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University of Melbourne - Subject Reviews & Ratings
Spheniscidaphile:
Subject Code/Name: CLAS20027 Intermediate Latin Language
Workload: 4 x 1hr lectures each week. no tutes. weekly homework exercises and readings.
Assessment: Final exam 50%. mid-sem test 25%. weekly homework totalling 25%.
Recorded Lectures: No. Powerpoint slides are presented and uploaded to lms each week.
Past exams available: One available from library.
Textbook Recommendation: A New Latin Syntax, E. C. Woodcock. You *need* the woodcock textbook, and access to a decent latin dictionary for the weekly homework. Ideally, this would be the big Oxford Latin Dictionary. I would also recommend a latin primer grammar for revision, such as Kennedy's (available for free at archive.org).
Lecturer(s): Dr. A. Turner
Year & Semester of completion: 2010 Semester 1.
Rating: 5 out of 5
Your Mark/Grade: 92
Comments:
This subject focuses on advanced latin syntax, and assumes a thorough knowledge of the content of the Reading Latin grammar textbook. Latin syntax is explained through its historical development and your knowledge is assessed in weekly english-> latin translation and parsing/syntax questions. the exams will be more or less the same, with an unseen passage for translation, and syntax questions.
This subject was awesome. Dr. Turner is excellent, knows the subject inside out, and imparts an good understanding of how the Latin language actually works. The Woodcock textbook is a bit dense at times, but contains all you will need for the subject, and more. I would recommend spending the time to read and re-read it, think about it, and then read it again until you understand all of the topics in it. It's not enough to just skim it.
Having said all that, I found this subject pretty hard, and spent *way* too much time on the homework exercises each week. I also feel this would have been a better subject if it were presented over two semesters and combined with some readings or more composition.
Edmund:
Subject Code/Name: UNIB20008 Drugs That Shape Society
Workload: 2 x 1hr lecture; 1 x 1hr tutorial (compulsory)
Assessment: 1000 word assignment (25%), Online quizzes and tutorial attendance (15%), Final exam (60%), Magistrates Court trip
Lectopia Enabled: Yes, with and without screen capture
Past exams available: No, only sample questions
Textbook Recommendation: Stephens, T & Brynner R, (2001) Dark Remedy: The Impact of Thalidomide and its Revival as a Vital Medicine, Perseus Publishing, Cambridge, Massachusetts ISBN 0-738-0404-8
Lecturer(s): Various
Year & Semester of completion: 2010 Semester 2
Rating: 1.5 Out of 5
Your Mark/Grade: H2B
Comments: This subject basically covered everything you could discuss about drugs. There were four main topics - alcohol, opiates, penicillin and thalidomide. I've attached the subject outline to give an idea on how the course is structured. For each theme, there were one or two lectures discussing the basic information of the drug, as well as its social, historical and legal issues. Here's a rather interesting quote from the handbook:
--- Quote from: Handbook entry ---Lectures will provide basic information about the processes leading to the development of the drugs, their mechanism of action, the historical context of their impact on society, and how this has been handled legally. Tutorials and small group work will allow students to discuss and debate the issues raised and to put them into the context of their own experiences.
--- End quote ---
When it says basic information, it really does mean basic. They tell you obvious information like 'Don't drink alcohol because it is bad". The only lectures that were interesting were the law ones where they touched on the legal issues pertaining drug use.
Tutorials were an opportunity to discuss and expand material covered in lectures. A tutor (a later year student) was there to facilitate discussion. So the quality of the tutorial session depended on how well everyone discussed issues. There were times when people didn't care so you wouldn't learn anything from that session.
There was also a Magistrates Court visit where you have to attend court at some point during the semester and fill in a sheet. This is handed in during a tutorial which contributed to the tutorial mark.
The exam was essay-type which requires you to pick 4 questions from a choice of about 5.
Overall, I thought the workload was light but the subject was badly put together (throwing bits of information together to make a subject). It was expensive as well ~$1,000. If I could go back in time I would definitely choose a different subject. Hope this review helps anyone intending to do this subject.
Edmund:
Subject Code/Name: PHYS20008 Integrative Human Physiology
Workload: 3 x 1hr lectures; 1 x 2hr CAL sessions fortnightly
Assessment: Lecture attendance/PRS (5%); CAL (15%); 2 x MST (30%); Final exam (50%)
Lectopia Enabled: Yes, with screen capture
Past exams available: Yes, lots
Textbook Recommendation: Human Physiology by Silverthorn
Lecturer(s): Various
Year & Semester of completion: 2010 Semester 2
Rating: 5 Out of 5
Your Mark/Grade: H2A
Comments: This subject is one of the prerequisites for a Physiology major and postgraduate health science courses. It covers the basic Physiology concepts required for third year Physiology subjects - cardiovascular, digestive, respiratory, muscular, renal and some neurophysiology. The lectures were engaging and interactive. Attendance is compulsory and is worth 5% of overall marks. You will be required to lease a PRS clicker at the start of the semester for about $10. You will need this to record lecture attendance and participate in 'poll-the-audience' style questions during the lecture which makes it so fun.
