简介

This blog post is inspired by David Teather’s blog and serves as a record of my course summaries and evaluations during my studies at UW-Madison. The courses will be categorized into CS / Math / GeneralEd.

Since I am a transfer student, courses in Basic Calculus and some Basic Computer Science topics were not taken at UW-Madison and therefore will not be included here.

Computer Science

Basic Computer Sciences

COMPSCI 400 Programming III

Taught in Fall 2024 by Professors Gary Dahl and Florian Heimerl, I attended Professor Gary Dahl’s section.

Course Content:
From my perspective, the course content can be divided into two main parts:

  1. Data Structures/Algorithms: BST Review & Rotation、Red-Black Tree、AVL Tree、B-Tree、Sets and Graphs、MST on Graphs、Shortest Paths、Linear Sorts、Hashtables、Tries、Skip Lists

  2. Practical Programming Skills: Command Line (Bash)、Testing (JUnit) and Editors、SSH、Git - Version Control、Make、Lambda Expressions、HTML+CSS+JavaScript、Webservers、GUI (JavaFX)、Regex、Streams and Pipes

These two parts are not taught separately but are interwoven. For instance, a single lecture might cover both BST Review & Rotation and Command Line (Bash).

Grading Weights:
The grading for this course is as follows:
(32%) Weekly Activities and Weekly Quizzes
(32%) Project Work across two projects
(32%) Midterm and Final Exam
(4%) Lecture Participation

Details:
Weekly Activities and Quizzes are conducted once a week, consisting of small exercises and online quizzes. The exercises are simple and can be completed in about half an hour. The quizzes mainly focus on data structures and algorithms covered in the lectures (though I recall one quiz on Git commands). To do well, you need a solid understanding of the lecture material.

Project Work (two projects) requires a bit more time each week. While the projects are team-based, you don’t need to worry about being unfamiliar with your teammates. In my opinion, the grouping is primarily designed to help you understand how frontend and backend collaboration works. The workload for these assignments is significant, so it’s best not to procrastinate—allow yourself enough time for debugging and seeking help during office hours.

Midterm and Final Exams require thorough review of the lecture material. It’s essential to go into detail, and I recommend reviewing the resources from both sections for a comprehensive understanding.

Lecture Participation is tracked through Tophat, where you answer in-class questions. Don’t worry about incorrect answers—this is purely for attendance purposes.

Personal Experience and Evaluation:

COMPSCI 400 is a well-supported course with plenty of teaching resources available—just dive in and learn. There are 4-5 hours of fixed-location office hours every weekday afternoon, with many TAs ready to assist you. There are also some morning Q&A sessions, and you can schedule one-on-one office hours with the professor. Additionally, the professor responds promptly to questions on Piazza. As long as you don’t leave your questions until the last minute before the deadline, these resources are sufficient to solve all your programming-related issues.

About my COMPSCI 400 professor: to summarize in one sentence—Gary is an exceptionally kind and approachable professor. In addition to actively helping students with questions after class, he initiated a “Bring Your Own (BYO) Lunch with Gary” questionnaire at the beginning of the semester. If you’re interested, you can sign up, bring your lunch, and chat with him and other students in his office. I participated once, and the atmosphere was very relaxed. Gary shared how he got into his current career path, which I found quite inspiring.

The only minor drawback of taking Gary’s section is that his slides and notes on algorithms, posted on Canvas, are not as clear and readable as Florian’s. However, this isn’t a big issue because no matter which section you choose, you have access to the materials and slides from both sections on Canvas. Florian’s algorithm notes were incredibly helpful during my exam preparation, so if you’re planning to take or are currently taking this course, make sure to review the materials from both sections—you might discover valuable insights.

Mathematics

MATH 340 Elementary Matrix and Linear Algebra

Taught in Fall 2024 by Professor Timur Yastrzhembskiy, with Amelia Stokolosa as the TA.

Course Content:
Topics include:

  • Systems of Linear Equations
  • Matrix Algebra
  • Determinants
  • Vector Space
  • Similarity and Diagonalization
  • Linear Transformations, Kernel, and Image
  • Change of Basis
  • Inner Product Spaces

Grading Weights:
The grading for this course is as follows:
(20%) Homework
(4%) Discussion Activities
(46% = 2 x 23%) Midterms
(30%) Final

Details:
Homework is completed on Canvas. Each question can be submitted up to three times, and you also get more than ten opportunities to swap it for a similar question with different numbers. These combined effectively make the submission limit almost unrestricted. So don’t worry too much about getting the answer right on the first attempt. As long as you submit the correct answer eventually, it’s fine. Just remember to submit on time—this part is essentially “easy points” and allows you to score full marks with minimal effort.

