The best aspects of the course included the experimental labs and the effective professor who made sure students understood the material. Both the professor and teaching assistant were engaging and 78 very helpful. The worst aspects of this course were the dul lectures and insubstantial information provided on the PowerPoint slides. Students felt like too much of the class time was spent reviewing assigned readings instead of going over new course content. The course would improve if the lectures were more content based and structured for everyone to understand, even if it meant less class discussion. Prospective students should know that this is an enjoyable course with difficult but interesting content. 79

Students felt that the professor’s effective teaching strategies and the informative labs were some of the best aspects of this course. Students found it very easy to learn the difficult concepts, and appreciated the open discussions that al owed them to ask questions about the materials. However, students did not like the quizzes every week as they felt they were an unnecessary added stress to the workload. Students suggested making the quizzes worth less of the final grade, and having them include information taught in class as well as the homework assignments. Prospective students would benefit greatly from a background in linguistics or cognitive science. Students should also be prepared to read extensively and participate in class discussions. 81

The best aspects of the course included the interesting subject matter that exposed students to the theory behind concepts through research papers and other primary sources. Students appreciated the professor’s approachable demeanor and wil ingness to help students throughout the semester with clear explanations. Many students found the readings to be dense and difficult, and the volume to be unbearable. Suggestions for improvement included lightening the reading load and facilitating more class discussions. Prospective students should be aware that there is a presumed background in linguistics and in syntax in particular.