My second semester in NUS was a tad more smooth-sailing than my first. Other than my UTown module which completely wrecked me throughout the sem, but I still got a grade better than expected in the end.
Want to know how my modules went? Read on.
1. FAS1102
Compulsory module for all FASS students. Most found it a pain in the ass, but I thought that it was pretty therapeutic to complete brainless assignments. I would say that it is a module that you can get a decent grade without putting in much effort. No readings no finals. People just hate it for its workload- there is an assignment due every tutorial at the first half of the semester. You would want to stay on track with the deadlines, though. The final 2 assignments are due during reading week (the week before finals) which can penalise your own self-studying time.
Choose the right project partners. Most of the assignments required me to communicate with my project partners who turned out to be pretty okay. We had to present on our last tutorial- thought that we did well, but our results came back otherwise. Oh well.
Summary
Workload: Heavy
Difficulty: Easy
Grade: As expected
2. SC2101
Seniors said that this module's a great burden. But I actually enjoyed it quite a bit! Dr Feng (our main lecturer) was quite the funny guy. Candid yet straight to the point- just the way I like it. He prepares us for the exam, a lot of it in lectures. The best advice I can give you is: attend his lectures.
Tutorials were intense, as we had to turn in an assignment for each tutorial attended. And during tutorials, the tutor would prepare us for the next assignment due next tutorial. A fixed template would be provided so just follow it, the markers would appreciate it.
Found finals pretty manageable, especially if you caught all the hints Dr Feng dropped during lectures. No readings for this module, and don't bother getting the textbook, as everything tested is covered in lecture.
Summary
Workload: Medium
Difficulty: Medium
Grade: As expected
3. SC2220
Gender Studies. I was truly interested in the topic as I am a FULL-TIME FEMINIST. Thank you.
Dr Adelyn pieced her lectures like stories. I loved it. But it didn't prepare me well for Mid-terms/finals. I had to pick out the main points myself. It wasn't tough doing so, though. She repeats the points every so often. It's just that after the week 8 mark, nothing she said in the lectures were new (or shockingly unheard of) anymore. I still enjoyed the remaining lectures, but when preparing for finals, I could not pinpoint what's new/wasn't tested in mid-terms.
Apart from that, we have a presentation to be done in one of the tutorials. A different group will present each tutorial, based on the topics discussed in lectures and readings. Didn't prepare much, as they don't grade you based on your articulation/aesthetics but rather the content.
Mid-terms and finals were horrific, as they were essay based and despite being a sociology major, I absolutely detest writing open essays. Maybe that's why I enjoyed the assignments given in SC2101 a lot more. I thought I would flunk this module thanks to the final paper which I gave up and walked out half way. Maybe many did, too. Thus my decent final result.
I want to emphasise the importance of readings for this module. Try to identify the readings that prof refers to the most, analyse the main points and be damn sure that you are able to cite the correct concepts from these readings. I know the readings can be slightly overwhelming and taxing, but really, just learn how to pick out the right ones to do an in-depth analysis on.
Summary
Workload: Medium
Difficulty: Medium
Grade: Better than expected
4. NM1101E
Ahhhh. Took this mod just for fun, which didn't turn out fun at all! Many took it (guilty as charged) because it's a slack mod => extremely high and narrow bell-curve.
Firstly, read the textbook. The lecturers would just briefly touch on the main points, but never the details, which the papers test on. Lectures were dry and slow paced, so I could afford to miss a couple while still being able to catch up in tutorials.
Tutorials were a bore. Most of the time we would be working on our project which was due in LATE READING WEEK. Like, r u kidding mii? What a waste of time. Especially when you have a group member producing work that is not only late, but LOUSY. Fuck me.
Mid-terms and finals were MCQ thus the insane bell-curve. Ahhh, I gave up studying for it anyway, as it is the morning after my SC2101 paper. Priorities, right?
Summary
Workload: Light
Difficulty: Easy
Grade: Lower than expected
5. A UTown module that destroyed my morale if anything.
So yes, that is it. Another semester flying by. Got my results this morning and wanted to update this blog asap, while I still remember parts of this semester. Year one wasn't easy, but it wasn't crippling either. I appreciate the grade-free year, allowing me to SU NM1101E as well as SW1101E without any opportunity costs. And for now, just gonna enjoy summer man. Year two is gonna be hectic af, judging by the modules I intend to take. Wish me luck and I'll reciprocate.
