SOCIOL 102
Contemporary Sociological Theory
Description: Lecture, three hours; discussion, one hour. Requisite: course 101. Critical examination of significant theoretical formulations from 1920 to present. P/NP or letter grading.
Units: 5.0
Units: 5.0
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Most Helpful Review
TA's were told to grade extremely hard in order to fit the students along a designated grade distribution. The material is dry. I think Emigh was pretty amusing, quirky and neurotic, which made the class a little more tolerable. She tended to scream with excitement (literally) when she told jokes. I think the grading method was a little unfair. She basically gave us 1:15 minutes to write 4 essays (each having around 5 sub-questions) that each should be around 2-3 pages long. It was open book and she wanted us to use examples from the readings. I think this does not really test us on our knowledge of the material, but rather a person's ability to take tests, organize their notes, and writes REALLY fast. During midterms, I can cut the tension with a knife. Everyone struggled to fit enough material in. I got a C- on the midterm, but since I did well on the final, I got a B+. I think this is her way to force students to try super hard by scaring the crap out of them during midterms by grading a little harder... then give them a fairer grade for finals. If you do well on the finals, your grade is your final's grade.
TA's were told to grade extremely hard in order to fit the students along a designated grade distribution. The material is dry. I think Emigh was pretty amusing, quirky and neurotic, which made the class a little more tolerable. She tended to scream with excitement (literally) when she told jokes. I think the grading method was a little unfair. She basically gave us 1:15 minutes to write 4 essays (each having around 5 sub-questions) that each should be around 2-3 pages long. It was open book and she wanted us to use examples from the readings. I think this does not really test us on our knowledge of the material, but rather a person's ability to take tests, organize their notes, and writes REALLY fast. During midterms, I can cut the tension with a knife. Everyone struggled to fit enough material in. I got a C- on the midterm, but since I did well on the final, I got a B+. I think this is her way to force students to try super hard by scaring the crap out of them during midterms by grading a little harder... then give them a fairer grade for finals. If you do well on the finals, your grade is your final's grade.
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Most Helpful Review
Winter 2021 - Everyone loves Guhin, and he's a really sweet person and a caring, welcoming professor. However, I have to say as far as explaining the actual subject matter, I didn't find him that helpful. The lectures were a little too focused on his ideas and thoughts about the theorists and reading, rather helping students to understand the arguments of each theorist. You could come away from a lecture knowing Guhin's ideas and passions more than with a breakdown of the theory or argument, which is bad because later you have to write a lot of papers about that argument. TAs are helpful to a point with that but it's a crapshoot whether you get a helpful TA or not. In any case be prepared to read a lot and DO NOT get behind on reading.
Winter 2021 - Everyone loves Guhin, and he's a really sweet person and a caring, welcoming professor. However, I have to say as far as explaining the actual subject matter, I didn't find him that helpful. The lectures were a little too focused on his ideas and thoughts about the theorists and reading, rather helping students to understand the arguments of each theorist. You could come away from a lecture knowing Guhin's ideas and passions more than with a breakdown of the theory or argument, which is bad because later you have to write a lot of papers about that argument. TAs are helpful to a point with that but it's a crapshoot whether you get a helpful TA or not. In any case be prepared to read a lot and DO NOT get behind on reading.
Most Helpful Review
Jepson's a great guy, definitely take the time to talk to him outside of class, he makes himself extremely available and it is totally worth it. However he loves to go off on tangents during his lectures and since they're at 8am and you probably are an efficient note-taker, who knows that they don't need to write down all 6 examples he gave on one concept, you WILL need coffee to stay awake throughout the full lecture. Once again, he's a great guy. Take his course. It's not difficult to get an A, just make sure you have a firm understanding of the material, however you do need to put in the effort.
