This class isn't bad. It's all memorization. There's weekly homework assignments that are pretty easy, a midterm and a final. Use the book, the podcasts, and the slides he posts to do the study guides. If you know the study guides, you'll be fine. Oh yeah, and study the diagrams he gives as part of the study guides because he definitely tests you on them. You don't need to go to lecture or take too many notes because the class is podcasted and he posts the slides.

I am a fourth year, biochem, with a GPA of 3.6 and he gave a C-.
I feel insulted. His midterm and final was too hard.
His "fairness" doctrine in terms of grading is very unfair.
Because of him, I may not be getting my cum laude.
Thank you Prof Manson.

Professor Manson was a really caring and concerned professor. Although the final and midterms were difficult, this man is so passionate about what he teaches. Based on my ta, I would say the discussions are quite pointless. All my discussion did was go over the homework and it was very ineffective. However, seeking extra help from Manson in office hours (especially after he distributes the study guides for his midterm and final) is SOOO helpful! It really saved my grade in that class because the TAs grade so hard on the midterm and final. If you feel you deserved a higher score because the TAs grade to harsh, definitely talk to the professor. Hes really reasonable and way more fair than any of the TAs. I got an A and I really didn't find the class difficult. The lecture turn out is horrible, but maybe all the lectures I attended kept me in that A range. Best advice: Go to office hours and go to lecture--its the difference between an A and a B.

really interesting class...book is a light read. not too bad at all. his lectures are very boring and i barely ever went to class but they slides are all online and the lectures are podcasted. just make sure you listen to them! midterm and final are not hard at all...i did study a lot but his slides prepare you well and completely follow the book. Just make sure you do the study guide! Memorize the answers to your questions and you'll be fine. His test questions reflect those answers. Not bad at all...I would definitely recommend this class.

The midterm and final were difficult, but if you obviously take the time to study very hard and MEMORIZE everything, then it's fairly easy to get an A. However, I really did not like his lectures; he's extremely boring and just reads from his lecture slides. He tries to be funny, but he's really not. Plus, he made us purchase $20-40 dollars worth of this stupid device to take in-lecture quizzes, which ultimately failed because of the bad internet connection in Haines. Basically he just gave up after 3 tries and ended up giving everyone full credit. I highly suggest taking this class with another professor!

I like the way he teaches in his lectures. I also like the discussions because they are somewhat effective; however, the midterm and the final are very hard since it is not based on the readings nor on the lectures, and his method of fairness is not fair: "based on your overall performance towards the class". He may seem to be fair on the syllabus but if you stop and think that why do 10% of the class will always get an A and 15% of the class always a B is not quite fair.
If you plan to take this class, with this professor be ready for the GPA downbooster.

There is a lot of memorization! It was somewhat difficult to know what to study for because a lot of the material was controversial. What helped me was making a study guide for all the theories and concepts he went over in class as well as making a chart for all the hominids/hominins. When he lists points of what a certain theory consists of... make sure you know the points and be able to describe them!

class is easy
however, the midterm and the final are horrible. they are just impossible. you think you did well on the tests, however the scores you get are horrendous.
ta sections are really helpful.

do not take this class. the grading on the tests make no sense at all, they want specifics and if you get too specific you dont get the points. hes a nice guy and he will try to help but sadly his dimwit ta's are the ones who grade the tests.

To be honest, I hated this class, might have been my least favorite one in my time here at UCLA. A combination of very dry material, difficult tests that I really wasn't sure how to study for, and the worst lectures that I've ever been in. Sorry, I'm sure he's a good guy and really enjoys what he does, but I didn't take anything away from this class.