Professor Robinson is a very engaging lecturer. I cannot stress this enough - GO TO CLASS AND TAKE NOTES. The midterm and final exam will have you write 3~6 long historical identifications and 1 or 2 essays on a topic. The midterm tested us more on locations and religious concepts, while the final focused more on historical figures and life after European control.

I've taken Professor Robinson for both his 176A and B, and his 97. He is hands down the most amazing, passionate, and caring professor I have ever had. I have not had many professors who have changed my life, but Robinson genuinely earns his title as one of the best teachers at UCLA.

I was never interested in Southeast Asia but he enlightened me to a whole new world, and he teaches history in the eyes of the oppressed, not the victors. He includes the voices and perspectives of so many different people throughout history so that you can really get the big picture! He truly cares about his students and implores us to have empathy, and to care about a world bigger than our own.

Because his 176's are huge classes, you don't get the opportunity to speak to him often and truly engage in the material. But if you ever get the chance to take a seminar class with him, he will change your life! He teaches about very powerful and heavy topics.

For his 176's, there is one map quiz, and a midterm and final that are both short essays. He gives you a list of possible topics he would test on, and he usually does a pick 5 out of the 7 he gives, from the list of 20+ terms off the study guide. They are very straight forward! Go to class, pay attention, take good notes, read the articles and sources and understand each author's arguments to use in the short essays. For his seminars, he has 3 reflection papers on any of the week's readings, and he has a final project at the end that is completely up to you what you want to do.

Besides a very manageable workload, these classes will actually teach you something about our world. Take him, you won't regret it.

Best professor I've had throughout my four years at UCLA. I took him for 176B which had one midterm and final (both had IDs and an essay portion). I agree with the other posts in that he is eloquent, vastly knowledgeable and experienced, organized and surprisingly funny. He only spends the first five minutes of class cracking jokes and discussing current events, but he is one witty man. Afterward, he's all about business and lectures straight until the end, where he takes questions. He's a really fair grader, so I don't think you will have a problem getting an A if you attend all lectures and read at least most of the articles. Although, he's kind of a stickler for effective writing, so if it isn't your forte then I would definitely recommend approaching him in office hours before the midterm to find out what he wants to see. He's awesome. You won't regret taking the class.

Professor Robinson is an asset to UCLA. He is one of the best history professors. His lectures are well-run and very focused which make note taking very easy. Besides, he's very humorous and makes me feel relaxed and keen to learn more about SE Asia. I took history of other classes and found that SE Asian history during 15-18th century was always a bit boring and hard to master. However, Professor Robinson makes this subject easy and smooth. In terms of grading, I don't agree with the other fellow students (who claimed that Prof. Robinson was a tough grader). In fact, my midterm paper was graded B+ by a grader. After the final review by Prof. Robinson before turning them to the students, my grade was moved up to an A-, and with a encouraging and rewarding comment from him. I strongly recommend him as a history professor. You won't regret and you will definitely learn!