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1 Online Course Evaluation LITR / ITAL / HUMS Spring 2014 View By Respondent Print Page Evaluation # 1 I really enjoyed this class. I thought a particular strength was making many of the classes student presentations, which made everyone study in depth one or two of the works we read; I also think classes in the art gallery and the Beinecke were wonderful and would be better if organized so that on those days sit down discussion took less time and the tours of the appropriate galleries were more specifically tailored to the subject of the class. Eleonora is a wonderful and engaging lecturer, the only suggestion about whose technique might be to slow the pacing of the powerpoint a bit for note taking purposes (maybe printouts of the powerpoints to take notes on would be useful, since going slower would have to mean leaving things out). She is also very accessible and helpful one on one and was very good at promoting intense discussion in class. I think one improvement might be to make the readings more even some weeks we would have only a few pages of poems and some we would have multiple chapters of Aristotle, so maybe more selection and balance would be helpful. I would absolutely recommend this class to anyone; especially someone interested in reading a wide range of important texts and/or looking at a theme over the ages and its evolution through historical attitudes and genres. It is intense and interesting without actually being too strenuous, and certainly gives background and viewpoints on literature that inform and improve one's understanding of what one reads outside of the class. 1/8

2 Evaluation # 2 Overall, I truly enjoyed Italian 314 this semester. The subject of memory was one that I had thought a lot about in a personal context, but had never previously considered through an academic lens; finding the overlap between my own personal reflections on memory and the texts we read was particularly satisfying. Additionally, the course was effective at outlining how concepts about memory evolved through the generations, how the ideas of one philosopher or poet directly fueled the thinking of the next. That said, if I were to offer one suggestion to improve the course, I might suggest that the number of texts on the reading list be shorted slightly, so that more time could be spent on each text and the full force of each writer could be more profoundly felt. Still, this is just a minor suggestion, and overall I was genuinely pleased with my experience in Italian 314 this semester. 2/8

3 Prof. Buonocore is an extremely enthusiastic and passionate instructor. She came to each class meeting with a wealth of insight into and knowledge about the texts in question. The fact that she designed this course from her own studies for her doctoral dissertation allowed her to incorporate not only accepted interpretations of the texts from the wider academic community, but also her own ideas and theories a balance that made our class meetings dynamic and truly helped to bring the texts to life. Additionally, her strategy of assigning specific texts to individual students to present proved to be an effective way of helping students to take ownership over the texts on the syllabus. In this vein of student ownership, Prof. Buonocore was also eager to make herself available to meet with students one on one throughout the semester, affording ample opportunity to discuss the course material at length. (I remember several times going into her office for what I thought would be a ten minute meeting and then emerging an hour later after a meaningful conversation about the course texts.) All that said, if I were to offer Prof. Buonocore one suggestion for improving her teaching, I might suggest that she consider designing more specific discussion questions for each class meeting to guide the class's conversation in a more clear and pointed direction. Still, that is just a minor suggestion; overall, I genuinely enjoyed my time studying with Prof. Buonocore this semester, and I hope to have more opportunities to study with her again in the future. Italian 314 is definitely a unique course, not only for its content when else do you have an opportunity to dedicate an entire semester to the study of memory? but also for its method. In this interdisciplinary class, you read both works by philosophers and works of poetry, creating a space where philosophy and literature can come together on the same topic. This diversity ensures that each student will find their own array of texts to latch onto and truly make their own. In this vein of student ownership over the syllabus, the ten page final paper can be on any topic (tied to the syllabus) of your choosing, thus giving students a welcome opportunity to further explore their own interests about memory in literature and philosophy. Field trips throughout the semester to the Yale University Art Gallery and the Beinecke Library further enhance the feeling of exploration that this course offers. In this light, I would definitely recommend Italian 314 to another student. If for no other reason, Prof. Buonocore is an extremely enthusiastic and passionate instructor and goes out of her way to make each student feel welcome in the classroom. 3/8