Jepson's a great guy, definitely take the time to talk to him outside of class, he makes himself extremely available and it is totally worth it. However he loves to go off on tangents during his lectures and since they're at 8am and you probably are an efficient note-taker, who knows that they don't need to write down all 6 examples he gave on one concept, you WILL need coffee to stay awake throughout the full lecture. Once again, he's a great guy. Take his course. It's not difficult to get an A, just make sure you have a firm understanding of the material, however you do need to put in the effort.
Most Helpful Review
Lupher has horribly distracting mannerisms. Apart from that, I didn't really think he was THAT bad, and I actually thought he was pretty funny. His lectures are way straightforward, which can be a good thing for some and a bad thing for others, but I thought it was okay because I learned most of the facts that I needed to know. One other thing about him is that if he doesn't like a body of theory that he's lecturing about, it totally shows, because he can't give it justice. If you ever take him, make sure you get a really good TA.
Lupher has horribly distracting mannerisms. Apart from that, I didn't really think he was THAT bad, and I actually thought he was pretty funny. His lectures are way straightforward, which can be a good thing for some and a bad thing for others, but I thought it was okay because I learned most of the facts that I needed to know. One other thing about him is that if he doesn't like a body of theory that he's lecturing about, it totally shows, because he can't give it justice. If you ever take him, make sure you get a really good TA.
Most Helpful Review
Winter 2020 - This class is hard, but she is a great professor. 102 is difficult for us sociology majors, but if there's a professor to take it with: it's Macias. She's sweet and understanding. Wants to work with us. The material is hard but she will explain it to you as many times as you need, and is super clear with expectations. I hate tests and I did well on the tests. Non-sociology majors stay away because it's a hard class no matter what. She just makes it easier. Also shoutout to Natalie for being an amazing TA. She's the homie
Winter 2020 - This class is hard, but she is a great professor. 102 is difficult for us sociology majors, but if there's a professor to take it with: it's Macias. She's sweet and understanding. Wants to work with us. The material is hard but she will explain it to you as many times as you need, and is super clear with expectations. I hate tests and I did well on the tests. Non-sociology majors stay away because it's a hard class no matter what. She just makes it easier. Also shoutout to Natalie for being an amazing TA. She's the homie
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Most Helpful Review
Professor Prager is by far the best professor I've encountered during my time at UCLA. I took Sociology 10, Sociology 101, and Sociology 102 with him as a professor. Each time, I learned many valuable ideals and sociological views. He allows students to make their own views out of the texts and is extremely helpful in answering questions. He analyzes the readings and asks for student analysis as well. He always specifies exactly what the students will need to know for exams but I feel that he never placed much importance on grades which was awesome. Taking a class with Professor Prager can be very rewarding if you enjoy reading, analyzing, and learning.
Professor Prager is by far the best professor I've encountered during my time at UCLA. I took Sociology 10, Sociology 101, and Sociology 102 with him as a professor. Each time, I learned many valuable ideals and sociological views. He allows students to make their own views out of the texts and is extremely helpful in answering questions. He analyzes the readings and asks for student analysis as well. He always specifies exactly what the students will need to know for exams but I feel that he never placed much importance on grades which was awesome. Taking a class with Professor Prager can be very rewarding if you enjoy reading, analyzing, and learning.
Most Helpful Review
false consciousness(marx), disenchantment(weber), and solidarity(durkheim). all in the form of andy warhol. BRILLIANT. walk away from class with these concepts, and you will excel in the REST your sociology courses. i recommend taking this class as early as you can if you plan to major in the field. this is a once in a lifetime professor so be sure to attend this class and again, walk away with the aforementioned concepts. never, EVER boring. thank you professor sherwood =)
false consciousness(marx), disenchantment(weber), and solidarity(durkheim). all in the form of andy warhol. BRILLIANT. walk away from class with these concepts, and you will excel in the REST your sociology courses. i recommend taking this class as early as you can if you plan to major in the field. this is a once in a lifetime professor so be sure to attend this class and again, walk away with the aforementioned concepts. never, EVER boring. thank you professor sherwood =)
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