Y1S2 | Module Review: GL2101, GL2103, GE2204, JS2224/SSA2205, LAK1201

[edit 28/2/20: I will not be entertaining any more requests for notes.]

GL2101: ORIGINS OF THE MODERN WORLD 

The CORS GL2101 Modular Info is on-point. It is essentially a history-based module that studies how the political, national, cultural and economic scenes transformed and morphed in the contemporary world. Lectures are mainly descriptive and analysis thinking is often left to students to synthesize the information into coherent arguments. What is most important is to link the historical facts to how it shaped the contemporary world.

The pace of lectures can be stifling for the restless—prof has this tendency to indulge in her own knowledge of the topic and wander off—but I find it lax on the whole. Assignment-wise, it was manageable—I had an individual term paper on Olympe de Gouges (the Declaration of the Rights of Woman) (max word count: 2k) and another short 'essay' of about 700 words on 'Nation and Nationalism'. Readings can be difficult to digest—hard historical facts and primary sources that might require deeper thinking to extract key messages. All readings are uploaded on IVLE.

Tutorial participation: 10%
Mid-term test: 20%
Term paper: 30%
Final: 40%

Key Topics:
Lecture 1: Origins of the Modern World
Lecture 2: Early Modern Globalization I
Lecture 3: Early Modern Globalization II
Lecture 4: Revolutions & their Resonances
Lecture 5: Industrialization
Lecture 6: Humanitarian Intervention (I shifted all info on this topic to my GL2103 folder - it is way more relevant there than with GL2101)
Lecture 7: Development of the Modern Nation
Lecture 8: Nationalism & Ethnic Conflict
Lecture 9: Imperialism
Lecture 10: Warfare/Welfare State
Lecture 11: Post-1945 World
Lecture 12: Terrorism (not tested for finals because prof could not finish teaching on time due to a bad cold weeks before)

My grade: B+
I was honestly expecting an A because I found it easy to write but as you can see...
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GL2103: GLOBAL GOVERNANCE

This is by far the most difficult module I took out of the five—it forced me to engage with the modern world and current affairs to string together theories and practical. Although the most difficult, it is also my favorite as prof is clever and supportive and witty. She took both lectures and tutorials for our class of about 50. The CORS GL2103 Modular Info is pretty accurate. This module is really just writing about the troubles of global governance with respect to current affairs.

Even though some of the readings are boooooooring and mentally exhausting to go through, the others are really engaging and stimulating—better writers managed to open up a new world of perspective for me. The downside is, there are quite a few readings that require a trip down to RBR, which can be quite a hassle, especially when said book has been borrowed. Tutorials are effectively for students to take the rein to exchange views and voice out questions. This module was slightly heavier with assignments—I had a group term presentation due on the 2nd tutorial and an individual term paper of ~3000 words (topic for presentation and paper had to be related) to submit (topic of your own choice in relation to global governance).

[edit 4/1/16]: I took GL2103 in AY2014/2015 Semester 2 and Prof Gleason was taking the module—there has been a change in teaching staff since. But here are some tips as requested. GL2103 is application over anything else. Application to real-time issues on global governance and less about theories and what not. The readings would help a lot since prof gleason sets her exam questions on the readings and what the authors' POVs are. Another tip would be to voice out your questions regardless if you consider them 'stupid/common sense' or not because each person might have a different interpretation/solution to the issue discussed in class. Also, it's easier to understand when the class hash things out aloud because some topics are complex and requires a lot of analysis to write a coherent term paper/assignment/finals. Keep an eye out for global institutions (e.g. UN, UNDP, IMF, WB) and their shortcomings as well as their original vs current functions in the global scene as well as the clout MNCs and nation-states hold. The last tip I would share is to not write broadly but try going for depth coupled with thoughtful analysis/critique and application to real life.

Tutorial participation: 20%
Term presentation: 20%
Term Paper: 30%
Final: 30%

Key Topics:
Lecture 1: Global Governance
Lecture 2: Structure, Sovereignty and the International System
Lecture 3: Seeking Legitimacy - International Law, Norms and Global Governance (Guest Lecturer: Dr. Courtney Fung from HKU)
Lecture 4: Resistance to Global Governance
Lecture 5: Colonialism, Post-Colonialism and Development (Guest Lecturer: Prof Kurz)
Lecture 6: Economic Global Governance
Lecture 7: the Role of Non-State Actors in Governance Rule-Making
Lecture 8:  International Financial Bodies
Lecture 9: the UN
Lecture 10: ASEAN & Regional Governance
Lecture 11: the Global Governance of Climate Change
Lecture 12: Governing Conflict
Lecture 13: the Future of Global Governance

My grade: B+
I expected like a C or D. I was so miserable when I finished my final because I screwed it up beyond words. Thankful for this average grade.
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GE2204: CITIES IN TRANSITION

This is by far the most disappointing module of this semester. I chose to read GE2204 to fulfil my theme requirement—I decided on this thinking it would be great to understand how the migratory patterns in and out of cities play out and the issues that arise from it, but it turned out to be a complete mess. I was misguided by the CORS GE2204 Modular Info—because of "urban activities and peoples' mobility". As GE2204 was listed under the theme Population and Migration in the GL list, I naturally assumed that such modules would adhere closely to the theme. I later realized with horror that I was diving into more in-depth content on topics I studied in JC geography class. Topics that I didn't like. Stuff like revitalization and re-imaging and eco-cities. I find GE2204 more fixated on structural and economical development and issues of cities (e.g. global cities vs ordinary cities, residential and shopping landscapes) instead of a focus on humanistic aspects (migratory) as a whole. I'm planning on reflecting this to the GL dept so as to better organize the GL Modular List to prevent further confusion and misguidance.

