SCAND 50W
Introduction to Scandinavian Literatures and Cultures
Description: Lecture, three hours; discussion, one hour. Enforced requisite: English Composition 3 or 3H or English as a Second Language 36. Not open for credit to students with credit for course 50. Designed for students in general and for those wishing to prepare for more advanced and specialized studies in Scandinavian literature and culture. Selected works from literatures of Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Iceland, and Finland, ranging from myth, national epic, saga, and folktale through modern novel, poem, play, short story, and film, read in English and critically discussed. Satisfies Writing II requirement. Letter grading.
Units: 5.0
Units: 5.0
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Most Helpful Review
The worst decision I have made at UCLA. Maybe I'm just a d----ss (along with everyone else I've talked to), but no matter how hard I try in this g----mn class (and I try VERY hard), I don't get anything better than a B- (which was ONCE). Although I love Shideler as a teacher, I feel that his grading system (or perhaps his TAs') is WAY too difficult considering the help that is provided in lecture, discussions, and office hours. For those of you who have average writing skills (for UCLA), STEER CLEAR (unless he changes his grading-which I hope will happen after reading this). If you're a spectacular writer, by all means take it. Maybe you'll get a B+! Who knows? I personally got an A in EngComp 3, if that means anything. If I end up with a C in this class I'll pee my pants with delight and relief. On the plus side, the readings themselves weren't very difficult or extensive. Professor Shideler himself is a wonderful teacher who loves what he teaches and has great insight. Email me your thoughts please (I also welcome hate mail-if you disagree with me)...
The worst decision I have made at UCLA. Maybe I'm just a d----ss (along with everyone else I've talked to), but no matter how hard I try in this g----mn class (and I try VERY hard), I don't get anything better than a B- (which was ONCE). Although I love Shideler as a teacher, I feel that his grading system (or perhaps his TAs') is WAY too difficult considering the help that is provided in lecture, discussions, and office hours. For those of you who have average writing skills (for UCLA), STEER CLEAR (unless he changes his grading-which I hope will happen after reading this). If you're a spectacular writer, by all means take it. Maybe you'll get a B+! Who knows? I personally got an A in EngComp 3, if that means anything. If I end up with a C in this class I'll pee my pants with delight and relief. On the plus side, the readings themselves weren't very difficult or extensive. Professor Shideler himself is a wonderful teacher who loves what he teaches and has great insight. Email me your thoughts please (I also welcome hate mail-if you disagree with me)...
Most Helpful Review
Most hilarious professor I have ever had. There was not one lecture where he didn't have the class cracking up. The man makes you want to go to lecture, and he is thoroughly entertaining as well as educational and makes his lectures accessible to all. Truly a genius. Also very easy. My only complaint is that he assigned an unrealistic amount of reading each week.
Most hilarious professor I have ever had. There was not one lecture where he didn't have the class cracking up. The man makes you want to go to lecture, and he is thoroughly entertaining as well as educational and makes his lectures accessible to all. Truly a genius. Also very easy. My only complaint is that he assigned an unrealistic amount of reading each week.
Most Helpful Review
Fall 2018 - Great professor, just as good as everyone says he is. Really cares about his students and what he's teaching, never wants to trick anybody. Workload was very light and exams were really easy and straightforward, just do the reading or at least skim it if you can. Loved this class and would recommend it to anyone.
Fall 2018 - Great professor, just as good as everyone says he is. Really cares about his students and what he's teaching, never wants to trick anybody. Workload was very light and exams were really easy and straightforward, just do the reading or at least skim it if you can. Loved this class and would recommend it to anyone.
