SOCIOL 101
Development of Sociological Theory
Description: Lecture, three hours; discussion, one hour. Comparative survey of basic concepts and theories in sociology from 1850 to 1920. P/NP or letter grading.
Units: 5.0
Units: 5.0
3 of 4
Most Helpful Review
First, this is a "Thought Control" class in which you'll be prohibited to use "system's world" theories (i.e.Marx/Weber)to argue against this professor more favored "life world" theories (i.e. Durkheim/Parsons). Second, this is "A movie going class." If you don't like movies of any kind, don't bother to take this class because you'll hate it. Some movies shown in this class are DUMB and make no sense to class theories at all. Third, Prof. Sherwood and his theories is all over the place! He can't even generate a decent prompt for the final paper. Thank god! The TA is decent and helpful.
First, this is a "Thought Control" class in which you'll be prohibited to use "system's world" theories (i.e.Marx/Weber)to argue against this professor more favored "life world" theories (i.e. Durkheim/Parsons). Second, this is "A movie going class." If you don't like movies of any kind, don't bother to take this class because you'll hate it. Some movies shown in this class are DUMB and make no sense to class theories at all. Third, Prof. Sherwood and his theories is all over the place! He can't even generate a decent prompt for the final paper. Thank god! The TA is decent and helpful.
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Most Helpful Review
Fall 2022 - Professor Sigmon is one of those Professors that you either love or hate. His lecture style consists of mainly reading off his slides, adding comments on the slides, and rinse and repeat. Occasionally he will show a video to demonstrate the concept that is he is going over, but they are really rare. Do I like his lecture style? At first no, I thought it was really boring. Then, the more you realize you don't need to read at all for his class AND his comments usually summarize the slides in a succinct way, the class just clicked for me. This is not universal though. Not everyone will have it "click" like it did for me and be wary that this is how he will lecture for the entire quarter. He tells you everything he needs to tell you and you honestly only need the slides to get through the course. Structure of the class was midterm, paper, and then final with the paper due a few days prior to the final. For both exams, it's going to be short answer question. Since the TA strike happened, the final became multiple choice. As long as you study the slides you really don't need to worry. The paper was just a compare and contrast analysis of two sociologists that Sigmon asks you to compare. Not hard at all. I'd recommend the guy; he's genuinely a cool dude, but his lecture style is not for everyone.
Fall 2022 - Professor Sigmon is one of those Professors that you either love or hate. His lecture style consists of mainly reading off his slides, adding comments on the slides, and rinse and repeat. Occasionally he will show a video to demonstrate the concept that is he is going over, but they are really rare. Do I like his lecture style? At first no, I thought it was really boring. Then, the more you realize you don't need to read at all for his class AND his comments usually summarize the slides in a succinct way, the class just clicked for me. This is not universal though. Not everyone will have it "click" like it did for me and be wary that this is how he will lecture for the entire quarter. He tells you everything he needs to tell you and you honestly only need the slides to get through the course. Structure of the class was midterm, paper, and then final with the paper due a few days prior to the final. For both exams, it's going to be short answer question. Since the TA strike happened, the final became multiple choice. As long as you study the slides you really don't need to worry. The paper was just a compare and contrast analysis of two sociologists that Sigmon asks you to compare. Not hard at all. I'd recommend the guy; he's genuinely a cool dude, but his lecture style is not for everyone.
Most Helpful Review
Fall 2020 - TAKE THIS CLASS! As a transfer student I was nervous about the transition from a Community College to a 4-year University. Professor Speer made sure that my experience in this class was a positive one. I will admit some of the readings were difficult, but Speer went over them in class and discussed it until everyone understood. Such a caring and understanding person in light of everything going on. I really wanted to take him for Sociology 182 for Winter 2020, but the class filled up so fast, and rightfully so. Speer is hands down the BEST professor in this department. Honestly, the BEST professor at UCLA!! Also if you're good he'll show his dogs Bogart and Nyla.
Fall 2020 - TAKE THIS CLASS! As a transfer student I was nervous about the transition from a Community College to a 4-year University. Professor Speer made sure that my experience in this class was a positive one. I will admit some of the readings were difficult, but Speer went over them in class and discussed it until everyone understood. Such a caring and understanding person in light of everything going on. I really wanted to take him for Sociology 182 for Winter 2020, but the class filled up so fast, and rightfully so. Speer is hands down the BEST professor in this department. Honestly, the BEST professor at UCLA!! Also if you're good he'll show his dogs Bogart and Nyla.
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Most Helpful Review
Fall 2023 - Meh. He is a good professor, but he goes quickly. I also am not a fan of pop-quizzes on the readings in class. I am also not a fan of him deciding to make the exams more difficult after we did well on the first one. This professor is HARD. You have to do the complicated readings, attend lecture, and study hard. The readings he assigns are insufferable. They are not fun to read, and extremely academically wordy. However, the class is curved, so that makes a big difference. It's an exam based class, so the entire grade is based off of three tests and the pop-quizes. You can't really miss a class because there could always be the chance of a pop-quiz. There was no extra-credit. This class is fine. You will survive, but it won't be a walk in the park. Not my favorite style class, but not the worst I've had. I am just so glad I am done with this course. I probably wouldn't choose this professor again.
Fall 2023 - Meh. He is a good professor, but he goes quickly. I also am not a fan of pop-quizzes on the readings in class. I am also not a fan of him deciding to make the exams more difficult after we did well on the first one. This professor is HARD. You have to do the complicated readings, attend lecture, and study hard. The readings he assigns are insufferable. They are not fun to read, and extremely academically wordy. However, the class is curved, so that makes a big difference. It's an exam based class, so the entire grade is based off of three tests and the pop-quizes. You can't really miss a class because there could always be the chance of a pop-quiz. There was no extra-credit. This class is fine. You will survive, but it won't be a walk in the park. Not my favorite style class, but not the worst I've had. I am just so glad I am done with this course. I probably wouldn't choose this professor again.
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