Online Class Notes (Jesse) [30]

Scholars are puzzled about the purpose of the cave paintings of Lascaux, the finest example of prehistoric art. The reading passage says that these paintings were made to ensure a successful hunt. However, in the lecture, the professor argues that there is nothing which can support the view of the reading passage.

First, the reading passage suggests that the most animals in the paintings are large mammals, such as bison and wild horses. They are known to have been hunted by the Paleolithic people who created the paintings. And a number of the animals are shown wounded by arrows and spears. Yet according to the lecture, the professor points out that there are many animals that people don’t eat in the paintings too, such as cats. And the kind of species which are an important food source for people are not in the paintings. Also, only some of the animals are shown wounded by arrows and spears.

Second, the reading claims that the people who have animal heads in the paintings may be hunters. On the other hand, the lecture refutes it and says that the people who have animal heads are lying down, even sleeping, so they are not hunters.

Third, the passage says that these paintings were used to ensure that real hunts would be successful, because many cultures believe that paintings have magical powers to affect reality. However, the professor holds a different view that although many cultures actually believe that paintings have magical powers to affect reality, this magical power also can be used to communicate with their ancestors. So, these paintings may show a kind of ceremony.

It is important to understand what is taught in universities, so the teachers are an important factor when it comes to this. The students often hesitate when choosing between the professors who students have already had other classes with and the professors whose classes students have never taken before. Based on my background and experience, I firmly side with the statement that students should take courses taught by professors with whom they have already had other classes.

First of all, if students already know the professors, they can understand the content that professors teach more easily and also will be able to pass exams with greater ease. To be more specific, the students who already taught by professors familiarize the behavior molds of professors. They know that when professors will teach some key points, and the most efficient way to write note, even when professors take quizes. These students can quickly understand knowledge and prepare exam, and then they can get high grade in the exam.

Secondly, students take courses taught by professors who they have already had other classes can improve the relationship  between students and professors. Because there are many interactions between students and professors, such as preparations of paper and academic activities. These interactions can totally improve the relationship between students and professors, it also bring many conveniences to students, such as recommendation letters and curve of you whole GPA. Take myself to be an good example, I took macroeconomics courses last year, and my teacher, Mr.Cui, was very friendly, so I be familiar with him. In this year, I chose him again in microeconomics courses. In this year, I needed to prepare many academic competetions, so I had many extra meeting with Mr.Cui outside class. We even had dinner together and talked about our daily lifes. At last, we were more like friends than teachers and students. And when I graduated, he writed a great recommendation letter to my next university, and it was a very importnat factor to my successful application. This is a good case to show the improtance of relationship between students and professors.

All in all, because of following statements, I prefer to  take courses taught by professors with whom students have already had other classes.