POLS W3962

Paper proposal, 3-5 page "research note" (detailed paper proposal), 1-2 class presentations on readings, 30 pages research paper. I'm pretty sure participation factors into the final grades more than she lets on.

This is not the professor you want if you tend to blow off the readings, go into class unprepared and talk about whatever you feel like. Prof. Schilling has a zero tolerence for BS and has no qualms about humiliating you if you dare try to BS in his class. So if you are a career BSer do not take this class! On the other hand if you want to learn something about war and are an intelligent person who thinks before they speak definitely sign up. Prof. Schilling is a veteran himself and brings a first hand feel to the material. He also really knows his stuff and cares about you knowing it. Go to see him in office hours for questions and he will spend alot of time with you. Once you get past the admittedly intimidating exterior at first, he's a pretty cool guy.

Weekly readings (which you are not tested on. Just skim through them), seminar paper, two 3-5 page summaries of reading assingments, 2-3 page review of somebody else's paper.

Only one paper, don't know how it is graded

Typical amount of readings (approx. 60 pages), 25-page final paper.

One midterm, one presentation, one STATA assignment (he's not strict about this one; he just wants to familiarize you with the program); one final paper on any contentious political issue.

1 paper, 25-30 pages (and one rough draft due along the way). 1 30min presentation to the class about your paper. 1 page critique of each classmate's paper due on the day that they present. Pretty standard seminar stuff.

Take this class. You will come out of it with much more knowledge about foreign policy and decision-making processes, not to mention an appx. 30-35 page paper under your belt. It feels damn good. Was the reading mundane? No. Was it unnecessary (inasmuch as it contributed to your paper or grade)? Generally. Was Prof. Farnham incompetent? Not at all. Did the class drag on? Absolutely. Do you have to keep up with all of the readings? No. Do you end up learning more about political psychology than international relations? Debatable. Very, very debatable. Overall, I think it was worth it. She's older than some but very intelligent and helpful when you seek out her advice. Pick a topic that you have GENUINE academic interest in; the paper will then feel like an adventure instead of a burden. And please, for the love of God, don't start it two weeks before it's due. Bad idea.

the Seminar paper, max 35 pages, but 25 will do

I completely disagree with the previous review. Pablo Pinto is a charming man and he deserves a credit just for keeping me awake at 9 in the morning. I would say that if you are Poli Sci major who is interested in Econ as well, this Seminar is your best option. Readings, despite being dense should not take you long. The key is not to read everything but to know basic points and methods about each article. You would never be tested on them, but it is important that you have something to say in class (participation=25%!) Its too early into semester to judge his grading, but considering his comments on my first paper, I DO NOT EXPECT HIM TO BE THAT HARSH. He grades fairly and you get what you deserve. The best part is coming to his office hours and I suggest you take advantage of it. It makes a huge difference to get to know him as a person since he looks much tougher in class than he really is. He is rather kind and warm. Just go and see for yourself. And make sure to check out the pics of his family. He has a beautiful wife and his kids are really cute. Last, but not least, Professor Pinto is very intelligent, and if you pay attention in class, you will definitely learn alot from his remarks.