Though the weekly readings were extensive, you could easily get away with only reading a few and participating on only what you know (intellectually). Often its easy to make up insight about what she's talking about based on common knowledge as well! Compared to other seminars, this one had minimal workload. Other seminars had two papers, group presentations, debates, and more. Meldrum only assigned one paper (which she reviews and tells you what she wants etc. from an optional rough draft). There is one 15 minute presentation on the same topic as your paper, so as long as you have your paper done by the last seminar, you should be knowledged enough to not really have to prepare. Overall and easy, insightful, and interesting class! Would recommend. Also the required book is only like $12.

The class, for the most part, was easy. Every week Dr. Meldrum assigned readings to be discussed during class, for the three hours we just discussed the readings and sometimes we would have guest speakers. Apart from the readings, we worked on a 10-page paper all quarter long. The last two weeks of class, the students gave a 15-minute presentation on their paper.

This class is okay. She assigned weekly readings that were way too much but weren't necessary to read thoroughly. I participated a lot but was distracted as the quarter went on, as the seminar is three hours on a Friday. I honestly went hungover to a lot of them and it is easy to watch videos on your computer instead of being engaged. I don't know why I got a B+, I probably deserve higher but I'm not sure what I got on my final paper or presentation. These two things and participation are what the class is graded on. I did my presentation hungover so that might be it, but my paper was good. These do take a while and a lot of kids go above and beyond on the presentation, so be ready to put in a lot of time and work on this. Basically, you can chill for the first 7 weeks, but will have a lot to do in the final 3.

Taking this seminar was such a great way to end my year in the Mind Over Matter cluster! Professor Meldrum is so educated on the topic and the sections were totally discussion based. She assigned a lot of reading but made it interesting by giving everyone a role (point of view) to read it from, and that would guide our discussion. The whole grade was based on a research paper and presentation that she was really helpful on. She is a really nice professor and I would highly recommend this seminar (History of Drugs in America)

Selling textbook Can't Find My Way Home by Martin Torgoff $10.
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