Signing off.
-J
Want to know how my modules went? Read on.
1. FAS1102
Compulsory module for all FASS students. Most found it a pain in the ass, but I thought that it was pretty therapeutic to complete brainless assignments. I would say that it is a module that you can get a decent grade without putting in much effort. No readings no finals. People just hate it for its workload- there is an assignment due every tutorial at the first half of the semester. You would want to stay on track with the deadlines, though. The final 2 assignments are due during reading week (the week before finals) which can penalise your own self-studying time.
Choose the right project partners. Most of the assignments required me to communicate with my project partners who turned out to be pretty okay. We had to present on our last tutorial- thought that we did well, but our results came back otherwise. Oh well.
Summary
Workload: Heavy
Difficulty: Easy
Grade: As expected
2. SC2101
Seniors said that this module's a great burden. But I actually enjoyed it quite a bit! Dr Feng (our main lecturer) was quite the funny guy. Candid yet straight to the point- just the way I like it. He prepares us for the exam, a lot of it in lectures. The best advice I can give you is: attend his lectures.
Tutorials were intense, as we had to turn in an assignment for each tutorial attended. And during tutorials, the tutor would prepare us for the next assignment due next tutorial. A fixed template would be provided so just follow it, the markers would appreciate it.
Found finals pretty manageable, especially if you caught all the hints Dr Feng dropped during lectures. No readings for this module, and don't bother getting the textbook, as everything tested is covered in lecture.
Summary
Workload: Medium
Difficulty: Medium
Grade: As expected
3. SC2220
Gender Studies. I was truly interested in the topic as I am a FULL-TIME FEMINIST. Thank you.
Dr Adelyn pieced her lectures like stories. I loved it. But it didn't prepare me well for Mid-terms/finals. I had to pick out the main points myself. It wasn't tough doing so, though. She repeats the points every so often. It's just that after the week 8 mark, nothing she said in the lectures were new (or shockingly unheard of) anymore. I still enjoyed the remaining lectures, but when preparing for finals, I could not pinpoint what's new/wasn't tested in mid-terms.
Apart from that, we have a presentation to be done in one of the tutorials. A different group will present each tutorial, based on the topics discussed in lectures and readings. Didn't prepare much, as they don't grade you based on your articulation/aesthetics but rather the content.
Mid-terms and finals were horrific, as they were essay based and despite being a sociology major, I absolutely detest writing open essays. Maybe that's why I enjoyed the assignments given in SC2101 a lot more. I thought I would flunk this module thanks to the final paper which I gave up and walked out half way. Maybe many did, too. Thus my decent final result.
I want to emphasise the importance of readings for this module. Try to identify the readings that prof refers to the most, analyse the main points and be damn sure that you are able to cite the correct concepts from these readings. I know the readings can be slightly overwhelming and taxing, but really, just learn how to pick out the right ones to do an in-depth analysis on.
Summary
Workload: Medium
Difficulty: Medium
Grade: Better than expected
4. NM1101E
Ahhhh. Took this mod just for fun, which didn't turn out fun at all! Many took it (guilty as charged) because it's a slack mod => extremely high and narrow bell-curve.
Firstly, read the textbook. The lecturers would just briefly touch on the main points, but never the details, which the papers test on. Lectures were dry and slow paced, so I could afford to miss a couple while still being able to catch up in tutorials.
Tutorials were a bore. Most of the time we would be working on our project which was due in LATE READING WEEK. Like, r u kidding mii? What a waste of time. Especially when you have a group member producing work that is not only late, but LOUSY. Fuck me.
Mid-terms and finals were MCQ thus the insane bell-curve. Ahhh, I gave up studying for it anyway, as it is the morning after my SC2101 paper. Priorities, right?
Summary
Workload: Light
Difficulty: Easy
Grade: Lower than expected
5. A UTown module that destroyed my morale if anything.
So yes, that is it. Another semester flying by. Got my results this morning and wanted to update this blog asap, while I still remember parts of this semester. Year one wasn't easy, but it wasn't crippling either. I appreciate the grade-free year, allowing me to SU NM1101E as well as SW1101E without any opportunity costs. And for now, just gonna enjoy summer man. Year two is gonna be hectic af, judging by the modules I intend to take. Wish me luck and I'll reciprocate.
Signing off.
-J
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