Anonymous (1) AY25/26 Sem 2

About the instructor

Prof Yew is clearly knowledgable of the content. He also provides valuable and rather comprehensive feedback to the work and is approachable to questions and consultations. His focus on argument structures and how to structure an academic paper is valuable to first-time writers, with him spending substantively more time on this than other NTW profs (from what I heard from other friends). His lessons do bring out interesting aspects about popular media, cultural studies and apocalyptic literature, which is useful for ideating about what to write for the papers. He is also liberal in defining the scope of our papers, one of my papers spent a significant portion talking about stuff not really related to apocalypticism and prof was chill with it. 

However, oratical skills is not his forte, he tends to goes off tangent or asks overly convoluted questions during discussions and consults, which makes things confusing. He also tends to assign a bunch of readings, but either merely skims over them or gives confusing instructions about the greater idea the reading is supposed to lead to, making preparation before class somewhat inefficient. 

Nonetheless, if you are interested in the substantive content of apocalyptic and dystopian popular media, it is still an engaging course to take when compared to the rather philosophy / art - based topics for many of the other NTW courses.

Content (Structure/Organization)

The movie screenings in Wks 5, 7, 12 were very meaningful in exploring cultural studies lens with apocalyptic film, and provided great ideas for topics to write in the papers. But it would have been more effective if done earlier in the semester. 

 The opinion article (2,000 words, 25% of grade) was also an interesting assignment to do, but the group editorial that we were supposed to put together using the articles was way too rushed as we had to do it together with the final paper in wk 13 and reading wk. I could see how the assignments could have been very meaningful and enriching, but just did not have the time to put in enough effort to maximise the learning potential of the course.

Manageability of Workload

As with every NTW course it is high workload and it should be taken in an non-overloading semester or with other fluff mods. But from what I heard from my friends, this NTW has slightly heavier workload than other NTWs. Papers are back-to-back with barely any break from week 4 onwards. The group editorial (10% of grade) also takes up a disproportionate amount of time, when factoring in website design, formatting, and the extra draft and consult we needed to have as a group. 

 The 3 papers (proposal, opinion article and final paper) are pretty interesting if you can find the time, energy and inspiration to write about a meaningful topic, so it can be high workload but rather rewarding.

Ease/Difficulty of Attaining Grades

Prof seems rather liberal in handing out a B+ as long as you make an effort to improve on his comments in the initial drafts. The first assignment (research proposal) can be on the stricter side, but for the other papers, a A- is pretty achievable if you are writing on something you are genuinely interested in and can come up with some good points to talk about.

Learning Value/Recommendation

It was generally useful in appreciating different cultural perspectives and insights on apocalypticism. To me, one of the more relatable topics across the NTW courses.

Additional Comments

It is important to find a topic that you are genuinely interested in for the opinion article and final paper, as it makes the papers much more tolerable to write. 

For whoever is considering the course, the opinion article and group editorial of previous batches is published here: https://digitalpatmos.com/ You can read it to get a sense of what you will be writing and exploring in the course before you bid for it.

Anonymous (2) AY25/26 Sem 2

About the instructor

Course content was effectively delivered, however all the classes were at this low energy level which affected class participation.

Content (Structure/Organization)

The concepts were understandable and the course was overall well-structured.

Manageability of Workload

The workload was quite heavy compared to the other 4-unit courses. Our course had a research proposal and group editorial work which differed from the other ones, as well as a lack of a research presentation which became a challenge when I wrote my research.

Ease/Difficulty of Attaining Grades

I do not have sufficient data points to answer clearly, but the grade is probably more lenient.

Learning Value/Recommendation

It is useful in helping me understand academic writing and allowed me to touch social sciences as a STEM student.

Anonymous (3) AY25/26 Sem 2

About the instructor

The professor is extremely effective in conducting lessons. We had several lively class discussions, and we were able to openly ask questions and interact with the rest of the class. The professor was very approachable, and it was easy to discuss texts with him, even those not part of the list of prescribed texts being handled for the course. He told us about his research experiences and recommended reading to those who asked for it under certain topics, as I did for power and governance in writing my NTW essay. His consultations were very useful, since I was able to freely clear any doubts I had, and I always felt that I walked away with a deeper understanding of how to move forward in my writing. He let me explain what I thought first before giving his feedback, so that he could also hear straight from me what I wanted my writing to convey; this helped me retain my intentions with my writing even as I made edits according to the feedback I received.

Content (Structure/Organization)

The course-wide curriculum is organised well, allowing us to explore different forms of media and different angles of apocalyptic cultures.

