. I've found that this approach allows students to gain a truly strong understanding of the abstract theoretical concepts covered in the class. Additionally, he goes out of his way to be understanding during difficult times and offer help when needed. If you have to take Ling 120B, take it with Ethan!

Grateful to have had Ethan for LING120C, and learned a lot in his class.

Lectures are structured in a "follow along" way with handouts for almost every class. Although some parts of lecture are reading/copying from this worksheet, the fill-in-the-blank/complete derivation sections are super helpful and are great resources for completing homework and studying.
There are weekly homework assignments based on the previous weeks lecture material, and Ethan/TAs are very helpful in clearing up any ambiguities and offering small hints. Homework is worth 60% of your grade but can be easy points with your lecture worksheets for reference and optional homework partner.
The exams are open note (see how the worksheets can be helpful) and open book; I found the exams to be extremely fair with one or two challenge portions to test if you can apply the material. The midterm and final exam are each worth 20% of your grade.

Overall, I would definitely recommend taking a course with Ethan due to the fact that he puts in the time to structure the material in a clear and digestible fashion.

Syntax 1 with Poole is a great class, it is definitely not a cake walk by any means, but you have the support and attention from TAs and Poole when you need help and clarification. (Grade was low due to outside circumstances during the quarter). The second half of the class is the harder section that will make or break grades, so stay alert and make sure you understand the material each week.

The material in this class is dry. However, Poole is a helpful professor during office hours. He is patient to explain and guide you to the answers. He provides handout notes in class so students don't have to print out anything. I like his sense of humor. Sometimes it helps during a boring lecture. Things in class usually don't make sense to you until you do the homework. The test (open-book) is challenging, in my opinion.

Compared to Ling 20, this class was definitely a step up as there is more emphasis on analysis rather than memorizing facts and rules. Also, the content keeps building upon itself throughout the quarter, so it's good to make sure you know what's going on as you go, because it'll get more confusing later. It definitely helps that Professor Poole is very organized and clear in lectures, and his handouts are a lifesaver

Honestly, I’m so thankful to have taken Ethan for Syntax I. To be completely honest, both the content of Syntax and Ethan himself can feel a little intimidating at first. When I was first learning the material or wanted to ask a question, I was nervous, since Ethan clearly knows the subject extremely well. But I strongly encourage you to push past that hesitation. After I hit a roadblock in the class, Ethan personally reached out to me after noticing a low exam grade, which led to a great conversation during office hours and a turning point in my experience with the course.
He provides helpful handouts that explain the material covered in the lecture, and I highly recommend following along with them as he teaches. The content can feel very overwhelming in the beginning, but paying close attention during class will help a lot.
One of the most overlooked resources in the course is his worksheets. These are introduced in discussion sections, but there usually isn’t enough time to finish them during the session. I highly recommend doing them on your own each week before the homework, and especially before exams. These worksheets are excellent for practice, and while Ethan does provide an exam study guide, the worksheets often cover the extra material some students tend to miss. They really help tie things together and are especially useful when you’re trying to get comfortable with the trees.
Syntax is a course that builds on itself week by week. It’s important to stay on top of the material, which is why I keep emphasizing how useful the worksheets are. When Ethan says to reach out if you need help, he really means it. He is responsive, patient, and genuinely wants students to succeed. I asked plenty of questions I felt like I should already know, and he always helped clarify without making me feel bad. He listens, and he’s supportive.
If you stay caught up, practice consistently, and take the time to understand how everything connects, you will do well. Homework is manageable if you keep up with the lectures and discussions. Going to sections can also give you small grade boosts, especially if you make the effort to gain points back. I also recommend coming in with specific questions. Syntax can be confusing, but when you know what you’re stuck on, both Ethan and the TAs give really helpful feedback.
Exams are open note, so I suggest bringing your completed homework, the handouts, and your own versions of the worksheets (not just the answer keys). The syntax tree questions may look intimidating at first, but they are always based on patterns and structures you have already seen. Once you get the trees down, the harder part becomes the theory and analysis questions. If anything is unclear, ask about it beforehand. I wish I had done that more.
Last tip, try not to turn in homework late or after class. Ethan seems to value punctuality, especially when it comes to discussion attendance and assignment deadlines, so be considerate with that.