Columbia College Core · Columbia University
30% participation, 15% paper 1, 20% paper 2, 15% final project, 20% final exam. Compared to other lithum courses, she is lenient and understanding of our time. There is a significant amount of reading each class (but that is just a given of this course, which she cannot control), but there are no other homework assignments besides the papers, which there are only 2. She gives the essay prompts very early on so you have a lot of time to work on it (around 3 weeks in advance) and go to her during office hours to discuss any questions about the assignments. No midterm!!! and a final project (which is just making a mock final exam) that is super useful practice because it forces you to think of important quotes and key plot points from each book. Once you make the mock final exam, you get access to everyone else's, so you have a lot of practice material for the final.
from 2024 fall syllabus: Class participation and preparation. 15% of your final grade. In order to get passing marks on this assignment, you will need to offer a comment or question to the discussion at least 4 times this semester. Beyond this minimum requirement, excellent class participation is less about quantity than quality: take notes as you read; arrive on time with the reading in hand; ground your remarks in textual observation; try to listen and respond to others as much as you initiate new lines of thought. Paper 1: Close reading similes and metaphors. 15% of your final grade. A short paper (2-3 pp.) in which you perform a close reading of no more than ten lines from a text. Paper 2: Critical analysis paper. 20% of your final grade. A longer paper (5-6 pp) in which you produce an argument about one or two texts from a set of two or more close readings; this may involve two different translations of the same text. You may use your close reading exercise as a draft or partial template, but this paper must read at least one new passage. Midterm. 15% of your final grade. We will go over the format of the exams more extensively in class, but in brief, both the midterm and final will include (1) several passage identifications; (2) a short passage analysis; (3) a synthetic essay that cites 2-3 texts. Final project. 20% of your final grade. Study guide (6-8pp) for the final…
Typically 2 essay/projects a semester alongside the readings. Free writes each class that are not graded.
Such a kind and understanding professor! Thankfully, the only homeworks are the readings---no discussion posts or anything unnecessary. She is very respectful of our time. Classes are just class discussions (with occasional activities), but these discussions tend to be interesting. She prepares slideshows to aid discussion and help guide our thinking, and the passages we talk about are important for the final. Take notes in class and listen because the passages she points out are key for the final! She also provides great essay feedback and is readily available during office hours. Honestly one of the best Lithum professors.
LitHum with Emma was good. Didn't love the class as it was from 4-6 but not very hard, not as much weight on midterm (take-home) and final as the 2 take home essays we were assigned. Discussions were a little slow and sometimes painstaking as she is not the best lecturer, but is very kind and is always willing to help if you want to discuss essay ideas/exam/falling behind etc. The class wasn't lifechanging but not the worst experience. She encourages participation though it is weighed only 15% and the more you participate the better the class will probably be
Amazing professor. Very kind, knowledgable, open-minded, lenient with extensions, and more. Cannot say enough about her- she is great.
No additional hw besides readings, essays, midterm/final. Hrs/week depend on book. DO NOT GET BEHIND ON THE READINGS.
What an amazing professor. She is dedicated, kind, and truly cares about her students. I felt very supported by her. She's also a very fair grader, which was amazing. I wouldn't say she's the best lecturer (it can be a bit monotonous), but if you're looking to not be stressed out by Lithum, this is the best choice. She is a great communicator, grades in reasonable time frames, and is generally very kind.
Three essays per semester, regular grading.
Emma is a wonderful professor. She is generous and laid back, and the times I have gone to her office hours she was genuinely interested in my essays and wanting to help me refine them. I think she's one of the best lithum professors.