Discussion Activities consist of Exit Tickets and Quizzes. The difference is that Exit Tickets only require completion, regardless of correctness, while Quizzes award points only for correct answers. Both are very straightforward, and as long as you attend the Discussion section on time, you should have no problem getting these points.

Midterms and Final Exam account for a significant portion of the grade, but don’t worry! This course provides ample resources for exam preparation, including 4 previous semester exams and 2 mock exams, complete with solutions. If you thoroughly review these materials and practice the provided questions, you’ll understand the question types and key concepts inside out (perfect for those who like to prepare thoroughly for exams.jpg).

Personal Experience and Evaluation:

Timur’s lecture notes are incredibly detailed and easy to understand. You can absolutely rely on the notes he uploads to Canvas after each class for self-study—no exaggeration.

Amelia is a slightly strict (unfortunately, I ended up in the 7:45 AM discussion section… Once, I overslept and only made it in time for the quiz, missing the earlier part of the discussion. She didn’t allow me to take the quiz, explaining that quizzes partly serve as attendance checks for discussions, and allowing me to take it would be unfair to those who attended the entire session. Lesson learned: try not to enroll in a 7:45 AM discussion section, and if you do, don’t be late. (ノへ￣、)) but very responsible TA. Her discussion sections are extremely helpful for gaining a deeper understanding of the course material, with well-written and detailed exercises and solutions.

If you’re deciding between MATH 320 and MATH 340 to fulfill your linear algebra requirement, I recommend MATH 340. It offers abundant learning resources and excellent teaching support, so you won’t need to overexert yourself to get a good grade. (Also, from what I’ve heard from friends who are better than me at math, it’s quite challenging to took MATH 320. Having completed MATH 340, I found it relatively simple. So, you might want to evaluate which course suits you better base on this comparison……)

General Education

LITTRANS 201 Survey of 19th and 20th Century Russian Literature in Translation I

Taken in Fall 2024, taught by Professor Maksim Hanukai.

Course Content:
Reading materials include:

  • Karamzin: Poor Liza
  • Pushkin: The Captive of the Caucasus, Eugene Onegin
  • Lermontov: A Hero of Our Time
  • Taras Shevchenko: The Caucasus
  • Sofia Khvoshchinskaya: City Folk and Country Folk (Sofia and her work don’t have standard Chinese translations, but I really enjoyed this book. Olenka, one of the main characters, is a clear-headed and independent girl who, despite the superiority complex that permeates the city folks in the story, stands firm in her beliefs, ignores city folks’ unreasonable antics, and refuses to do things she doesn’t want to do. She’s very cool.)
  • Chekhov: The Cherry Orchard
  • Gogol: Nevsky Prospect, Diary of a Madman, The Nose, The Overcoat
  • Dostoevsky: Crime and Punishment
  • Tolstoy: Three Deaths, Kholstomer: The Story of a Horse, The Death of Ivan Ilyich, The Kreutzer Sonata, Hadji Murat, After the Ball, Bethink Yourselves

Grading Weights:
The grading for this course is as follows:
(30%) Quizzes
(30%) Midterm Paper (750-1000 words)
(40%) Final Paper (1000-1250 words)
(Extra Credit up to 5%)

Details:
Quizzes are conducted online via Canvas, with a time limit of just a few minutes to complete 4 to 5 multiple-choice questions about the reading material. The questions are generally not difficult, focusing on the novel’s plot and character identities. However, don’t expect to ace the quiz by simply Googling or using ChatGPT for answers. Occasionally, the questions include concepts mentioned in class, and many questions paraphrase events from the novel, making it easy to lose points if you rely solely on online searches. It’s recommended to attend the lectures and, at the very least, read the books.

Midterm Paper and Final Paper require you to analyze a short passage—either one provided by the instructor or one you select yourself from the readings. The analysis focuses on elements such as the use of language, imagery, themes, or structure. The analysis must be text-based, without using any secondary sources or materials outside the original work. Additionally, there’s no need to analyze the historical context or sociocultural background of the text.

Extra Credit involves attending a lecture organized by CREECArelated to the Russia-Ukraine war and writing a one-page reflection, or reading an article on the topic and submitting a two-page response. I attended a CREECA interview with exiled journalist Elena Kostyuchenko but didn’t write a reflection afterward.