4 Evaluation # 3 This was by far the best course I have taken at Yale. The other students brought tremendous energy to the discussion and Eleonora lead the class with ease and insight. I will never forget this course, the material was extremely well laid out, challenging and clearly presented a hard mix to achieve. Eleonora is one of the best teachers that I have ever had the pleasure to take a course from. As a rising senior I can say that her skill, passion and effort made for one of the best classroom experiences I've had. Her interest in the material was clear from the first day and never slacked. She went out of her way to help me prepare my presentations, I grew incredibly because of her dedicated work. Take this course!, seriously this is not an option TAKE IT! You don't need to be an Italian major, or anything close it that. It will change your life and who you think. I'm not being hyperbolic, it is absolutely amazing! 4/8

5 Evaluation # 4 This was a great course. The way the readings were chosen in order to provide the student with a tool in order to analyze texts with a specific lens in mind was very helpful. I learned a lot about philosophy, memory and showed up to class happy each session. The reading assignments were very helpful and the class discussion was incredible. The professor is very passionate about the subject which makes learning engaging and fun. 5/8

6 Professor Buonocore is incredibly talented. She is very passionate about the subject and is always ready and willing to answer questions inside and outside the classroom. She is incredibly devoted to academics and to bringing out the best in her students. The way the course readings were chosen and the way the course progressed allowed for a coherent flow of ideas in terms of analyzing what the myth of memory was. Professor Buonocore prepared excellent presentations each week which allowed for good discussions to occur. Overall, this was a great course that allowed me to read literature and comprehend the humanities in a broader fashion. I now speak to everyone about Dante and the texts. This class is incredible if you want to explore the art of memory. It has great readings and discussions that will be very intellectually fulfilling. Professor Buonocore is amazingly talented. She guides you through the different texts in such a way that you can see the progression of ideas from Plato to Dante in terms of how memory is treated. It is an excellent course if you want to learn more about the philosophy of memory and how it has played a large roll, and continues to play a large roll, in society. I would recommend taking it to explore ideas in a broader sense, acquire a learning tool in terms of reading texts. Professor Buonocore is always looking for ways to further your development as an individual and as an academic. response 6/8

7 response Evaluation # 5 This is an amazing course! At Yale, English majors have a number of required courses. These include one course in American Literature, one course in pre 1900 literature, three courses in pre 1800 literature, and 2 semesters examining the major english poets: Chaucer, Spenser, Donne, Milton, Pope, and Eliot. This class allowed me to examine the literary and philosophical foundations for all the writers I've studied as an English major at Yale. From Aristotle and Plato to Virgil and Ovid and ultimately Dante and Petrarch, this class examines some of the greatest classical literature, and with memory in mind. Reading with an objective in this class particularly, examining how vital the role of memory is in so much of what we read is of great use. Instead of reading a book for the sake of reading a book, you read with a purpose. It makes the academic analytical process more enjoyable and less difficult. The concept of memory is around me everywhere now. I don't think it had a weakness... It was truly amazing! Eleonora is an intelligent, enthusiastic, and caring professor and it is clear that she is passionate about the concept of memory in early literature. She will do anything to make sure her students are understanding the material. Knowing that a professor is there for you and willing to meet with you makes all the difference in a class with dense reading and difficult ideas and theories. Eleonora also developed a wonderful and diverse reading list, and I am so happy and thankful that I was exposed to all of these writers before graduating. Lastly, Eleonora makes class fun you want to be there and be involved! She begins the discussion and then allows her students to converse independently. She will jump in when the conversation has sparked a new idea or if she needs to clarify something. This class felt like a true seminar all because of the way Eleonora designed the class. Please take this course. If you are a English, Literature, Humanities, Philosophy, or Italian major, I would consider it a MUST TAKE!!!!! It sets the foundation for everything you will be exposed to in the future. At the same time, here at Yale, I major in English and Economics, and I think that the more practical, methodical, and less creative side of me still thoroughly enjoyed this class. It introduces a new way of reading and thinking. How is my mind working? How do I remember things? How do love and memory work together? These are questions that, by the end of the class, you will be able to answer because the class provides a great deal of physical material and 7/8

8 offers a ton of discussion to help students discover what memory actually is. Yale Online Course Evaluation Yale University /8