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Most Helpful Review
Summer 2021 - This class was definitely not as easy as its reputation makes it out to be (at least for me). It took a lot of hard work and effort to write good essays. It is fast paced over the summer so you have to improve very quickly. I was a bit discouraged by my scores at first, but Dr. Yamasaki provides excellent feedback and plenty of opportunities to improve throughout the quarter. She also selected pieces of literature that I was personally very interested in. During the last 2 weeks, the professor was disappointed in one of the lecture's essays. After this, she put off a harsher attitude in my lecture. It came from a good place because she wanted us to do well, but some of her comments were a bit jarring and uncomfortable. This coupled with the higher workload at the end of the quarter was a bit stressful. However, I can't judge her character from just 2 weeks. Did she handle the situation poorly? In my opinion, yes. Is she still a great professor? Yes, absolutely. I know that Dr. Yamasaki cares about her students' improvement, and she is very kind and helpful during office hours if you prepare specific questions and writing to show her. Overall, I enjoyed this class and learned a lot about writing. I became a better student too. After spending so much time revising and rewriting, I am glad that my writing improved. Dr. Yamasaki really values improvement and has a good heart so take her feedback seriously!
Summer 2021 - This class was definitely not as easy as its reputation makes it out to be (at least for me). It took a lot of hard work and effort to write good essays. It is fast paced over the summer so you have to improve very quickly. I was a bit discouraged by my scores at first, but Dr. Yamasaki provides excellent feedback and plenty of opportunities to improve throughout the quarter. She also selected pieces of literature that I was personally very interested in. During the last 2 weeks, the professor was disappointed in one of the lecture's essays. After this, she put off a harsher attitude in my lecture. It came from a good place because she wanted us to do well, but some of her comments were a bit jarring and uncomfortable. This coupled with the higher workload at the end of the quarter was a bit stressful. However, I can't judge her character from just 2 weeks. Did she handle the situation poorly? In my opinion, yes. Is she still a great professor? Yes, absolutely. I know that Dr. Yamasaki cares about her students' improvement, and she is very kind and helpful during office hours if you prepare specific questions and writing to show her. Overall, I enjoyed this class and learned a lot about writing. I became a better student too. After spending so much time revising and rewriting, I am glad that my writing improved. Dr. Yamasaki really values improvement and has a good heart so take her feedback seriously!
Most Helpful Review
plain and simple, if you want an A, dont take zentner. no matter how intelligent you are and how hard you work, he is not open to any sort of creativity or any interpretations of things that aren't exactly what he is looking for. he knows what he wants, but what he wants is not clear and he wont help you find it because he feels that is giving away the grade. no matter how confident you are when you turn in your paper, you will end up with a B. on the first paper no one recieved over a B-. he is perhaps the most frustrating professor i have come across in my 3 years here. sure quizzes are easy, but quizzes account for only about 12 percent of your grade, where each paper is 25. his lectures are quite boring. our class spent a good 15 minutes on a couple occasions arguing with him about his grading style and his closed-mindedness when it came to our papers, and he would just get huffy and say "this is what i want, good luck". sure he is a smart man, but a smart man does not make a good professor. a good professor, especially for a writing class, is to grade you on your effort, writing style, and grasp of the concept....not on your ability to figure out exacltly what vague thing he is looking for. steer clear bruins....
plain and simple, if you want an A, dont take zentner. no matter how intelligent you are and how hard you work, he is not open to any sort of creativity or any interpretations of things that aren't exactly what he is looking for. he knows what he wants, but what he wants is not clear and he wont help you find it because he feels that is giving away the grade. no matter how confident you are when you turn in your paper, you will end up with a B. on the first paper no one recieved over a B-. he is perhaps the most frustrating professor i have come across in my 3 years here. sure quizzes are easy, but quizzes account for only about 12 percent of your grade, where each paper is 25. his lectures are quite boring. our class spent a good 15 minutes on a couple occasions arguing with him about his grading style and his closed-mindedness when it came to our papers, and he would just get huffy and say "this is what i want, good luck". sure he is a smart man, but a smart man does not make a good professor. a good professor, especially for a writing class, is to grade you on your effort, writing style, and grasp of the concept....not on your ability to figure out exacltly what vague thing he is looking for. steer clear bruins....
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