Arianna Dunkley
(Win)tering my First-Year Classes
For any of my readers interested in pursuing a major or courses related to government, this post may be of interest to you! This term, I am taking Introduction to Public Policy (PbPl 005), Writing 5, and Spanish 2. For context, students at Dartmouth typically take 3 classes each term, which consists of a 10-week period.
A writing class is a requirement for first-yeatrs to take in the fall or winter, which is followed by a mandatory seminar in the winter or spring terms. These classes are part of your 3 classes, and there are many subtopics to choose from with myriads of professors teaching them. Thereafter, if you apply for Humanities 1 and 2, Writing 5 and Seminar, or Writing 2 and 3, each writing class structure operates similarly, and you would take them across two terms. I am on the Writing 5 pathway, and my course's theme is Writing at the Limits of Democracy. Although it is only moving towards the second week of classes, I highly enjoy this class and encourage other incoming students to take it. We facilitate intellectual discussions about political issues and connect them to dynamics in literature. Our current assignment is to read The Cat in the Hat for President: A Political Fable by Robert Coover. I am looking forward to immersing myself in a nostalgic children's book transformed into political interpretation, especially as a prospective Government major.
Due to Public Policy being a minor that has piqued my interest, I am taking Introduction to Public Policy. At the beginning of each class period, we discuss current events in the policymaking and governmental realm, expanding my knowledge on issues going on in the world. This is my second government class at Dartmouth, but it incorporates interesting readings that broaden my perspective on policy. The workload can be challenging if I allow myself to procrastinate, but I have been doing a better job of completing the readings efficiently.
My third class is Spanish 2, a continuation of my language pathway (I took Spanish 1 last term). There are different pathways in the language department at Dartmouth, but language is a requirement in general, even if you completed a path in high school. For instance, even if you are exempt from taking Spanish courses, you still need to complete your language requirement by taking another language (such as two terms of French). I admire the language department for this requirement because it expands my opportunity to apply for Language Study Abroad programs and become skilled in Spanish without it feeling like a chore.
I am looking forward to progressing more in my classes throughout the term, and I believe that through resilience, I will be able to enjoy all of them! Likewise, I am ecstatic to share more about my course load in another post. Stay tuned!
Posts You Might Like
Turns out we have a new café in town since I've been gone: The Works! Of course, I had to put them to the test.
What kind of classes do you take in a subject-based Foreign Study Program? Here's a rundown of my classes in the Music FSP in London to give you an idea of what academic life is like in the program!
Psychology 36: Systems Neuroscience with Laboratory (PSYC 36) is a core Neuroscience major course with a lab component. (See that sheep brain?)
What major exploration and declaration look like at Dartmouth! And, an ode to the Government department.
It's easy to forget how easy it is to access walking trails during the hustle of a Dartmouth term. As graduation nears, I am reminded of how special it is to step off campus and enjoy quiet moments in nature.
In this post, I write about why I think Dartmouth's undergraduate focus is valuable.
As I am now back on campus for my sophomore spring, here is a (slightly overdue) recap of how the classes I took this past winter!
With a solar eclipse sweeping across North America for the first time in nearly seven years on April 8th came a road-trip with hundreds of other Dartmouth students to a zone of totality near campus: St. Johnsbury, Vermont!
After returning from an enriching study abroad program, I'm diving into a bustling spring semester here at Dartmouth. Here are my four courses I'm taking this term!