<p>Does anyone have a FWS they really enjoyed or at least found to be an easy class that they would recommend?</p>
<p>I would first suggest you make a list of classes you are planning to take. Based on those classes / possible times you find that only FWS offered at certain times are compatible with your schedule. When the catalog of possible FWS is available (if it isn’t already) I would go through that catalog and make a list of the ones that appeal to you. Then you can cast your ballot accordingly. </p>
<p>I took one in the philosophy department that I enjoyed, so don’t feel restricted when you choose your FWS, be open to branching out to departments you probably will never take another class in. What one person finds easy / enjoys might not apply to you. There is a stigma that FWS offered in the English department are generally the most work and give the lowest mean grade. This may be true, but I wouldn’t let it dissuade you from taking one in the English department. I had a friend who took ‘Mystery in Story’ and he really enjoyed it.</p>
<p>FWS are variable. They are usually taught by TA’s and departments change what they offer from year to year. By reputation, English FWS are the most challenging. I also am a supporter of using it to “branch out.” I ended up getting my third choice class in the Government Department where the class was actually taught by a professor (but it was his first class as a professor since he was new). Yada yada yada, he ends up being my advisor to the Government major I never planned on pursuing. Keep in mind, of the APs my high school offered, I didn’t take 2: AP Government was one of them.</p>
<p>How do you find out which department offers a certain seminar? Is the Tolkien one in the English department, or is it history? Taking a whole course in Tolkien would be like my dream (as far as liberal arts courses go), but I’d rather get a GPA boost in a boring class than take a fun class and do badly…</p>
<p>Does anyone know?</p>
<p>You will be able to see which department is teaching the class. Take a look at previous year’s offerings for a sample. Or wait patiently for the new ones to come out. My son took one that was through the Philosophy department. He is a Math and Philosophy major and that class will count towards his major, too. Just a nice bonus. He didn’t know that when he chose it (it wasn’t his top choice, either). He really enjoyed it: Philosophy 1112, God, Death, Morality and the Meaning of Life. </p>
<p>Just choose ones that sound interesting. Don’t try so hard to game it. Maybe you’ll love it.</p>
<p>[First-Year</a> Writing Seminars - Knight Institute for Writing in the Disciplines](<a href=“http://www.arts.cornell.edu/knight_institute/fws/fws.htm]First-Year”>http://www.arts.cornell.edu/knight_institute/fws/fws.htm)</p>
<p>Like most people said, your FWS experience mainly stem from your TA. That being said, I still suggest staying away from ENG department FWS’s if English is not your major strong suit. I took one from the english department, and did not enjoy it at all. </p>
<p>Other FWS’s however are may all be good choices. Just pick something that sounds interesting to you and go for it.</p>
<p>I took an English department one and liked it a lot! It was actually easier than the other one I took, which was on Greek Mythology. Really just find one that seems interesting and doesn’t conflict with your other classes you need - like everyone else is saying, it’s all up to the TA how the class goes. If you find that you really don’t like your class after the first day or so, you can always switch out.</p>
<p>If Dorit Abusch or something like that is teaching one you should take it. Should be in the art department. It’ll sound boring and will be just as boring as it sounds, but you can’t possibly do any worse than an A-. Whatever you do, don’t take one in the English department; they’re impossible. The only reason to take one in that department is if you’re in English/Comm major or are pre-med. Med schools count that as some kind of writing requirement but, even then, try to only take on in that department.</p>
<p>My D took one through the Theatre dept. , she really liked it & it was a relatively easy “A”</p>