GoldFirst Year Seminar
Departments: First-Year Seminars
Professors: Mindy Aloff, Christine Cynn, David Helfand, John Pagano, and Anne Prescott
February 24, 2010
Prescott, Anne 
First Year Seminar
I know that everyone loves Professor Prescott, but I'm taking her class this semester and am having an entirely different sort of experience. Professor Prescott clearly knows a lot, but unless you want to spend class hearing about all of the obscure poetry that she's memorized, and all of the background information that she's accumulated, then you'll find her class terribly boring. We have hardly talked about the text at all--but I do know something about Galileo now. Completely irrelevant. Also, if you're under the impression that this class is a seminar, you're incorrect. She talks at you all class without asking for your opinions or input.
As far as papers go, she assigns a lot of them, and she gives you bad grades if she doesn't agree with your thesis. Also, don't try to write a paper that analyzes the conflicts/tensions in a book that aren't explicitly mentioned in the text. You're much better off writing a traditional "content versus form" paper, since it's the only thing she seems to appreciate.
I don't deny that she knows a great deal, but I find it very difficult to deal with her arrogant name-dropping, sweeping generalizations, and condescending attitude. I just wanted to make sure that people on this site saw that some people have a different opinion, since I chose this seminar based on CULPA reviews and was sorely disappointed in the result.
Papers on every work we read. Length varies, and deadlines tend to be loose.
May 07, 2007
Prescott, Anne
First Year Seminar
Professor Prescott is a brilliant woman. She is funny, personable and down-to-earth. She knows everything there is to know about the author and history behind each piece, adding extra depth and little anecdotes that can be entertaining. She critiqued my writing all semester, and as much as it was frustrating that my grades weren't stellar, her comments and suggestions have much improved my work. She's also really lenient about handing in papers on time. If you're a first-year, she's teaching Legacy, and you genuinely want to improve your writing, take her class, but don't expect A's.
One book every two weeks or so. Moderate. Three analytical essays, one creative piece.
June 10, 2005
Cynn, Christine
First Year Seminar
Please keep in mind that this review is more than 5 years old.
Aside from being a cruel hypocrite, she's damned BORING! Claims she enforces all rules of the syllabus and will fail you at the strike of the clock but then lets certain students show up late every day, turn in papers a week late, and basically do whatever they want. Clearly an intelligent scholar, except, she never shares any of her knowledge with the students struggling to make the required number of comments per discussion. In short, a rude, cold woman with little interest in the education of anyone but herself.
not demanding. just boring.
November 11, 2004
Helfand, David
First Year Seminar
Please keep in mind that this review is more than 5 years old.
This guy is AWESOME. He conceived of the whole Frontiers of Science idea in the first place, and I was blessed to have him as my seminar leader. He genuinely cares about his class, encourages thinking and is one of those science guys who can explain his thoughts in English, not metaphysical psychobabble. It's been my favourite class this semester, and I definitely recommend taking any of his other classes if not Frontiers...just for the way he teaches, if nothing else
As the other reviews said, Professor Aloff is a little out there. But she's really dedicated to the work that she's teaching.
She wants you to know all about it and really understand what the literature trying to teach you (even if you don't go over it in class that much!) Not a great teacher, but a really sweet lady.
Professor Aloff's class has been one of the biggest wastes of time in my educational career. Admittedly, English is not her department (she's from Dance), though the fact that she is teaching an English course would imply that she knows something about literature. Professor Aloff is flakey and spacey, ignoring the class's initial syllabus in favor of day-to-day assignments, most of which never get discussed. As a course based around writing, we were offhandedly assigned only two essays and a final paper. This class has assisted in the degeneration of my writing ability, not to mention the millions of brain cells I must have lost by sitting through her classes.
Lots of reading that never gets discussed. Two short papers and a longer one, none of which she seems to take very seriously.
April 04, 2002
Pagano, John
First Year Seminar
Please keep in mind that this review is more than 5 years old.
I really liked Prof. Pagano's class. He really cares about what you have to say and is usually great about keeping a conversation going. If you love analyzing literature but hate professors telling you you're worng all the time - this is the class for you. If you are not and English buff and don't like contributing in classroom discussions - beware - Prof. Pagano has a tendency to call on the people who never speak in class. (But that's fine because whatever you say he listens to and respects as your opinion). He will learn you're name and notice when you are abscent. Over all - it was my most enjoyable class this semester!!
Not bad - 3 short papers and one "long" ten page paper with some research. He is a fair grader and is easy to meet with and sometimes flezxible with due dates.
Directory Data
| Dept/Subj | Directory Course | Professor | Year | Semester | Time | Section |
|---|