Pols 477 was one of the most beneficial classes I have taken during my college experience. A big surprise for me was how much I ended up enjoying the simulation. Most classes that have anything remotely similar to this donât pull it off nearly as well. I usually hate group work, but the simulations in this class were very different. For starters, the issues were contemporary, even if the struggle for a peace deal isnât a new concept, and the different sides presented made for a fun experience.
Although the class might have been more exciting during a different time, Iâm not sure Iâm too disappointed that there werenât any big events in the middle east. It might have made it more difficult to clearly see both sides, and Iâm a big fan of looking at both sides clearly and with as little bias as possible. The quiet in the middle east right now, especially between Palestine and Israel, gave me an opportunity to see the conflict with a clearer perspective.
I also enjoyed learning the historical side in class while keeping most of the contemporary issues for the blog. Each week my view on the modern issues would be slightly changed based on the new historical information learned in class during that week.
Lastly, the class as a whole just had a better atmosphere. The classmates kept it fun. I never had a problem speaking up in class because of how comfortable I felt. Overall, the class was definitely worth it.