Manageability of Workload

It is heavy, but if planning is done correctly, then it should not be a problem to complete assignments beforehand. There is homework given before every class, and doing it would be very helpful in effectively engaging in class. However, the reading workload is a little high, so completing these readings before when they are due to be discussed in class is advisable.

Ease/Difficulty of Attaining Grades

It is possible to get an A if the right preparation is done and the student thinks through the course and its assignments well.

Learning Value/Recommendation

It has been very useful and I have learnt so much about writing, thinking about argument structures and how to put forward a point after analysing texts of different kinds. I have also learnt to defend my points and arguments using good structure, evidence and reasoning, and still be receptive to other perspectives.

Additional Comments

I would advise that this not be taken with NSW.

Anonymous AY25/26 Sem 1

About the instructor

I personally liked the movie screenings, especially the last one with the movie director and it felt much more enriching and we got to apply what we had learnt in class. Still, the screenings are rather late at night and it does get tiring. 

Prof is also quite approachable and friendly though he does ramble on in consults sometimes; come up with a list of questions before your consult and anticipate follow-up questions to get the most out of it. 

Content (Structure/Organization)

I think it's rather organised, the Prof gives a full breakdown of what to expect for the rest of the semester during the first class, and that information is also available on his website

Manageability of Workload

was manageable at the beginning but it got more taxing towards the end with the papers and all, spent around 5h a day at times. 

the 3 major assessments are the Research Proposal, Editorial Article, Research Paper

Ease/Difficulty of Attaining Grades

I believe prof is more liberal in handing out good grades, but an A is really tough

Learning Value/Recommendation

4/5, given that I'm a Y1 and this is my first foray into academic writing

Anonymous AY22/23 Sem 2

About the instructor

Prof Leung is really knowledgeable and is always happy to share further insights with us if we approach her after class with questions. She encourages lots of collaboration in class through class discussions and peer reviews, and she makes her classroom a safe space for us to share our thoughts with others and to disagree respectfully.

Content (Structure/Organization)

The sequence of content was logically organised. Prof had a clearly defined set of content to teach us every lesson, and her writing lessons were clearly linked to our readings. However, insights about readings were very student-dependent, as she encouraged us using guiding questions to come up with our own interpretations about class materials. 

Accessibility

Prof Leong took time to explain concepts to us (eg: the economic concept of supply and demand, utilitarianism, Marxism) and correct common misconceptions, which I really appreciated. I think that helped us to have a basic understanding of the module content, although students without background may struggle at the start since the concepts are not always the easiest to understand. 

Manageability of Workload

Class time - about 4h (rounded up). Readings - 2-3h every week. Assignments - depends on weightage. I finished one assignment (the least intensive one) in 2h, but for another, I spent an average of 4-6h on it every day (in the week leading up to the deadline) to complete it because of the amount of research needed.

Ease/Difficulty of Attaining Grades

I feel that your grade will depend on your individual writing style, the amount of effort you put in, and whether you are able to come up with fresh insights in your paper. Prof likes students who write clearly and logically, with a certain flow in mind. She also gives extra credit to students who can demonstrate clear knowledge about their paper subject matter, because they have done their due diligence in research. She isn’t too focused on vocabulary (so there’s no need for flowery language), rather, she’s focused on clarity of thought. Though Prof is generally on the stricter side, I think that if you have an interest in this module, and if you are willing to put in the hard work required for assignments, this shouldn’t be a deterring factor :-)

Learning Value/Recommendation

I’ve gained lots of insight into the module content, and picked up invaluable writing skills that will serve as my writing foundation in university. I’m very grateful to Prof for giving her students more confidence to speak up in class too!

Anonymous (1) AY21/22 Sem 2

About the instructor

The Prof is very knowledgeable in the module content and knows exactly what he’s teaching. Despite so, considering that he has 20+ over students, you can’t expect him to remember every single student’s writing. So, just be patient and expect to explain yourself whenever you consult him all over again. But in general, Prof Yew is super understanding and very encouraging. This is my first USP module I have taken so far, and the experience has been pleasing because of the Prof’s attitude towards the students! 

Content (Structure/Organization)

Prof Yew uses an external portal where he will disseminate information a few days / a week before the actual lecture. So, we are able to access the learning outcomes & the reading materials in advance. On certain lessons, he prefer teaching through discussion based on the reading materials. While others could be group works or small assignments done in class. One key thing to note about this module is that there are 3 compulsory film screenings that take place throughout the semester, which mainly cover the different apocalyptic cultures. 

