Professor
Richard von Glahn
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Most Helpful Review
Winter 2017 - I took this class thinking that it would be interesting since it’s about Chinese youth through the last century and my parents are a part of that. The main work consists of some readings he assigns that are linked on the class website for every class and these usually can be done in an hour or two. Some of them are interesting and some of them are not, but you don’t really have to do the readings because whether you pass the class depends only on if you go to class or not (he allows one absence). He take attendance at the beginning of class and if you show up a couple minutes late, that’s fine because you can just go to him at the end of class. Class time involves discussion of the readings but a lot of the time, the professor will ask a question and no one will answer and everyone will just sit in awkward silence and wait. And wait. Until someone is brave enough to speak. But he doesn’t really care what you do in class so most people just sit in the back and go on their laptops or phones. I’d say the professor is overall alright. He’s pretty passionate and knowledgeable about Chinese history but he doesn’t try to actively engage the people in class. Overall, this class is an easy pass but it’s not that interesting.
Winter 2017 - I took this class thinking that it would be interesting since it’s about Chinese youth through the last century and my parents are a part of that. The main work consists of some readings he assigns that are linked on the class website for every class and these usually can be done in an hour or two. Some of them are interesting and some of them are not, but you don’t really have to do the readings because whether you pass the class depends only on if you go to class or not (he allows one absence). He take attendance at the beginning of class and if you show up a couple minutes late, that’s fine because you can just go to him at the end of class. Class time involves discussion of the readings but a lot of the time, the professor will ask a question and no one will answer and everyone will just sit in awkward silence and wait. And wait. Until someone is brave enough to speak. But he doesn’t really care what you do in class so most people just sit in the back and go on their laptops or phones. I’d say the professor is overall alright. He’s pretty passionate and knowledgeable about Chinese history but he doesn’t try to actively engage the people in class. Overall, this class is an easy pass but it’s not that interesting.
Most Helpful Review
Von Glahn is an allright kind of guy. Of course you have to watch out for your TA because mine was a real nut. I thin that Von Glahn keeps it short and sweet in his lectures but tends to go off topic. Try to go to class because his slides are not the material he wants you to know they are just catalysts for conversation.
Von Glahn is an allright kind of guy. Of course you have to watch out for your TA because mine was a real nut. I thin that Von Glahn keeps it short and sweet in his lectures but tends to go off topic. Try to go to class because his slides are not the material he wants you to know they are just catalysts for conversation.
Most Helpful Review
As a history major focusing on the history of the United States, I was very nervous going into this course. Not only had I not taken a world history course since my sophomore year of high school, I don’t think any of my courses have ever gone as far back as 500. That being said, Von Glahn is an amazing professor. Sure, he has very high standards and packs what could be a week’s worth of material into a 50-minute lecture, but he also makes himself available and willing to help students. Go to his office hours—he answers all of your questions and is extremely friendly! His exams are fair—he releases a study guide with topics that you should focus on, and everything on the exams is in some way related to those topics. Pay attention to his lectures, especially the last two minutes, as that is where he ties everything together and makes his “thesis statement” for the day. Overall, I came out of the class a lot more interested in world history than I came in, and I owe that almost completely to Von Glahn. By no means an “easy” A, but if you’re willing to put in the time to read and think critically, you’ll learn a lot and have the opportunity to receive a decent grade.
As a history major focusing on the history of the United States, I was very nervous going into this course. Not only had I not taken a world history course since my sophomore year of high school, I don’t think any of my courses have ever gone as far back as 500. That being said, Von Glahn is an amazing professor. Sure, he has very high standards and packs what could be a week’s worth of material into a 50-minute lecture, but he also makes himself available and willing to help students. Go to his office hours—he answers all of your questions and is extremely friendly! His exams are fair—he releases a study guide with topics that you should focus on, and everything on the exams is in some way related to those topics. Pay attention to his lectures, especially the last two minutes, as that is where he ties everything together and makes his “thesis statement” for the day. Overall, I came out of the class a lot more interested in world history than I came in, and I owe that almost completely to Von Glahn. By no means an “easy” A, but if you’re willing to put in the time to read and think critically, you’ll learn a lot and have the opportunity to receive a decent grade.
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Most Helpful Review
Spring 2022 - Prof. Von Glahn is great! The class can certainly get a little boring at times, considering how long it is and the material is so foreign to most students. But, he tries his best to make it fun. He's also reasonable with the assignments and flexible with deadlines. I would recommend doing ~90% of the readings, taking some notes to participate in the discussions, writing your essays with clarity and substance, and asking him for help. My most important tip is to take a coffee/matcha/yerba mate to his class and you'll be able to function fine.
Spring 2022 - Prof. Von Glahn is great! The class can certainly get a little boring at times, considering how long it is and the material is so foreign to most students. But, he tries his best to make it fun. He's also reasonable with the assignments and flexible with deadlines. I would recommend doing ~90% of the readings, taking some notes to participate in the discussions, writing your essays with clarity and substance, and asking him for help. My most important tip is to take a coffee/matcha/yerba mate to his class and you'll be able to function fine.
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