<p>I just remember that the books were by Knight, and I'm assuming he hasn't written anything else, so yes. Quite frankly the books suck, but they're what the class uses, so you're stuck with it. I've got all the books, and the student solutions guides as well.</p>
<p>The package for math 51 doesn't include both, but both are required for the course. I have these books as well. When I bought them they didn't include the selected solutions manual, which is what is included in the package. I assume that you can just borrow it from someone if you really need it (~250-300 take the class each quarter, finding someone won't be hard), but pset questions don't come from those anyways, so I doubt it'll be a problem.</p>
<p>Hit me up once you're on campus, it'll be easier then anyways.</p>
<p>I know I'm not in the class of '11, but this may be helpful to rising freshman too...</p>
<p>What are some good, interesting classes that are relatively easy? Anything other than intro sems? I'm planning on taking quantum mechanics in the fall which I expect to pretty much take over my life, so I'd like to find a 3-5 unit class that ideally has a very light workload, a generous grading scale, and actually teaches interesting material. Does this exist? Oh and if it happens to fulfill ethics, global communities, or american studies requirements that would be even better... Thanks!</p>
<p>So I'm looking at the schedule for the classes I'm planning on taking, and
I'm considering four classes right now, but I'll end up with only four depending on whether I take 31x or not. However, if I take Chem31x, the lab seems to begin at 7 PM on Wednesdays, and my SLE discussion that day ends at 7. Will I be able to do this if I speak to my SLE discussion leader, or will this be hard to achieve?</p>
<p>Oh. If I know what you're talking about, that's actually the time that the tests are given (there is no lab for Chem 31X). There will be 2 midterms, I believe. This will probably not be a problem, but talk to your SLE discussion leader AND the chem prof/head TA to make sure you can take chem. For the two tests, you'll probably have to leave SLE discussion a bit early or something like that; I don't think it should be a big deal. They just list the test times as a lab to let you know in advance that tests are not given during class time and that you should try to plan accordingly.</p>
<p>@marlgirl: check the English dept, they have two detective fiction classes that come pretty highly recommended. Also, Asian-American History and African-American history are also cool, as they fulfill American studies and Humanities, and both profs are quite awesome. If you prefer Ethics, check out some of the Phil courses, I was told Phil 171 is kinda poli-sci-ish in its content, covers some interesting material, and that the prof is pretty cool. Also, check out the Religious studies class taught by Prof. Sheehan, although I don't remember if it's fall quarter or not.</p>
<p>marlgirl- Check out Linguistics 1. 4 units, Problem set once a week takes maybe an hour to do tops. One midterm, one final. Very interesting class if you at all like language, accents, how languages spread, etc. Professors are a bit off the deep end (also married), but very down to earth and cool in their own way at the same time.</p>
<p>Freshman seminar question: Are the seminars generally less work than other classes? At another school I visited they just had reading and discussions -- no papers or exams. Is this true at Stanford? Also, do the courses generally stay the same from year to year?
Thanks</p>
<p>
[quote]
Are the seminars generally less work than other classes? At another school I visited they just had reading and discussions -- no papers or exams.
[/quote]
In my experience and in asking others, I think that seminars are usually the same work as or slightly less work than regular classes. It will depend on the seminar - is it about structural engineering or taiko drumming? Shakespeare or the hippocampus? They will have exams, though, or perhaps a final project/paper. Seminars are like actual classes, just in a cozier environment.</p>
<p>
[quote]
Also, do the courses generally stay the same from year to year?
<p>The two seminars I took were definitely less work, yet both were really awesome classes. One was a freshman seminar called Gay Autobiography which I highly recommend. We read a book each week, and they were all awesome books. At the end you get to write your own autobiographical essay about anything you like. I think everyone gets As. The other one was a sophomore seminar about mathematical modeling of politics. I loved this class. The professor was great and the material was interesting. It wasn't much work at all really, which helped balance out the two physics classes I was taking that quarter and helped keep me alive. I recommend both of these if you're looking for an intro sem!</p>
<p>I took a seminar called Physics in the 21st century taught by a guy named Savas Dimopolous. It was all about advanced phyics, quantam physics, string theory, etc. - but there was no math involved. It was basically a quarter long summary of how modern physics got to where it is today and then what modern physics is exactly. No tests or midterms, the final was a paper where you researched any topic of your choice (I chose wormholes), and then wrote like 3 or 4 pages on it saying what it is, some basic research about it, basically just proving you did something, and then you got an A. Easiest class I've ever taken, and pretty cool too.</p>
<p>Freshman year, I took The Art of Structural Engineering. It was quite interesting, but it did have physics problem sets (of easy to moderate difficulty) that did not use calculus; it was balancing forces, vectors, all that good stuff. We saw lots of pictures of different types of bridges, which was neat. We actually built bridges out of dried spaghetti and glue at the end of the quarter, which was fun. We had a final at the end; it had some calculations and questions about bridge designs in general. The class wasn't easy, but it wasn't hard. I enjoyed it... and it counted for the engineering requirement :)</p>
<p>Sophomore year I took Current Concepts in Transplantation, which counts as PWR-2. We read a couple short journal articles, learned some background immunology, debated about transplantation ethics, wrote a short paper (4-6 pages, I think), and had a presentation at the end. Very easy, and I'm so glad I did it, especially since I didn't want to do a literature-based PWR.</p>
<p>Has anyone taken Energy Choices for the 21st Century? Its an introductory Seminar taught by both Fox, J and Geballe, T. I really like the topic and it seems very interesting but I already have a heavy workload without it...</p>
<p>I took it freshman year and it wasn't a terribly difficult class. Little reading, but substantial presentations. Fox especially is really neat. Good class overall.</p>
<p>IHUM 4 units
ECON 1A 5
Intermediate Polish 3
Intro to Linguistics 4
Freshman Seminar 3 </p>
<p>I would love to take all these classes this fall! Can somebody please comment on the workload of these courses? I was thinking of "Translations" or "Resistance Writings in Nazi Germany" for freshman seminar. Thanks in advance.</p>
<p>I would strongly recommend that you NOT take 5 classes. Even upperclassmen, who have (to some extent) adjusted to college life, typically do not take 5 classes. For your freshman fall quarter, it is generally recommended that you take 3, at most 4, courses. If you want, you can shop (attend) all the classes you like for the first two weeks (or less) and then decide which ones you can handle/want to follow through with.</p>
<p>You can't actually check your classes just which quarter they gave you. Oh and remember you can always petition (I did that) but if you do you'll have to make do with whatever limited options they'll have available...</p>