<p>If you currently attend a UC, do you find it hard to get ur 2 cents in during a lecture or discussion or do you basically have to agree w/ w/e ur prof. says? (this is targeted towards the social studies/polic sci department). In a class of 100 + students, how easy is it to get ur opinions heard and do teachers respect u for it or do they condemn u for disrupting/interrupting their lecture?</p>
<p>I wouldn’t find it feasible to try to argue with your professor during lectures because it disrupts the flow of class and means the professor has to stop and answer your question. If you disagree, you really have no option; you can still keep your own thoughts, however, arguing will really not do anything, even if you do so during the professor’s office hours. For discussions, it would be easier to voice your opinion because of the smaller class size and that it’s expected that students come with their unanswered questions. I guess it really depends on the professor, but I’m assuming most professors don’t like you to voice your opinion during lecture.</p>
<p>It is really annoying when someone chimes in during a huge lecture class (of any subject - I have experienced this in social sciences courses too). The students and the professor and TAs are just trying to get through the lecture. :rolleyes: Most people just keep things to themselves until discussion section.</p>
<p>Here’s a general rule:</p>
<p>Lecture-
- Keep quiet during lectures even if you disagree.
- Remember why you disagree by writing the reasons down.
- Think critically about why you disagree.
- Go to office hours and ask the professor or TA.</p>
<p>Discussions-
- Think about the question you’re going to ask: is it something confusing or am I just not paying attention?
- If it’s plain confusing, then ask in class. If you’re not paying attention, then, please do.
- If you still don’t get it in class after asking, then go to the TA’s office hour and ask.</p>
<p>I’ve found that most of the students who yell out questions are either missing some big important point or impatient. 75% of the time, they’ll ask questions that the professor intends to cover in the next 5 minutes, but they just aren’t patient enough to sit through those 5 minutes with a burning question in their heads. The other 25% of the time, the people who speak out in class are missing some obvious points from either the lecture that they are currently in or previous lectures. They are basically forgetful.</p>
<p>Of course, this differs in the classes that you take. In humanities courses, you’ll always find someone in your class who finds it absolutely imperative that the professor and the entire class hear his/her opinion on a certain subject even though nobody really cares.</p>
<p>lol, thanks, i’ve been thinking about that for a while cuz i tend do better in smaller classes with lots of discussion and am worried about the gi-normous classes found in the first 2 years at a UC</p>
<p>in order to prevent asking questions in class, do you just read the chapter/section ahead the night before?</p>
<p>Well, okay that’s going to largely depend on your professor. Some teach DIRECTLY OUT OF THE BOOK and so it would be wise to read from your textbook. Some teach straight from powerpoint slides and only test from slides (like my current biology professor). So, it depends on the style of the class. My biology professor assigned us reading but it’s a complete waste of time to look at if if all I care about is getting a decent grade in the class (I would just memorize slides and do well, whatever). </p>
<p>It’s not just the first 2 years at a UC that you will find extremely large classes. Honestly, the idea of the junior/senior courses getting extremely smaller is a joke for at least the biorelated majors. Even with upper division science classes, you’ll see your lecture hall with 100-200 students whatever… whereas it was closer to 350 in your beginning freshman/sophomore introductry core courses. Don’t count on plowing through lecture classes for 2 years into a more intimate setting in your 3rd/4th years. </p>
<p>Anyway, to answer your question — yes, it’s good to prepare in advance but if all you care about is your grade then find out what’s necessary in the course and plan according to that model.</p>
<p>thanks! i’ll keep this in mind but now i’m having some trepidations about attending a UC since my teachers have told me that in their professional opinion, they see me suceeding in a smaller/more intimate classroom setting as opposed to a lecture hall sort of class</p>
<p>If your teachers are used to teaching in smaller/more intimate classroom settings, then you should question their professional opinions since they have only seen you in that environment. College opens up many new opportunities and maybe you’ll do great in a large lecture hall sort of class. Just don’t limit yourself because of what others tell you.</p>
<p>thanks, i’ll consider it and hopefully, i’ll do well regardless of setting that that’s asking for alot, lol :)</p>