The fortnightly CAL sessions involved working in a group of 3 to complete a question sheet or going through a computer program. At the end of each session there will be a past exam question which you will complete. Your demonstrator comes around and gives a mark for it.
For the final exam, study the lecture notes very thoroughly as everything in them will be examined. They could just take numbers of a diagram and make you fill them in - easy marks for anyone who remembers ;D such as this :P
http://vce.atarnotes.com/forum/index.php/topic,34453.msg360716.html#msg360716 It was a short answer question so you had to do this in about 12 minutes
Peedles:
Subject Code/Name: PHYS20008 Human Physiology
Workload: 3 x 1hr lectures; 1 x 2hr CAL sessions fortnightly
Assessment: Lecture attendance/PRS (5%); CAL (15%); 2 x MST (30%); Final exam (50%)
Lectopia Enabled: Yes, with screen capture.
Past exams available: Alot of Practice Exams
Textbook Recommendation: Silverthorn, D.U., Human Physiology: An Integrated Approach 5th Ed., 2010 - Pearson
Lecturer(s): Dr Genevieve Morris, David Williams, Charles Sevigny and Arianne Dantas
Year & Semester of completion: Semester 1 2011
Rating: 4.5 Out of 5
Your Mark/Grade: H2A (75%)
Comments: I felt the need to write this review because this year the Exam has changed drastically. As of 2011, lecturers have decided that since Human Physiology is a pre-requisite for many of the graduate health science courses, the exam will be adapted to suit. In past exams, there has been alot of flexibility as students are able to have choice (from a selection of questions) in the questions that they want to answer. The exam has now been set up in a way where there are no longer MC questions and no longer any choice with questions. All questions must be answered and all material covered in lectures/CAL is assessable. (Although, the questions are still similar to the past exams (Short Answer Questions), so it is still a good reference)
Here's the structure of the exam:
INSTRUCTIONS TO STUDENTS :
SECTION A: Cardiovascular system & Respiratory system
Short Answer Questions. Suggested time - 30 minutes. 25% of total marks. All questions are of equal value.
Answer both questions in the space provided.
SECTION B: Homeostasis, CNS, autonomic NS & endocrine; Digestion & Reproduction
Short Answer Questions. Suggested time – 30 minutes. 25% of total marks. Answer THREE (3) of the questions in the space provided.
SECTION C: Neural Integration, Muscle & Kidney
Long Answer Questions. Suggested time 60 minutes. 50% of total marks. Answer THREE (3) questions in the space provided.
Therefore, it is integral that you do not fall behind. Although, the 2 MST are there to motivate you to keep up to date anyway. What I didn't like about the exam was that, they didn't put point allocations for each question so it was kind of hard to determine how much detail you had to write down.
What i would have done differently? I think maybe doing the Past Papers during the semester as each topic was covered (Past MCQ would have helped for the MST's) and practicing answering short answer questions in detail. I felt that leaving Past Exam Questions to the last minute when I was under the stress and tiredness of having studied other exams caused me to be more focused on getting them done rather than trying to go through each question logically and methodically. This was probably my downfall in the exam. Finally, contribute more to the Discussion Boards and make use of your fellow eager beaver peers.
In addition to the CAL sessions that Edmund mentioned, the subject now has fortnightly MCQ submissions and Blog Discussion which formed part of the 15% CAL grade. The MCQ involved making up a question relevant to the most recent lectures; which I think lecturers used to stock up on good PRS questions for the prospective PHYS20008 cohort. The Blog Discussion (open for a week) involved the Lecturer posting up a Past Examination Question (which they felt was problematic) whereby your CAL group(s) and Demonstrator will then discuss the question. It is also a good forum to post up any queries. Completion of the MCQ and Participation towards the blog form part of your fortnightly CAL assessment grade.
I don't think Human Physiology was a difficult subject to grasp. Although I feel that this subject has set up more hurdles for students to pass in order to achieve a H1 (Hence, all the more reason to keep up to date). I know alot of people who got there Final Result and received a lower score than they expected because of this. Overall, the content made sense, extremely relevant to the workplace (prospective) and enjoyable.
Russ:
Subject Code/Name: UNIB30002 Global Health, Security & Sustainability
Workload: 2 x 1 hour lecture, 1 x 1 hour tute per week
Assessment: 1000 word OpEd piece (30%), 3000 word essay (60%), tutorial participation (5%), oral presentation on a week's readings (5%)
Lectopia Enabled: Yes
Past exams available: No exam!
Textbook Recommendation: You need it in order to do your oral presentation, but you could probably get away with photocopying your selected readings from someone else. It has material that's useful for the OpEd but not essential. It's a good starting point for your essay but you're not allowed to cite it.
Lecturer(s): Tons. Subject covers so many areas that there are probably 20 different lecturers
Year & Semester of completion: Semester 1, 2011
Rating: 3/5
Your Mark/Grade: H1
Comments: Redacted. PM me if required.
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