Skye Savage

20% participation (trust me, you'll want to participate, even outside of caring about your grade), 20% homework (short analyses of the reading, graded mostly on completion and on whether or not it's clear that you've read and thought about what you've read), 20% passage analysis essays (3 essays, all graded based on your analysis of the passage, not the text, KEEP THAT IN MIND!), 20% midterm and 20% final. Her midterm matches the final really closely (identical in almost every way minus fewer texts to write about).

Typical Lit Hum Workload: Engagement Grade, Weekly Readings (<25 Pages), Weekly Response Questions <150 Paragraphs, 2 Essays (+1 Optional), 1 Midterm, 1 Final 20% - Engagement (attendance, class participation, other in-class exercises) 20% - Weekly Response Questions and other homework assignments 20% - Three Close Readings (4-5 pages each) 20% - Midterm 20% - Final

To paraphrase from a different review I read on CULPA about a different professor, Professor Savage is God's gift to Columbia. This is her first year teaching LitHum, but I wouldn't have guessed that by the way she taught. The course was very discussion-focused, both on our analysis of the text and the history of the text itself. In spite of how much reading we were doing, the constant guiding discussions on themes and different characters helped us stay focused, and I always felt compelled to participate. Mentally and health-wise, this was a really rough semester for me, and the only reason I was consistently coming in to any of my classes Tuesdays and Thursdays was because I knew I wanted to come to LitHum. Aside from just being an extremely fair grader and clearly being passionate about literature, Professor Savage is kind and understanding, even holding extra office hours over Thanksgiving break to review and give personalized feedback to our essays. If you are placed in her LitHum, you have been blessed by the Lord above.

This is Savage's first time teaching Lit Hum, and she defied all my expectations. Coming in from the German Dept. I didn't think she'd be so well versed in Lit Hum history but she came to class always prepared and incredibly knowledgeable. Her teaching style is very welcoming and in class discussions are mostly student-led based on her questions. She's engaging, funny, and all around amazing. You do not have to try very hard to do well in her class. Follows the Lit Hum syllabus almost exactly so there might be easier or more laid back classes than hers. Slow grader but didn't mind at all. Very helpful at her office hours and genuinely interested in your ideas and questions. Overall, an incredible professor and a great choice for Lit Hum.

20% Engagement, 20% Weekly Response Questions (Completion), 20% Close Reading Essays (4-5 pages, 2 required and 1 optional that can't hurt your grade), 20% Midterm, 20% Final.

Skye Savage is the best possible professor you could get for Literature Humanities. She is absolutely incredible. It is her first year teaching the course and she is extremely knowledgeable about all of the texts. She adds so much historical context, background information, and textual information. She also leads class discussions in an engaging, thoughtful, and intentional way. She manages to do this while creating an inclusive class atmosphere where people feel like they can participate as much as they want to. She is great at guiding discussion to important points, and prepared us extremely well for the midterm and final. She is a very generous grader and offers many opportunities and optional assignments to improve your grade. Professor S does take a long time to grade assignments, but it is worth taking her section because she is incredible. If you get Professor Savage, your Columbia experience will already be better than most!

Grading was p standard, make sure to read the books and you'll be good

Prof Savage is an amazing professor! She always brings such positive energy to class and at least in my section we always had great discussions without pressuring everyone to talk or contribute. She gives historical context for each book and has helpful slides as well. 10/10 recommend taking her class. she's also nice when it comes to deadlines and being out sick