Illiad - Summer Reading?

fabienbz9 · 07-26-2008, 10:29 AM

Hello all!

I just received my shiny new copy of the Illiad in the mail from the Alumni Association. Very nice gesture, by the way.

But is this like summer reading!? Are we required to read the whole thing before orientation? Before the first day of class? Or is there a certain amount we have to read by then?

Thanks!

CU2012 · 07-26-2008, 10:31 AM

We're required to read the first six books of it by our first Lit Hum class (which meets during orientation).

Denzera · 07-26-2008, 06:55 PM

Read it 2 days before you leave to come to orientation. Once you get here, ESPECIALLY during orientation, reading the Illiad is the LAST thing you'll want to do. So read it a bit to quell the pre-orientation excitement you'll be having in your last few days at home.

To give you a sense of the pace of Lit Hum, though, the first class you'll discuss the first 6 (of 24) books in the Iliad. That'll be on a monday or tuesday, probably. Your next class (on a W or Th) will discuss the next 6 books. The remaining 12 will be assigned to read before the following two classes the next week. Two weeks, book over, time for the Odyssey. So get used to turning those pages

undisclosed · 07-27-2008, 05:04 PM

That's very nice to know in advance, thanks. Do you know if Columbia hands out free agendas to newcomers too?

demeter · 07-28-2008, 09:50 PM

Agendas as in weekly planners? No, they don't. You can buy them at the bookstore, though (although they'll probably be pretty expensive).

Denzera · 08-05-2008, 12:00 PM

A weekly planner was the biggest secret to my success freshman and sophomore year. I can't recommend it highly enough. If you buy one and use it religiously to schedule yourself, your efficiency at getting stuff done goes way up - and the amount that falls through the cracks goes way down.

Columbia2002 · 08-05-2008, 09:13 PM

Quote:

A weekly planner was the biggest secret to my success freshman and sophomore year. I can't recommend it highly enough. If you buy one and use it religiously to schedule yourself, your efficiency at getting stuff done goes way up - and the amount that falls through the cracks goes way down.

I've never used a planner in my life. Different strokes for different folks.

fabienbz9 · 08-21-2008, 09:11 AM

Right, so, everyone seems to have given the wrong information.

From an email: "As a foretaste of the Literature-Humanities experience, I look forward to sharing some preliminary thoughts on the course and on your first reading assignment, Iliad 1-12, in a lecture from 12.30-2 on Wednesday, August 27th at the Roone Arledge Auditorium in Lerner Hall."

So? Is this the first "class" of Lit Hum?

At any rate, it seems its 1-12, NOT 1-6!

CU2012 · 08-21-2008, 09:55 AM

Yeah, it was surprising to all of us, especially since we were only told to read 1-6. The guy could have made a mistake, though, and I know someone who emailed for clarification. At any rate, I suppose it's a taste of the pace of the course (because ~6 books would be what you'd have to read in 2 nights anyways).

Luluthia12 · 08-21-2008, 11:48 AM

On the Columbia Facebook group, someone said they called the school who said that he did, in fact, make a mistake. The assignment is only books 1-6.

byan1007 · 08-21-2008, 10:39 PM

In case anyone doesn't check their email, we just got an email saying it that it is indeed, 1-12.

I'm effed.

sheslostcontrol · 08-22-2008, 12:09 AM

the fb responses are beyond entertaining

i took a mock Lit Hum class this summer (no credit). books 1-12 could easily be 2 assignments so as much as they screwed over the procrastinating/thought they were done half of the class, this is far from unusual.

LionHeaded · 08-22-2008, 12:23 AM

Heh, I stopped going to Columbia's facebook page because it was getting a tad ridiculous and giving me a skewed image of the school. People stressing about the most inane details imaginable, (and I say this realizing that I did the same too, just not so intensely...I hope), describing their party intents etc. I got over 15 friends requests from people I never talked to and who would never talk to me online only for being in the same network lol.

Denzera · 08-22-2008, 01:21 AM

LionHeaded, really, there should be no cause for complaining if hot girls want to be your facebook friend. or dudes with a lot of hot girls as friends.

get yourself invited to a few dorm parties and you won't think fb is such a waste of time.

LionHeaded · 08-22-2008, 08:12 AM

Heh, not to get shallow here but the girls were not particularly err,....kept from what I remember on the pictures. The words 'granola vanilla' should give you an accurate idea of the look. I don't mind having random people on fb, I just like yknow....having interacted (in any way) with them at least once before giving them access to all my info, pictures and friends.

And besides, serial monogamist in a 4-year relationship here and still happy. 'Look but touch and it's your ass' is what I've been threatened with for the past week.