SOCIOL 110
Comparative and Historical Methods
Description: Lecture, three hours; discussion, one hour. Recommended requisite: course 101. Introduction to range of comparative and historical methods alongside broader questions and issues in this area of sociology. Students learn about using theories to analyze real-world cases; making comparisons between societies and other social units; developing sociological explanations for historical events; and generalizing about social patterns and changes over time. P/NP or letter grading.
Units: 4.0
Units: 4.0
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Most Helpful Review
Fall 2025 - Personally, I enjoyed this class. However, I can see why people did not. The actual content of the class, while easy to understand, is pretty boring, which makes lectures very boring as well. However, I wouldn't really blame this on Speer himself, since no matter how you teach it, the concept of "Comparative and Historical methods" is going to be boring nonetheless. He did try to compensate for it, such as through interesting readings, case studies, and him being funny. The final essay, while 10 pages, allows you to choose any topic and the TAs grade it leniently. The tests are also really easy as long as you study and pay attention in class. Just a heads up that the further the course goes, the readings do become a bit longer and more difficult to understand, but they're still manageable. Honestly the only complaints I have are whenever you ask Speer a question, he sometimes does come off as a bit sassy (as others have noted), but IMO he's just blunt like that and means no harm. Also, he's becoming a bit paranoid of AI and will go on random rants about it (he also makes you do your work on a google doc so he can see your version history). However, since this class does not have any math whatsoever and it is very easy, I highly recommend it to get your methods requirement done. Note: speer says taking sociol 101 before this class is "recommended" but I didn't take it yet and still found this course really easy so you should be fine
Fall 2025 - Personally, I enjoyed this class. However, I can see why people did not. The actual content of the class, while easy to understand, is pretty boring, which makes lectures very boring as well. However, I wouldn't really blame this on Speer himself, since no matter how you teach it, the concept of "Comparative and Historical methods" is going to be boring nonetheless. He did try to compensate for it, such as through interesting readings, case studies, and him being funny. The final essay, while 10 pages, allows you to choose any topic and the TAs grade it leniently. The tests are also really easy as long as you study and pay attention in class. Just a heads up that the further the course goes, the readings do become a bit longer and more difficult to understand, but they're still manageable. Honestly the only complaints I have are whenever you ask Speer a question, he sometimes does come off as a bit sassy (as others have noted), but IMO he's just blunt like that and means no harm. Also, he's becoming a bit paranoid of AI and will go on random rants about it (he also makes you do your work on a google doc so he can see your version history). However, since this class does not have any math whatsoever and it is very easy, I highly recommend it to get your methods requirement done. Note: speer says taking sociol 101 before this class is "recommended" but I didn't take it yet and still found this course really easy so you should be fine
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Most Helpful Review
Zeitlin definitely prepares a unique class. But I loved it. He calls on students in class and he really forces you to think. Make sure you do your readings because he will call you out. This is something which I really like. People were so scared to simply talk in class and I'm glad he forces people out of their shells. How can you function later in life if you can't voice what you've learned? Make sure to pay attention to processes, methods, and ideas he lays out in lecture and you will have the tools to handle the tests. You have to go to lecture, have to. Readings alone will not get you through this class if you're aiming to do well. Its all about analysis, method, and explanation. Explain you conclusions well and you will do great in this class.
Zeitlin definitely prepares a unique class. But I loved it. He calls on students in class and he really forces you to think. Make sure you do your readings because he will call you out. This is something which I really like. People were so scared to simply talk in class and I'm glad he forces people out of their shells. How can you function later in life if you can't voice what you've learned? Make sure to pay attention to processes, methods, and ideas he lays out in lecture and you will have the tools to handle the tests. You have to go to lecture, have to. Readings alone will not get you through this class if you're aiming to do well. Its all about analysis, method, and explanation. Explain you conclusions well and you will do great in this class.
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