Personal Experience and Evaluation:

I chose this course mainly because I was deeply moved and inspired by The Brothers Karamazov when I read it in high school—it quickly became one of my all-time favorites. I had started reading Crime and Punishment before but didn’t finish it, so the opportunity to read it in this course was a major draw (of course, I’m also interested in other Russian literature).

Most of the reading materials in this course were quite enjoyable for me. My personal favorites were Dostoevsky’s Crime and Punishment, Lermontov’s A Hero of Our Time, and a few of Gogol’s short stories. However, during the final two weeks when we read Tolstoy’s works, I just couldn’t get through them—they felt incredibly dull to me. (While browsing online, That said, while browsing online, I found that many people share a similar opinion: they find Dostoevsky’s works captivating and can’t put them down, while Tolstoy’s feel bored by comparison. This might just be a matter of personal taste. I hope this doesn’t offend any Tolstoy fans! 🙏)

As for the midterm and final papers, I found them manageable—analyzing the text carefully was enough to achieve a good grade.

If you’re looking for a course to fulfill your Literature credit and are interested in or enjoy Russian literature, I highly recommend this one. You get to read great novels, write two essays, and there are no exams, making it an easy way to earn a good grade.

(Although the course is relatively easy, make sure to attend the classes! Attendance dropped significantly during the latter half of the semester, leaving the professor frustrated enough to revise the grading scheme, adding 7% for attendance. Needless to say, that quickly boosted attendance rates.)

ENTOM 201 Insects and Human Culture-a Survey Course in Entomology

Taken in Fall 2024, taught by Professors Sean Schoville and Russell L. Groves, with Ann Marsh as the TA.

Course Content:
The course covers a wide range of topics, including:

  • The scientific classification of insects
  • Insect evolution
  • Insect life cycles
  • Insect physiology and structure
  • Insect migration
  • Social insects
  • Agricultural entomology (focusing on pest control)
  • Insect communication methods
  • The impact of insect biodiversity on humans
  • The role of insects in disease transmission

Grading Weights:
The grading for this course is as follows:
(20%) Observation of insect growth
(15%) Twelve quizzes
(35%) Five short conceptual responses
(20%) Insect microdocumentary
(10%) Class participation in group discussions

Details:
Observation of Insect Growth requires you to submit a complete record of observing the growth of Manduca(tobacco hornworms). The specific requirements are a bit detailed, but they are clearly outlined in the syllabus, and the professor provides reference materials to guide you. If you’re unsure about terminology or formatting, thoroughly check Canvas—you’ll definitely find what you need. Completing the observation isn’t difficult but requires daily commitment. If you’re on the lazier side, at the very least, take a photo each day and fill in the full record before the deadline.

Twelve Quizzes are conducted online via Canvas, each lasting 10 minutes with 5 multiple-choice questions. They are very simple and focus on the content of weekly lecture videos posted on Canvas. If you’re like me and prefer reading over watching videos, Canvas also provides transcripts of the videos for reference.

Five Short Conceptual Responses involve selecting 5 topics from the 17 weekly themes (one or two themes per week) and creating concise 4-5 slide presentations. You can submit more than 5 and have your top 5 scores counted.

Insect Microdocumentary requires you to create a 3 to 4-minute insect documentary.

Class Participation in Group Discussions involves working in small groups to complete discussion questions during class. This part is quite easy. (Since my speaking and listening skills weren’t very strong, I often relied on my teammates to guide the discussions. I’m truly grateful for their support and teamwork!٩( ‘ω’ )و )

Personal Experience and Evaluation:

This course covers a wide range of fascinating topics, and the materials provided are incredibly engaging—every link is worth exploring. My favorite session was the forensic entomology lecture. It was absolutely fascinating; the professors taught us how to estimate the time of death of a victim using larval types and formulas. (As someone who’s been obsessed with detective stories like Judge of Song Dynasty since elementary school, seeing a portrait of Song Ci (a figure in Chinese history, but not among the most renowned) appear on a slide in an entomology course halfway across the world was a moment of pure amazement щ(゜ロ゜щ) Perhaps the readers of the English version of this blog have not seen Judge of Song Dynasty, an excellent Chinese TV series. It tells the story of Song Ci, a righteous judge from the Song Dynasty, who uses forensic science to solve cases and catch criminals, while also authoring the world’s first ever written book in forensic science. If you’re interested, feel free to click the link and take a look!). Another memorable moment happened during the first or second in-person lecture, when the professors brought a box of insect-based snacks—fried grasshoppers, I think—and invited the class to try them (I couldn’t bring myself to try, though…).

