Blog's best classes: recommendations for course pre-registration

Feeling stressed about course registration? Still desperately perusing Courses at Brown? In search of a final class to round out your schedule for next semester?Check out the best classes Bloggers have taken at Brown! (Note: This compilation may feature a slight bias towards writing-related courses, as we all know there's nothing like taking classes in subjects you like to think you're good at.) From Kelly Carey-Ewend '19:My favorite class at Brown outside of my concentration (and intro Literary Arts courses where you can do whatever you want) is Introduction to Linguistics (CLPS0300)! From my perspective as a STEM concentrator, it was really cool to see a social science that’s taught with such a well-defined, research-oriented curriculum. More than that, as a native speaker of one (1) language, I didn’t realize until I took the course how much of language I’d taken for granted. There are basic rules behind every grammatically-correct phrasing in my dialects of English that I’d been unintentionally following for years without ever actually realizing it. Additionally, the class could even tackle all of the rules and grammar behind dialects of English that are often considered “ungrammatical,” like African-American Vernacular English (important note: from the first day of the class, the professor was clear that native speakers of a language or dialect cannot really be ungrammatical, and the labelling of “slang” dialects like AAVE as “wrong” or “ungrammatical” is prescriptivist and white supremacist). Overall, really interesting class that took language from the base sounds that compose words all the way up to the complex semantic meanings of entire sentences and conversations. Lastly, learning the international phonetic alphabet (that weird set of characters on every Wikipedia page that are supposed to tell you how to pronounce something) is super helpful! Clare Lonergan '21:My favorite class at Brown so far has been James Morone's City Politics (POLS 0220) class. Morone is so engaging and entertaining. He frames every new concept in a really interesting, narrative way and shares applicable stories to explain new ideas. I've learned so much about political dynamics of cities, which has been fascinating. I recommend this class — it's legendary! Cashen Conroy '19:My favorite class was Journalistic Writing (ENGL 1050G). Though branded as an intermediate nonfiction writing class, it's really an introductory course that teaches you all the basics of journalism. It requires a fair amount of outside work but is a super hands-on, engaging class that allows you to explore the greater Providence community, talk to interesting people, read a ton of amazing journalistic writing, learn how to navigate public records, and, of course, become a better writer. M. J. Lee '22:The best class I've taken is Social Psychology (CLPS 0700). It explores human behavior both on the individual level and in terms of group dynamics. I found myself completely mesmerized and intrigued by all the facets of human behavior that I'd considered but had never before been able to put into words. Gemma Brand-Wolf '22:I have only taken nine classes at Brown, but I think I would have to say that my favorite has been Studio Foundation (VISA 0100) with Ayana Evans. I know this class is notoriously impossible to get into but, as Ayana herself suggests, all you have to do is email the professor months in advance to get to the top of the waiting list. This class has challenged me not only to create new work and ideas, but to do so in entirely unfamiliar mediums. I was afraid that this class would over-intellectualize my art practice, but it has done just the opposite; Ayana has encouraged us to listen to ourselves and each other, fostering a tight knit community and helping each of us find our personal styles and voices in a way that is both educational and fun — what a concept! Allison Gordon '19:The best class I have taken at Brown is Form Matters: Contemporary Short Fiction (AMST 1901B) with Ralph Rodriguez. I highly recommend any of his classes, but this one in particular was incredible. He is so thoughtful, warm, and knowledgable. You will learn so much about short stories but also yourself! 10/10 recommend. Alisa Caira '22:My favorite class at Brown thus far has been Writers on Writing (LITR0710, LITR1200). I immediately heard great reviews of the course when I arrived on campus in the fall and looked on as many of my friends navigated their way through it. This spring, when I got the chance to take it myself, I saw exactly what the hype was all about. Each week, we read some work of fiction or poetry, and then, every Thursday, the author comes in for the second part of class to discuss the book and their process. Regardless of concentration, this class is great to take if you're looking to understand more about where books of all sorts literally come from. The class is also great for making connections, engaging with the Brown Literary Arts Department, and generally just being exposed to more great literature. Best of luck with course registration, and don't forget to set your alarms! Image via.