Two profs teach GE2204—each one takes the class for half the semester. Tutorials are pretty lax—I was bored with this module (because of the overlapping content I learned in JC geography) but even if I wasn't paying much attention there wasn't really much to learn from tutorials. Prof Pow's lectures are heavy in content and heavier than Prof Bunnell's, but his assigned readings are easier to digest and less boring. Prof Bunnell's assigned readings are generally more technical and theoretical.

Assignments-wise, I would say they are heavy in this module too but as long as you plan out field trips it should not be a problem to balance. A group term presentation and paper (max 3000 words inclusive of references) on the shopping landscape in SG—my team did ours on Mustafa and we did spend quite a few hours doing participation observation at the mall itself. On top of that, an individual term paper (max 1000 words) on "What if S'pore Had Not Become a World City?" with emphasis on financial and economic development, based on self-guided trips to the URA City Gallery and the MB City Gallery.

Tutorial participation: 5%
Group presentation:10%
Group term paper: 20%
Individual term paper: 15%
Final: 50%

Key Topics:
Lecture 1: Restless Cities, Urbanizing World
Lecture 2: Study of Cities
Lecture 3: Origins & Growth of Cities
Lecture 4: Megacity Management & Governance
Lecture 5: Global Cities
Lecture 6: Ordinary Cities & Urban Lives
Lecture 7: Central City Landscape: Urban Decline & Regeneration
Lecture 8: Central City Landscape: Urban Representations & Contestations
Lecture 9: Central City Landscape: Retail Landscapes
Lecture 10: Residential Landscapes
Lecture 11: the City & Nature: the Nature of City
Lecture 12: the City & Nature: City in Nature
Lecture 13: Cities in Transition (overview)

My grade: B
I thought I did okay and I still think I deserve a better grade, say an A-.
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JS2224/SSA2205: JAPAN & S'PORE

I initially took up this module to fulfil my Region requirement but now I'm thinking if I should use this to fulfil my SSA basket instead. If it seems as if the module is broad, it really is—refer CORS JS2224/SSA2205 Modular Info. This module is pretty boring to learn about, and distracting since it is so broad in content. It even seems appropriate if you deem it as an exposure module of sorts. But the political and economic aspects were interesting to me since they relate to my region and major.

Readings can be located in IVLE, and also the textbook that we are required to purchase. I got mine from the Used Textbook Forum and have put up the book for sale on said forum. Two separate group presentations (one on Liang Court which is also a collaboration with the group essay, the other on SG's war memorials/landscapes) and one group term paper (max 2000 words). Prof decided not to test any content discussed in tutorials for finals so that cut down on content to revise for.

[edit 4/1/16]: This module is not difficult per se—it's just very broad in nature covering political, social, historical, cultural, and business aspects of Japan-SG relations; it's not just history alone. The difficult part isn't the content because it's just there as it is—meaning it doesn't require much analysis/critique—the difficult part is how to differentiate your papers from the rest of your module mates as there are a lot of them in this module. I feel that the focus isn't very clear and the mentors are gliding through broad topics instead of paying due attention to each so that makes it a little harder to concentrate on our part.

Tutorial participation (inclusive of presentations I reckon): 30%
Group term paper: 20%
Final: 50%

Key Topics:
Lecture 1: Intro
Lecture 2: Japan & S'pore Before 1920
Lecture 3: S'pore's Experience Under the Jpn Occupation
Lecture 4: Jpn Imagination of the South
Lecture 5: Jpn's Economic Re-Entry into S'pore after 1945
Lecture 6: Jpn Community in S'pore
Lecture 7: S'pore's Memory of Jpn Occupation
Lecture 8: Jpn Shrine in S'pore (Guest Lecturer)
Lecture 9: Economic Cooperation & Regionalism
Lecture 10: Jpn Business Culture & S'pore (Guest Lecturer)
Lecture 11: Jpn Popular Culture in S'pore
Lecture 12: Overview

My grade: B+
I came out of this one feeling crappy too so it turned out for the better. Glad to know my scribble-nonsense-and-hope-for-the-best skills helped me survive failing this module.
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LAK1201: KOREAN LEVEL 1

I am so not a language person. I really only took Korean for the GL Language requirement. I got so tired and irritated halfway through the semester. As per the CORS LAK1201 Modular Info, you learn the vowels and consonants of Hangul, how to read Hangul, simple vocabulary, grammar and short sentence structures. You're required to purchase the Level 1 textbook.

Both lectures and tutorials are engaging and fun experiences though. I presume it's because my teachers for both were really nice and friendly. As my tutorial slots were at 6pm, I was initially grouchy about it since I'm a home-as-soon-as-I-can kinda person. It was of course a surprise to find out that tutorials were so fun to attend, credit going to my lovely and chirpy classmates. There are no readings for LAK1201 but there is a group project, two vocabulary tests, a mid-term test, an end-of-term test and an oral test. Along the way, there will be short assignments but those are really basic and easy to clear.

Written tests (combined): 50%
Oral test: 10%
Assignments: 15%
Group Video Project: 15%
Participation: 10%

My grade: B+
Again, I thought I had a pretty good chance of an A.
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Anyone who needs more information can leave me a message and I'll do my best to provide more details. Modular info is also subjected to changes.

Good luck,
fee.

p.s. I was extremely reluctant to do up this post but the lack of information made me really frustrated when making decisions on which modules to read. Also, I realized that the information reflected on the CORS website might not always reflect what the module is really about. I was so disappointed when I realized that I've been misguided to take modules that might not even truly relate to my major or interest. I hope this helps, even if it's just a bit.