This lecture covers the design considerations for achieving a large voltage gain in a single stage by increasing the load impedance of the CS stage, replacing the load with a current source, and using an active load. It also discusses the impact of source degeneration on linearity and gain, as well as the behavior of a MOS device in the triode region as a resistor. The nonlinear dependence of the drain current on overdrive is explored, along with techniques to linearize the input device. Various equations and practical approaches are presented to optimize the performance of CS stages.