I'm thinking about enrolling at Austin Community College and saw they have quite a list of literature courses. Any guidance on how to choose the most manageable one for a non-humanities major?
When selecting a literature course, it's not always about picking the "easiest" one, since what's easy for one person might be challenging for another. Instead, consider a couple of key elements.
1. Interest Level: Selecting a literature class that aligns with your interests will naturally make the workload seem more manageable. For example, if you're a fan of contemporary literature, try to find a course that focuses on this era rather than something like Victorian Literature.
2. Teaching Style: Every teacher has their own unique teaching style so it's a good idea to get some insight into this before enrolling. RateMyProfessor.com can be a valuable tool for this as students leave reviews about specific instructors.
3. Syllabus Layout: The syllabus for each class should provide a detailed overview of the course structure including the type and volume of assignments, grading, reading list, etc. The structure of the course and your personal study habits can often determine whether or not the class seems manageable to you.
4. Credit Hours: Classes with fewer credit hours generally require less out-of-class commitment than those with more. But remember, each credit hour still represents significant in-class and out-of-class work.
5. Course Level: Higher-level (300 or 400) courses typically delve deeper into content and may be more challenging than 100 or 200-level offerings. If you're a non-humanities major and not familiar with literature analysis, starting with a lower-level course might be a better option.
In the end, what matters is selecting a course that interests you and aligns with your academic and personal abilities and goals. If you can, try to schedule an appointment with an academic counselor to discuss your options and figure out what might be the best fit.
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