<p>What is the format of a discussion based class? All materials emphasize the Core is discussion based class.
I am accepted RD. I am a thinker rather than a talker. Furthermore, I am not a native English speaker.</p>
<p>It varies somewhat, but the professor will typically have guided questions for the class to answer. People will chime in whenever they have a comment or a rebuttal or another interesting idea like a conversation. It’s a freestyle conversation and guided discussion all in one. In some classes, you will write a short response before each class and you discuss those so you already have a developed idea to talk about. Professors might have you do presentations or other variations.</p>
<p>Although participation in Core courses is typically around 25% of your grade, don’t fret. It’s easy to do once you get over the initial hump of apprehension. Also, many professors are quite nice and have youth, humor, and warmth. For the most part, they will create a welcoming atmosphere to facilitate discussion for even the most reserved of people. </p>
<p>Thank you sa0209. That is comforting.
How about the science and math classes? Are they more of a traditional lecture style format?
How about other courses outside of the Core?</p>
<p>Math is lecture style unless you do honors IBL which has students “discover” the material through group collaboration. On the whole, lecture style.</p>
<p>Science courses are traditional lecture and lab. Upper level courses often don’t have a lab component. Other courses outside the Core vary even within departments.</p>
<p>Thank you. As there are science classes in the Core, so I can minimize the number of discussion based ones if I have difficulties, right? I know that I need to take at least more than a few, but I can try to pick those friendly professors. Likely, I will be a science major.</p>
<p>For your SOSC core, you could look into Social Science Inquiries (SSI). I think it minimizes discussion – you spend fall in a discussion format, winter learning STATA, and spring working on your own research project. </p>
<p>“Contemporary culture is awash in scientific claims about the human condition. As evident in best-sellers like Freakonomics, Moneyball, and The Tipping Point, a data-driven conception of social life is occurring not just in the higher echelons of business or government, but in popular discourse as well. This course provides an introduction to this “positivist” approach. The Autumn Quarter starts by introducing students to the various ways that social scientists think about the world. Examples include theoretical models from Milton Friedman, Thomas Schelling, and John Nash; path-breaking experiments from Stanley Milgram and Daniel Kahneman; and quantitative research on topics ranging from voting to gun violence to baby names. Through these works, students will learn how researchers theorize about social phenomena. In the Winter Quarter, students will be introduced to social science research tools. They will learn how to collect data, conduct experiments, and make causal inferences from statistics. Using the General Social Survey, the National Election Studies, and other surveys, students will gain hands-on experience working with large data sets. In the Spring Quarter, students will conduct their own substantial research project. Students will learn how to translate their ideas into research questions, their theories into testable hypotheses, and their findings into meaningful conclusions. By year’s end, students will develop a critical perspective on many perennial social questions and, ultimately, acquire “quantitative literacy,” essential skills in an increasingly data-driven world.”</p>
<p>There’s a set number of classes of each type you need to take. But trust me, you won’t suffer in those discussion classes. I’m a science major too. Also, you will have access to previous course evaluations so you can definitely see which professors are conducive to your style ahead of time. </p>