Accessibility

As a Science student who’s not a big fan of writing research papers, the module is highly accessible as it is very flexible in terms of the chosen texts. (movies/films/books) There is no hard & fast rule behind writing a research paper, but of course, there is a need to grasp the fundamental structure of a good essay outline. 

Manageability of Workload

Personally, the pre-lecture materials will be good to read up in advance if you have the time because the lesson flow is highly dependent on discussions. However, I do know some of my friends who do well in class participation even without reading the materials beforehand. So, it’s still possible to just forego the reading materials. One of the assignments in this module is the Group Editorial Work - where your group is required to edit and publish a blogpost featuring your opinion articles. This assignment drags on for quite some time even after final week! So, I would say it’s one of the longest WCT (Editor's note: WCT has changed to NTW) module to officially complete its syllabus. 

I think there is not much technical skills involve but it might be good to be well equipped about the different apocalyptic cultures. More specifically, the ones you are intending to write about. It’s also good if you have strong interest in apocalyptic movies or books! It makes the writing module more fun :)

Ease/Difficulty of Attaining Grades

I think an A is achievable if you put in immense amount of effort and that improvement throughout your drafts is distinct. IMO, the prof is generally more liberal in handing out good grades because my peers who are in the same module have an average of B+ and above. 

Learning Value/Recommendation

To be very honest, you wouldn’t see people asking you about apocalyptic cultures outside. So I would say the usefulness of the module is a little underwhelming, but then it helps to shape my skills behind writing a research paper. At least the basics lol. 

Anonymous (2) AY21/22 Sem 2

About the instructor

Prof Yew is a very kind and engaging teacher who really does his best to make lessons as engaging as possible. He is passionate about the topic and very clear in his expectations, and is willing to offer additional consults after lessons or outside lesson hours. He is also very understanding of his students and will be willing to move deadlines should it be required. 

Content (Structure/Organization)

The module has 4 different submissions: 3 individual essays (Research Proposal, Opinion Article and Final Paper) and 1 group editorial. In general, the tasks are well-defined and it is possible to understand the main goals of each essay clearly. The topics of your essays are not defined, and hence, as long as it is in relation to apocalyptic fiction, any topic under the sun is acceptable. The deadlines are also well spaced out, and Prof Yew is more than happy to offer deadline extensions should you need it. The aims of the modules are very clear: How to write a cohesive research paper and analyze a piece of text in reference to the society of the texts writing. Prof Yew also places a heavy emphasis on clarity and structure, allowing you to understand how the text would be interpreted from the viewpoint of a reader. 

Accessibility

The module uses the topic of apocalyptic fiction and how it relates to our current world and society. Most of the readings and topics covered during lessons are very easy to digest as Prof Yew uses modern texts and movies to highlight these points, with most of the texts shown being from pop culture itself. Hence, it is very identifiable and the texts are very easy to understand and access. It is possible to easily read though a paper and identify the main points without much background knowledge. 

Manageability of Workload

As mentioned above, there a total of 4 submissions in the module. However, prof Yew also assigns weekly readings, which can range from a few pages of an article to entire chapters of a book. He also has regular forum posts which assist in crafting the essays for your final submissions. Hence, the module might seem very intensive at certain periods (especially when you are working between modules with heavier readings as well). However, in general the readings and homework are not very intensive, and Prof Yew does not grade you on the homework itself. The homework can also be done concurrently with your final submissions as they are designed to be integrated with the final submission as well. Hence, overall the workload is more manageable than it looks outwardly. 

The module has very little hard technical skills, but is more focused on analytical and writing skills. The readings by Prof Yew has a heavy emphasis on ensuring each statement of your text has a clear purpose, and on understanding how each point helps contribute to the paper's thesis at large. Hence, it is really useful for those who would like to gain a better skillset in analysing and understanding research papers, and in better learning to structure one's own articles. 

Ease/Difficulty of Attaining Grades

Prof Yew is relatively generous with his grades, and it is generally easier to get a B+ or A- in this module compared to what I have heard from other modules. However, the grading might not necessarily be proportional to your efforts, as I had gotten the same grade for a paper I wrote overnight and a paper that was written in a span of 2 weeks. Prof Yew generally focuses on the clarity of your points and structure more than the content itself, so it would be easier to get a better grade by focusing on these aspects. 

Learning Value/Recommendation

Overall, as a person who enjoys pop culture, this module was really useful in linking fiction to reality while enhancing my writing and critical thinking. The module was able to allow me to better understand what are the aspects of a good paper and link it to a topic of my interest. The freedom of choosing your own topic allowed me to further explore what I am interested in. Overall, I really enjoyed the module and would highly recommend it should it be able to fit into your timetable!