(For the cluster in general, not just Prof Decker)
Pros:
-understandable content
-organized lectures
-attendance not mandatory (slides posted online)
-straightforward midterm
Cons:
-grade entirely dependent on TA
-papers make up a huge portion of your grade and can be a little complicated
-some of the lectures (especially Decker's) are boring

Every single thing in this class is graded by your TA. If they don't like you, you're screwed. I had a paper that I went to the writing center for 3 times and was told that it "was an A+ paper if I've ever seen one." I ended up getting Bs on all of my papers, which brought my grade down to an A-. The content is simple and this class should be an easy A, but unfortunately, it's very subjective and dependent on your TA. (My TA was S Ewing, he was a good TA just a terribly strict grader)

Prof Decker was extremely helpful and encouraged everyone to participate. Never makes you feel dumb (even if you have some wild takes on the reading). Workload was manageable: weekly worksheets, one short paper at the beginning of the quarter (1 page), second paper during week 8 (4-5 pages), and a final paper (4-5 pages) due at the end. This course focuses on American literature and television, super refreshing and interesting material compared to other English courses. Highly recommend for every English major to take this course.

Selling course reader for GE 60B,

Text me for more details if you are interested :) **********

Selling the course reader for $15.
And I can give you all the reading material they also use this quarter for $2 a book. ex: Meridian, Time out of Joint
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GE Clusters 20A and 20B (Interracial Dynamics)

Selling the Fall 2014 (20A) and Winter 2015 (20B) course reader needed for this cluster; it contains all the articles required to read. Price is negotiable.

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GE Cluster 20A and 20B

Selling Interracial Dynamics 20A and 20B course readers. Price is negotiable.

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This course is, for all purposes, a continuation of the pre-requisite course Clust 60A held the quarter prior. The lectures are still held Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9:30 am to 10:45 am at the De Neve Auditorium which is especially convenient for students who live on the hill in the dormitories (especially those who live in De Neve!!). The discussions are 1 hour and 45 minutes long and meet depending on which teaching assistant you have. The only differences are that the reading assignments are no longer assigned/required and instead of a final paper there is an exam. Like before, the reading assignments are excessive for a general education course, as is to be expected with a Cluster course, of course. Their time consumption can be combatted easily through skimming texts (I sometimes even went so far as to only read the first and last page of them!!) and by watching videos at a two times speed (I sometimes even went so far as to play them in the background while doing other homework although I'm not sure how effective this strategy was...). As for the papers - these can be easily completed so long as one practices time management, as with any course. The exams are not nearly as hard as they make it seem although they are slightly more difficult this time than with the previous course since they are cumulative regarding the content from both quarters being subject to appear on them. Just be sure to study basic key concepts and know the music well for that portion of the tests (I believe there are already many spotify study playlists available although the songs in question may vary with each iteration of the class). There is also a mandatory movie viewing outside of lecture hours (in the evening) at the De Neve auditorium. While it is easy to obtain an excuse for this, it is pretty entertaining and I would highly recommend going if your schedule allows for it. As for Professor Decker himself, his lectures are very engaging and interesting. Professor Decker was always enthusiastic and energetic when presenting, although his passion for the course sometimes resulted in students being dismissed after the scheduled dismissal time period. His lectures were not, however, as interesting as the lectures held by Professor Fink, Professor Vavreck, and Professor Avila (the other professors teaching the class for the 2022-2023 calendar school year).

60a is a great way 2 start ur time as a student at the ucla. lecs r held from 9:30 am 2 10:45 am on tues and thurs at the de neve auditorium which is a lil early (at least 4 me!!) but extremeley convenient if u live in the dorms on the hill (especially if u live in de neve!!). discussions r 1 hr 45 min long and their timing varies depending on who ur teaching assistant is, ofc. the readings r def excessive 4 a ge course, as 2 b expected w a clust course though 2 b sure. their time consumption can b countered and avoided by skimming texts (sometimes i only read the 1st and last pages of things) and watching the videos at 2x speed (sometimes i played them in the background while doing other hw although im not sure how effective this strategy was...). there r also mandatory weekly reading assignments but these were v much manageable. there was 1 midterm and 1 final paper. the final paper is v easy as long as u manage ur time, as w any other class. as 4 the midterm, it isnt nearly as scary as they make it out 2 b. j study basic key concepts and know the music well (i believe there r alrdy many study spotify playlists available although the songs may vary w each iteration of the course) and u should b fine. there is also 1 mandatory movie viewing outside of lecture time (in the evening) at the de neve auditorium. while this is easy 2 get an excuse 4, it is pretty entertaining so i wld highly recommend going if ur schedule allows 4 it. as 4 prof decker specifically, i found his lectures 2 b v engaging. i will say, however, that his lectures werent quite as interesting as those led by prof avila, prof fink, and prof vavreck (the 2 other profs who led the clust when i took it during the 2022-2023 school yr. in general, all the profs r super enthusiastic and energetic when presenting - although their passion 4 the course sumtimes caused them 2 dismiss us late, after the scheduled end time 4 the class.

The most egotistical and arrogant lecturer at UCLA is Professor Decker. Professor Decker showed little sympathy for my situation while I was recently hospitalized. I have CAE accommodations, but the professor won't acknowledge them. When CAE contacted him on my behalf, he continued to ignore the accommodations. Avoid this instructor at all costs. Keep your distance!

Review for CLUSTER 20A

Personally, I think Professor Decker is a great professor. Because whenever I ask questions after class he will patiently answer all of them until I understand the assignments/concepts etc. However, his lectures are a bit boring, but they are very informative as well.