The most unique assignment in this course is raising Manduca. It’s actually quite simple—just follow the instructions provided. Even if something goes wrong, there’s no need to worry. You can contact the professors, and they’ll help you figure out what’s wrong. Even if your Manduca die accidentally, it’s fine—you just need to document it, pick up a new one from the professor, and keep going.

The professors are incredibly friendly and always happy to talk with students before or after class. One of my most memorable experiences was when, before we started the insect microdocumentary project, they took the class on an outdoor walk in the Allen Centennial Garden. They armed with nets, and explored the grass and bushes with students, looking for insects while giving demonstrations and explanations. It was truly a fun and inspiring experience.

This is an absolutely lighthearted and enjoyable course. If you’re looking for a class to fulfill your Biological Science credit and don’t mind raising a little insect in a plastic container in your apartment, I highly recommend this course!

AFROAMER 156 Black Music and American Cultural History

Taken in Fall 2024, taught by Professor Alexander Shashko with TA Kris Adams.

Course Content:
The course primarily explores the history of Black music, covering genres such as blues, gospel, jazz, rock, disco, and hip-hop. However, the class goes beyond simply introducing and playing these songs—it also includes in-depth discussions about the historical context and cultural impact of these musical styles.

The reading materials consist of three books, which you’ll need to reference when writing the midterm and final papers: A Change Is Gonna Come、Can‘t stop, Won’t Stop、Our America

Grading Weights:
The grading for this course is as follows:
(25% = 10% + 15%) Lecture Notes
(10%) Discussion Attendance
(40% = 2 x 20%) Midterm Papers (1000-1250 words)
(25%) Final Paper (1750-2000 words)

In fact, I’m not entirely sure about the exact weight of the first two grading components, so there might be some inaccuracies. However, I’m confident about the accuracy of weights of the midterm and final papers.

Details:
Lecture Notes require you to submit notes for each class. These notes need to go beyond the outlines provided in Shashko’s course materials. They count for a portion of the grade and also serve as attendance records. The in-person lectures are not recorded, and you’re allowed to skip submitting notes for at most two sessions without penalty. Therefore, it’s best to avoid missing class and to take detailed notes during lectures.

Midterm Papers involves selecting three songs and writing a Call & Response-style essay (Call & Response is one of the five key elements of Black music introduced in the course). You’ll use one song as the “Call Song” to introduce your theme, which should make up 60% of the essay. The other two songs are “Response Songs” that address the theme introduced by the Call Song, making up the remaining 40%. The analysis must incorporate the three impulses and five elements of Black music discussed in class, as well as references to the course reading materials.

The Final Paper is based on the book Our America, which is a collection of interviews and can be read relatively quickly. After reading the book, you’ll create a soundtrack for it (or for the documentary film based on it), selecting 6 to 8 songs. Your essay should analyze the chosen songs using the three impulses and five elements of Black music taught in class, while also referencing the course reading materials. Additionally, you’ll need to explain why your selected songs are the most suitable choices for the book’s soundtrack.

Personal Experience and Evaluation:

This course is excellent, and you can find countless positive reviews about Professor Shashko’s class on Reddit. It’s widely recognized by past students as one of the best courses. If you’re looking for a class to fulfill both your Ethnic Studies and Humanities credit requirements, this is a fantastic choice.

That said, I found the class a bit challenging compared to my other Fall 2024 courses (though I still managed to get an A ( *｀ω´)).

The difficulty was primarily due to personal reasons. As a non-native English-speaking transfer student, my English listening skills aren’t strong. Professor Shashko speaks quite quickly during his 75-minute lectures, and with lecture notes being an important part of the grade—and no recordings available—keeping up with the lectures while taking detailed notes was especially tough for me.

Additionally, my limited understanding of American culture made the Discussion Section somewhat painful. Engaging in discussions with the TA and classmates was challenging because I lacked the cultural context needed for smooth conversations. The experience sometimes felt really awkward. If you’re an international student like me, this is something you might want to consider before enrolling.

Lastly, the requirements and grading criteria for the course papers felt overly detailed and, at times, even tedious. I sometimes struggled to identify the key points of focus. For example, in the first midterm paper, I didn’t fully understand the rubric and only analyzed the songs using the “three impulses,” neglecting the “five elements.” As a result, while the average score was 19/20, I ended up with a 17/20. If you’re interested in this course, I strongly recommend engaging with the TA and professor to clarify expectations and avoid similar issues.

Conclusion

Thank you for reading! I hope this blog helps you choose courses that suit you best.

For the courses I have completed, I still have the notes I took during the course and exam preparation. However, I haven’t decided how to share them yet.

If you need them or have any suggestions, feel free to let me know through the comments or other means.