PUB AFF 70
Information, Evidence, and Persuasion
Description: Lecture, three hours; discussion, one hour. Examination of sources and varieties of knowledge produced in social sciences. Evaluation of types of evidence, arguments, and persuasion on social problems and public issues. Examination of public life of evidence and arguments by different actors in social policy-making, persuasion, and propaganda process. Letter grading.
Units: 4.0
Units: 4.0
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Most Helpful Review
Spring 2022 - The class material was not connected to the assignments at all. While the lectures themselves were interesting and the professor did an okay job with that, the assignments were very poorly designed and arbitrarily graded. All of the assignments were graded by the TA (as per usual for most lower divs), but the TAs, at least for my section, did not provide any sort of rubric or information on how grading would occur. Rather, they just assigned grades without any explanation. I heard from several other students in the course that they spoke with their TAs at length about assignments, trying to perfect them before submitting only to receive a B with no explanation. Something similar happened to me as well in a few of these assignments. The class just seemed to be badly organized in my opinion and the professor was not really open or available to making the class more accessible. Would not recommend the course to anyone with this professor, or especially the TA Niamh.
Spring 2022 - The class material was not connected to the assignments at all. While the lectures themselves were interesting and the professor did an okay job with that, the assignments were very poorly designed and arbitrarily graded. All of the assignments were graded by the TA (as per usual for most lower divs), but the TAs, at least for my section, did not provide any sort of rubric or information on how grading would occur. Rather, they just assigned grades without any explanation. I heard from several other students in the course that they spoke with their TAs at length about assignments, trying to perfect them before submitting only to receive a B with no explanation. Something similar happened to me as well in a few of these assignments. The class just seemed to be badly organized in my opinion and the professor was not really open or available to making the class more accessible. Would not recommend the course to anyone with this professor, or especially the TA Niamh.
AD
Most Helpful Review
Spring 2023 - I absolutely loved PA 70. Prof Manville is a great lecturer and just an overall great guy. For all of the graded assignments, you argue both sides of a certain controversial topic. This was really interesting because you get to choose a topic that actually interests you and that you feel passionate about which made it really easy. The lectures themselves are actually really interesting bc you learn about different persuasion techniques and how they have been used in past real life situations. You don't need to take notes bc you'll never be tested on the info, it's just interesting to sit and listen. Discussion is really chill, most of mine would get cancelled, and my TA basically just walked around and gave us help when we needed it or answered questions. This was my favorite pub aff lower div and I would HIGHLY recommend it!!!
Spring 2023 - I absolutely loved PA 70. Prof Manville is a great lecturer and just an overall great guy. For all of the graded assignments, you argue both sides of a certain controversial topic. This was really interesting because you get to choose a topic that actually interests you and that you feel passionate about which made it really easy. The lectures themselves are actually really interesting bc you learn about different persuasion techniques and how they have been used in past real life situations. You don't need to take notes bc you'll never be tested on the info, it's just interesting to sit and listen. Discussion is really chill, most of mine would get cancelled, and my TA basically just walked around and gave us help when we needed it or answered questions. This was my favorite pub aff lower div and I would HIGHLY recommend it!!!
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